Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Printable)

Golden, crispy mozzarella sticks with a double coating, cooked quickly to melt perfectly with marinara sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese

01 - 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
03 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

→ Coating

04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 2 tablespoons milk
06 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

→ Seasonings (optional)

07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Serving

11 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed

# How To Make It:

01 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Optionally, slice each mozzarella stick in half to create 24 shorter sticks.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs and milk, and one with combined Italian-style breadcrumbs, panko, and optional seasonings.
03 - Dredge each stick in flour, shake off excess, dip into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture.
04 - Repeat the egg and breadcrumb coating once more for an extra crispy exterior and to prevent cheese leakage.
05 - Arrange the coated sticks in a single layer on the baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour until solid.
06 - Set the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and allow it to preheat.
07 - Place frozen sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, lightly spray with cooking oil, and air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through until golden and crisp.
08 - Remove sticks immediately and serve warm accompanied by heated marinara sauce.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in minutes, and most of the work is just freezing—perfect for when guests are already on their way.
  • The double breading trick actually delivers that restaurant-quality crunch that keeps people reaching for more.
  • Even if you're not confident in the kitchen, this one is nearly impossible to mess up once you get the freezing step right.
02 -
  • The freezing step is non-negotiable—mozzarella sticks that aren't completely frozen will absolutely leak cheese into your air fryer basket, and cleaning that is nobody's idea of fun.
  • Double breading isn't just a fancy technique; it's the difference between crispy exterior and crunchy-then-gooey, versus flat and one-note.
  • Spray the basket lightly with oil right before cooking—this makes the difference between pale golden and restaurant-quality crispy.
03 -
  • Don't skip the parchment paper on your baking sheet—it prevents sticking and makes cleanup actually enjoyable.
  • If your cheese sticks are really thick, slicing them in half gives you more pieces and lets them cook more evenly for that perfect gooey-but-not-leaking moment.
  • A light spray of cooking oil right before frying makes all the difference between matte and shiny golden brown.
Go Back