how to cook mozzarella sticks in an air fryer

Frozen mozzarella sticks in air fryer are so easy to make and crunchier than cooking them in your oven! Love fried cheese? This will be your favorite snack.

Frozen mozzarella sticks in air fryer are so good!! Since we got this air fryer I've been tinkering with cooking all the things in it. These cheese sticks are no exception to the rule that everything is better air fried! (originally published 1/20, affiliate links present)

Air Fryer Cheese Sticks

These and our air fryer cheese curds are probably my biggest weaknesses. I love being able to add just a few for a quick snack.

My teenagers love how crunchy they get, and can "cook" by themselves when I am away.

If you love air fryer recipes too, here are some resources to start with:

THIS is my Favorite Air Fryer!
You can find more Air fryer recipes here, we have Ninja Foodi recipes as well; bookmark them both!
- This is the best air fryer cookbook. Remember to always preheat air fryer for best results.
Here's a printable air fryer cook times chart here for your fridge.
- It has temp. and times for making the best frozen foods for air fryer too.
Then join our Facebook page where you can share and find more ideas you'll love. We have a Foodi social media group as well.

If you too are obsessed with how to air fry everything, we have a few tips for you here.

Cooking frozen foods in an air fryer

It was a big surprise to me just how much I enjoyed everything cooked in this thing to be quite honest.

I thought "why bother" until I tried it with these air fryer frozen chicken nuggets.

We will NEVER cook them in the oven again after this.
- They just don't come out nearly as crispy, and the cook time is so much faster. Game over.

Then we moved on to making air fryer mozzarella sticks and we were convinced. This little kitchen appliance is pure magic y'all.

Are Farm rich mozzarella sticks good?

Yes!! They're just one of many brands we've tried and the cheese comes out nice and gooey inside.

Rarely does the outside break while cooking, only if you mistakingly overcook them. 😉

Let's talk about the machines we have and use. The one you see here in the photos is our Cosori machine. We also have a large air fryer if we want to make a large batch of something, that's handy.

The final air fryer and pressure cooker we have, the Ninja Foodi works great too! If you're looking for both of those functions I'd suggest this model.
It is a bit larger than the other 2 but you do get a multi function appliance and can even replace your rice cooker with this. Take your pick, they all work great.

Let's talk about the biggest tip when it comes to air frying food: Do NOT overlap pieces! You need all areas to have a bit of space so browning and crisping can occur.

Now for me the exception to this rule is when I'm cooking air fryer vegetables. There's no breading on those so it doesn't matter as much.

Ninja Foodi Mozzarella Sticks

When it comes to frozen foods in an air fryer it is very important to only have one layer in your basket though.

How do you know how long to cook each item though?? Well this air fryer cooking times printable is a huge help! Go ahead and print this out now and tape it to your fridge. I will wait. 😉

Now let's get to a few quick instructions:

Time needed:6 minutes.

Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks

Prepare
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Spray basket with cooking spray. Add as many as you like into your air fryer basket without allowing them to overlap.
Cook
Close drawer and cook for 6 minutes or until as crispy as you'd like. Enjoy immediately for best results.

How long do you air fry frozen mozzarella sticks?

Cook frozen mozzarella sticks for 6 minutes.
1. timing will vary depending on how thick the brand you use is, and how crispy you want the outsides but this timing works well for us with every type we've used

Eat immediately as is or dipped in marinara sauce!

What are mozzarella sticks made of?

This popular once deep fried appetizer consists of long slices of mozzarella cheese coated in seasoned bread crumbs and cooked until golden brown and cheese is melted inside.

In the past we made mozzarella cheese sticks on a baking sheet in the oven. With the time it took to preheat and cook it took 3 times as long.

I also feel like this uses a lot less energy but the most important difference is how crispy these get!

Once you try them for yourself you will see the difference I tell you. Then you can go on to see the difference when air frying snack foods of other kinds.
Below are a few other favorites we make pretty often.

Our air fryer quesadilla recipe, air fryer grilled cheese, and frozen french fries in air fryer are probably our go to's! Try our air fryer fish sticks for dinner too.

What sauce do you use for mozzarella sticks?

Of course you can use whatever you wish but if you're new to this cheesy snack here are a few suggestions. These work with frozen or homemade mozzarella sticks air fryer style:

Fry sauce is probably top on our list
Spaghetti sauce is what is usually served on the side in restaurants
We love bang bang sauce too.

Is ranch good with mozzarella sticks?

But of course!
Blue cheese dressing can be an option
Ketchup goes on anything really
Honey mustard is my husband's favorite

Here is the printable recipe below. Nutritional information will vary depending on brand and how many each person consumes.

Air Fryer Frozen Cheese Sticks

Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer

Frozen mozzarella sticks in air fryer are so easy to make and crunchier than cooking them in your oven! Love fried cheese? This will be your favorite snack.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer, cheese sticks, frozen, mozzarella sticks

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 216 kcal

1 bag mozzarella sticks frozen

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
Add as many as you like into your air fryer basket without allowing them to overlap.
Close drawer and cook for 6 minutes or until as crispy as you'd like. Enjoy immediately for best results.

Nutrition Facts

Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer

Amount Per Serving (2 oz)

Calories 216 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g 2%

Saturated Fat 1g 6%

Cholesterol 1mg 0%

Sodium 1mg 0%

Carbohydrates 1g 0%

Protein 1g 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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