Crispy Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Printer-friendly)

Golden, crispy mozzarella sticks with melted cheese centers. Made straight from frozen in your air fryer in under 10 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Frozen Snacks

01 - 16 frozen mozzarella sticks

→ For Serving (Optional)

02 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed
03 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Arrange the frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each stick.
03 - Air fry for 6–8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crispy.
04 - Remove immediately and let cool for 1–2 minutes before serving.
05 - Serve with warm marinara sauce and garnish with fresh basil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They cook straight from frozen with zero prep work, which means snack time happens in minutes, not hours.
  • The air fryer gives you that deep-fried crunch without the mess, smell, or guilt of a pot of hot oil.
  • Theyre foolproof enough for kids to help make but impressive enough to serve at a casual gathering.
02 -
  • Overcrowding the basket traps steam and turns crispy breading into mush, so cook in batches if you need more than one layer.
  • A light spritz of oil before cooking makes the exterior shatter like glass, and I learned this after dozens of batches that were just okay.
03 -
  • Line the air fryer basket with parchment designed for air fryers to catch any cheese drips and make cleanup a breeze.
  • If you want restaurant-level crispness, freeze the cooked sticks for ten minutes after air frying, then hit them with another two minutes at 400°F for an extra shatter.
Return