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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! 

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

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Dipping homemade cheese stick in marinara.

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks ~ Easy Appetizer Recipe

If you are a fan of the crispy mozzarella sticks from Sonic, you are going to love this easy homemade version. This quick and easy method doesn’t require any freezing/chilling time and the bread slices will keep the cheese from blowing out of the breading. 

ingredients for air fryer mozzarella sticks.

Ingredients Needed:

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

Homemade cheese sticks on a platter with marinara.

How to Make Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks:

bread slices with crust removed.

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

bread slices and mozzarella sticks.

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

egg wash in a bowl, panko in pie plate.

  • Beat egg and water in a bowl.
  • Add panko to a shallow dish. 

making mozzarella sticks with bread slices and panko.

  • Roll cheese sticks in the bread slices.
  • Brush the edge of the bread to seal and the outside of the breading. 
  • Roll in the panko and place on a baking sheet. 
  • Repeat with remaining ingredients.

baking sheet with 6 cheese sticks coated in panko and olive oil.

  • Spray all sides of cheese sticks with olive oil.

cheese sticks in air fryer.

  • Place in air fryer basket with space in between.

Crispy mozzarella sticks in air fryer basket.

  • Cook in air fryer for 6 minutes at 400°. 

platter of homemade cheese sticks with marinara.

  • Serve immediately with marinara or ranch.

Recipe Tips & Variations:

  • Yield: 6 Mozzarella Sticks
  • Variation: Add 1 tablespoon Italian Seasonings to the panko bread crumbs.
  • Conventional Oven: 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.
  • Storage: Mozzarella sticks 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.

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Favorite Air Fryer and Accessories:

  • Cosori Air Fryer ~ This is the one I use for this recipe. I love how quiet it is and how simple it is to clean.
  • Accessories Kit ~ Handy accessories to make everything from cakes to eggs in the air fryer.
  • Oil Sprayer ~ We use this for all of our air fryer recipes and grilling recipes too. 

More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes:

  • Air Fryer Churro Apple Pie Bombs ~ The absolute best dessert and so easy to make with apple pie filling and canned biscuits. 
  • Air Fryer Soft Pretzels ~ A quick pizza dough recipe that makes the most amazing soft pretzels, just like the ones at the mall food court!
  • Air Fryer Pretzel Dogs ~ One of our favorite quick and easy meals made in the air fryer. The kids can’t get enough of these.

Dipping mozzarella stick into pizza sauce.

This cheese stick recipe is the easiest method I have found for making homemade mozzarella sticks. The combination of the bread and panko bread crumbs makes the cheese sticks crunchy on the outside and holds the melted cheese in the center. 

Give these easy air fryer mozzarella sticks a try for your next appetizer menu or as a quick snack while you are binging your favorite shows. 

IF YOU LOVE THIS  RECIPE AS MUCH AS I DO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND A FIVE STAR REVIEW, AND BE SURE TO HELP ME SHARE ON FACEBOOK!

Mozzarella stick dipping in marinara
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4.78 from 9 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
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time14 minutes
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer appetizers, cheese sticks, homemade cheese sticks, mozzarella sticks
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 or ranch dressing 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

  • Variation: Add 1 tablespoon Italian Seasonings to the panko bread crumbs.
  • Conventional Oven: 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.
  • Storage: Mozzarella sticks 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

    3 Comments

    1. Terrible thumbnail. Made it look like cheesy bread and not a cheese stick. Need better lighting. 💡

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