One of our favorite late-night snacks is air fryer frozen mozzarella sticks. Made in minutes and cooked to perfection, this savory treat is one we always enjoy.
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There's just something so good about eating gooey melty cheese in a fried breading that goes perfectly with tv binge watching. My husband and I like to enjoy a snack every night after the kids are in bed and these mozzarella sticks are one of our favorites.
If we aren't eating a plate full of mozzarella sticks, then we probably have some Air Fryer Pizza Rolls instead. As long as it's delicious and doesn't use a lot of dishes or effort it's fine by us haha.
Making these frozen cheese sticks in the air fryer is simple and quick, so I usually prep a basketful while my husband searches for something for us to watch. With just a few minutes on the clock, we can have everything ready to go in no time flat.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- You can make one or many. We often make anywhere from 6-12 cheese sticks at a time, and there's no major time difference to cook a larger batch, so add as many as you want or can fit in your fryer!
- They turn out perfectly. The breading is crisp, and the cheese is stringy and melted to perfection. Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer gives repeatable results every time.
- You can use your favorite brand! Any true lover of deep-fried cheese sticks knows that no two brands are created equally. We have our favorite (Farm Rich brand), but we also have brands we would never try again because we didn't enjoy them. Use the brand you know and love and good results will follow.
🛒 Ingredients
Frozen Mozzarella Sticks- My favorite brand to use is Farm Rich. I find them at Walmart and they taste incredible. This is up to you and your own personal preference though as you can use whatever brand you're most comfortable with.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🥫 Dipping Sauces
Our favorite dipping sauces for mozzarella sticks is marinara sauce or tomato based sauces. When I plan on having mozzarella sticks on the menu, I usually grab a jar of pizza sauce and then serve up a little sauce from the jar whenever we're eating the cheese sticks.
I have used spaghetti sauce or Ragu Spaghetti Sauce Recipe in a pinch, but some other sauce ideas include blue cheese dressing, ranch, buffalo sauce like from our Honey Buffalo Wings, or a garlic butter sauce like from our Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Choose store-brand mozzarella sticks. Many store brands taste just as good as name brands once air-fried, and they're often several dollars cheaper per box.
Buy in bulk. Warehouse stores and larger family-size bags usually offer the lowest price per stick. Freeze extras and cook only what you need.
Use leftover sauces. Instead of buying marinara just for dipping, use leftover spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, or even packets from takeout nights.
Cook only what you'll eat. Air fryers reheat poorly for melty cheese foods, so only make what you need to avoid wasting any pricey mozzarella.
🥄 Instructions for Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
Step 1: Place your frozen mozzarella sticks into the air fryer basket, evenly spaced.
Step 2: Cook at 360 degrees F for 6-8 minutes. We find that the fewer are added to the basket the quicker they cook, but a full dozen takes closer to 8 minutes.
Step 3: Serve with a side of your favorite dipping sauce or marinara. Enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Enjoy Fresh and Warm: These mozzarella sticks are at their best when enjoyed fresh and warm from the air fryer.
- Preferred Brand: We recommend Farm Rich mozzarella sticks, but feel free to use your favorite brand.
- No Thawing Needed: There's no need to thaw the cheese sticks before cooking, and greasing the air fryer is optional.
- Optional Spraying: While some prefer to spray their cheese sticks before cooking, it's an optional step. Any nonstick cooking spray like olive oil can be used if desired.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Mozzarella sticks are best enjoyed fresh, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep in mind the breading will soften as they sit.
Reheating: Reheat leftover mozzarella sticks in the air fryer at 400°F for about 2 minutes, adding an extra minute if reheating a large batch. This helps crisp the breading again without drying out the cheese.
Make Ahead: No prep is needed in advance because the sticks go straight from freezer to air fryer. Simply keep a box in the freezer so you're always ready for a quick snack.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
These Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks pair well with simple sides like garlic bread, a small salad, or your favorite dipping sauces. They're also great alongside pizza rolls, chicken tenders, or fries for an easy snack platter.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
If you overcook your cheese sticks you will find them to have released all that gooey white cheese inside your air fryer. This can be avoided by paying close attention to the cheese sticks as they are cooking. Check on them after 6 minutes and every minute after that.
Your mozzarella sticks will be firm looking and solid to the touch for easy grabbing. They will not feel cold or chilled; if you break one in half, the cheese should be melted and stringy.
For this air fryer frozen cheese sticks recipe, you will not need to preheat the air fryer before use. This means you can take the mozzarella sticks from their frozen packaging, place them directly into the air fryer, and cook until golden perfection.
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🐝 If you tried these Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
Equipment
Instructions
- Arrange. Place the frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray if desired.
- Air Fry. Cook at 360°F for 6 to 8 minutes, checking at the 6 minute mark. Fewer sticks cook faster, while fuller baskets may need closer to 8 minutes.
- Serve. Serve immediately with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- No Thawing. Mozzarella sticks should be cooked straight from frozen.
- Watch Closely. Overcooking can cause the cheese to leak. Check frequently near the end of cooking.
- Reheating. Reheat cold mozzarella sticks in the air fryer at 400°F for about 2 minutes, checking and adjusting as needed.
Nutritional Information
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