Grilled Cheese Sticks

Easy Air Fryer Mozzarella Grilled Cheese Sticks are crispy and delicious on the outside with gooey melted cheese on the inside. A quick recipe that is ready to eat in about 15 minutes, start to finish! 

Air Fryer Mini Pizzas are one of our favorite snacks and the kids love it when we have appetizers for dinner. Mini pizzas and grilled cheese sticks make a delicious meal for any night of the week.

Why We Love this Grilled Cheese Sticks Recipe

• Delicious Comfort Food: If you are a grilled cheese sandwich fan, these grilled cheese dippers are an easy recipe to make. Make them in the air fryer or oven. Serve alongside your favorite soups.
• Great Appetizer or Snack: These Cheese dippers can be made with different cheeses and are perfect for dunking in sauces or served as a cheese sandwiches for a quick lunch or dinner.
• Easy Recipe: This recipe comes together with simple ingredients and cooks really quickly. 
• Olive Oil or Melted Butter
• Marinara Sauce or Ranch Dressing for Dipping

Ingredients Needed for Grilled Cheese Sticks

• Mozzarella Cheese Block ~ or String Cheese
• Sliced White Bread or Italian Bread
• Egg Wash ~ egg + water
• Panko Bread Crumbs
• Olive Oil or Melted Butter
• Marinara Sauce or Ranch Dressing for Dipping

How to Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Dippers

1. Cut the crust off of the bread and save to make breadcrumbs or discard.

2. Use a rolling pin to roll the bread into thin slices.
3. Cut mozzarella block into sticks.

4. Beat egg and water in a bowl.
5. Add panko bread crumbs to a shallow dish. 

6. Roll one cheese stick in a bread slice.
7. Brush the edge of the bread with the egg wash to seal and the outside of the bread. 
8. Roll in the panko and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
9. Repeat with remaining bread slices and cheese sticks.

10. Spray all sides of cheese sticks with olive oil.

11. Place in air fryer basket with space in between.

12. Cook in air fryer for 6 minutes at 400°until golden brown. 

13. Serve immediately with marinara, ranch or warm tomato soup.

Recipe Tips & Variations

• Yield: 6 Grilled Cheese Sticks
• Variations: Add 1 tablespoon Italian Seasonings to the panko bread crumbs. 
• Best Cheeses: American cheese, cheddar cheese, gruyere or gouda cheese are great options.
• Conventional Oven Directions: Bake on a lined baking sheet at 425° for 5 minutes, flip and cook another 5- 8 minutes until lightly browned and cheese is melted.
• Stove Top Method: Cook in a nonstick pan or well seasoned cast iron skillet with melted butter over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes, turn to cook on the other side until golden brown and cheese is melted.
• Storage: Grilled cheese stick sandwiches are best served immediately but can be stored in a zip top bag in the refrigerator up to 3 days. 
• Reheat: Reheat in air fryer at 375° for 4- 6 minutes.

This grilled cheese stick recipe is the easiest method I have found for making homemade a quick and easy snack or meal. The combination of the bread and panko bread crumbs makes the little cheese sandwiches crunchy on the outside and holds the melted cheese in the center. 

If you love this recipe as much as we do, please leave a comment and a five star review. Help us share on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!

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4.91 from 21 votes

Easy Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Easy Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are crispy and delicious on the outside with gooey melted cheese on the inside. A quick recipe that is ready to eat in about 15 minutes, start to finish! 

Prep Time8 minutes mins

Cook Time6 minutes mins

Total Time14 minutes mins

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer appetizers, bacon grilled cheese, cheese sticks, grilled cheese dippers

Servings: 6 Mozzarella Sticks

Calories: 282kcal

Author: Milisa

Ingredients

• 6 ounces block Mozzarella cheese or string cheese
• 6 slices of white bread
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• marinara sauce optional for dipping
• ranch dressing optional for dipping

Instructions

• Remove the crust from the bread. Save for breadcrumbs or discard.
• Using a rolling pin, roll the bread into thin slices.
• Slice mozzarella into sticks, about 1/2 inch x 4 inches long – about the size of your bread slices.
• Beat egg with water in a small bowl.
• Pour panko into a shallow pie plate.
• Wrap each mozzarella stick in a bread slice.
• Brush the edge of the bread with egg wash and press to seal. Brush all over the outside of the bread.
• Dredge through the Panko, pressing to coat on all sides.
• Place on a lined baking sheet.
• Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Spray cheese sticks with olive oil on all sides.
• Place in air fryer, with space in between.
• Cook at 400° for 6 minutes or until lightly browned and cheese is melted.
• Serve with marinara or ranch.

Notes

• Yield: 6 Grilled Cheese Sticks
• Variations: Add 1 tablespoon Italian Seasonings to the panko bread crumbs. 
• Best Cheeses: American cheese, cheddar cheese, gruyere or gouda cheese are great options.
• Conventional Oven Directions: Bake on a lined baking sheet at 425° for 5 minutes, flip and cook another 5- 8 minutes until lightly browned and cheese is melted.
• Stove Top Method: Cook in a nonstick pan or well seasoned cast iron skillet with melted butter over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes, turn to cook on the other side until golden brown and cheese is melted.
• Storage: Grilled cheese stick sandwiches are best served immediately but can be stored in a zip top bag in the refrigerator up to 3 days. 
• Reheat: Reheat in air fryer at 375° for 4- 6 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 579mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g