Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Printer-friendly)

Golden, crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside frozen mozzarella sticks made quickly using an air fryer.

# 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 Make It:

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 and allow to cool for 1 minute to prevent cheese leakage.
05 - Serve hot accompanied by warmed marinara sauce and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under 10 minutes with virtually zero thought required.
  • The air fryer does all the work—no oil splatters or soggy bottoms like the deep fryer days.
  • Works as a solo snack, party starter, or emergency dinner when plans change.
02 -
  • Never overcrowd the basket—even if you have 32 sticks and want them all at once, two batches takes maybe 20 minutes total and keeps them all perfectly crispy.
  • If you want extra crispiness and don't mind a tiny bit of prep, a light spray of olive oil before cooking makes them almost indistinguishable from deep-fried versions.
03 -
  • A quick spray of cooking oil before air frying adds a subtle extra crispiness that makes these taste like they came from a restaurant.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, start at 380°F and check at 5 minutes—every machine has its own personality.
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