Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Printable)

Quickly made golden sticks with a crispy crust and warm, gooey cheese center, perfect as a snack or starter.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Frozen

01 - 16 frozen mozzarella sticks

→ Serving

02 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed
03 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 2 minutes.
02 - Place frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch.
03 - Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the sticks are golden brown and crispy.
04 - Remove immediately from the air fryer and let cool for 1 minute to prevent cheese leakage.
05 - Serve hot with warmed marinara sauce and garnish with chopped fresh herbs as desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • They're ready in under 10 minutes, making them perfect for unexpected guests or sudden cravings.
  • No oil splatters, no stovetop babysitting, just crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside magic.
  • Even if you've never used an air fryer before, this is genuinely impossible to mess up.
02 -
  • The timing is crucial—a minute too long and the cheese starts leaking from the breading, a minute too short and you lose that satisfying crunch.
  • Shaking the basket halfway through isn't optional if you want even browning on all sides.
03 -
  • If your air fryer runs hot, start at 6 minutes and check; it's easier to give them another minute than to rescue ones that are overdone.
  • Arranging them in a circle rather than a pile helps every stick get equal heat exposure.
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