Description
Enjoy crispy, gooey mozzarella sticks without the guilt! This air fryer recipe delivers all the cheesy goodness with a fraction of the fat. Perfect for a quick snack or appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 oz string cheese sticks, thawed if frozen
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- In three shallow bowls, prepare your dredging stations: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs mixed with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pat the mozzarella sticks dry with paper towels.
- Dip each mozzarella stick first into the flour, ensuring it’s fully coated. Shake off any excess.
- Next, dip the floured stick into the beaten eggs, letting any excess drip off.
- Finally, coat the egg-dipped stick generously with the seasoned panko mixture, pressing gently to help the breadcrumbs adhere.
- Place the coated mozzarella sticks on a plate or baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes. This helps them hold their shape during cooking.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C).
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange the frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd. You may need to cook in batches.
- Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 6-8 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through.
- Serve immediately with your favorite marinara sauce.
Notes
- Ensure the mozzarella sticks are completely frozen before air frying for best results.
- Adjust cooking time based on your air fryer model.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 2 sticks)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 40mg