Description
Soft, gooey, melted mozzarella cheese wrapped in a crispy golden crust—perfect for game days, casual entertaining, or a cozy night in! Pair these easy-to-make mozzarella sticks with herb-flavored marinara sauce for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Mozzarella Sticks:
- 12 low-moisture mozzarella string cheese sticks, halved
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (regular or panko for extra crunch)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- Cooking spray
For the Marinara Dipping Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Mozzarella Sticks:
- Unwrap and halve the cheese sticks.
- Combine flour and cornstarch in a shallow bowl. Beat eggs in another bowl. Mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and seasonings in a third bowl.
- Coat cheese pieces in the flour mixture, then egg, then breadcrumbs, ensuring even coverage.
- Freeze:
- Place coated cheese sticks on a plate and freeze for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Air Fry:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange chilled cheese sticks in a single layer, spray lightly with cooking spray, and air fry for 6–8 minutes, flipping midway.
- Prepare Marinara Sauce (Optional):
- Sauté garlic in olive oil for 1 minute over medium-high heat.
- Add marinara sauce and seasonings. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Serve:
- Serve mozzarella sticks hot with marinara dipping sauce or other dips like ranch or blue cheese.
Notes
- Freeze uncooked mozzarella sticks for up to 2 months. Add 2–3 minutes to air frying time when cooking from frozen.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer to ensure even cooking.
- Spray with cooking spray generously for a golden, crispy coating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 mozzarella sticks
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 30mg