Make easy and great-tasting frozen mozzarella sticks in your air fryer. Get some fun plating ideas too. These finger foods can be a quick snack for the kids or an easy appetizer for game day or unplanned visitors. This is one of the easiest air fryer recipes. I’ll show you the best way to get these frozen cheese sticks golden brown.

1. Overview
2. Mozzarella Sticks Origin
3. Why Air Fried Sticks Rule
4. Cooking Instructions
5. Plating Idea
6. About the Author

Overview

When I think about mozzarella cheese sticks it reminds me of my favorite lunch lady at high school. Thursdays were fried cheese day. It was simply a half-inch square slice of mozzarella battered in some bread crumbs with Italian seasoning and garlic powder, then deep-fried to golden perfection. Imagine my delight when soon after this block of cheesy goodness was cut in hand-held sticks.

Where did mozzarella sticks originate?

I like to know a little bit about my food. Call me curious, eccentric, or even a “junkie” perhaps. I’m fascinated by the Food Network, the origin of our everyday favorite foods, and food-related programs on the History Channel. After conducting a quick search on Google, here’s what I learned about mozzarella sticks.

According to some sources, the concept of string cheese came to life in the mid-1970s when Frank Baker, a Wisconsin cheesemaker, dreamed up the idea of snack-size pieces of mozzarella. This nugget of information was found on the blog titled Undeniably Dairy, which is located on the usdairy.com website. To read the entire timeline in the article titled The Long History of the Mozzarella Stick here.

Why air fryer mozzarella sticks rule

The beauty of the air fryer is that you can get that crispy crunch you crave without the mess or fat content from deep frying. You don’t have to suffer through long wait times only to receive soggy sticks on a baking sheet in a regular oven. You’ll get great food fast by air frying. Feel free to check out my tips and tricks for cooking french fries and air fryer pizza rolls fast too.

Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer

This might be the easiest of any air fryer instructions. No prep is required. All you need is your air fryer, your favorite marinara sauce, tomato sauce, or bbq sauce, and some seasoning (if desired). Your biggest decision will be deciding between the different brands at your local grocery store.

Cooking instructions for mozzarella sticks

Air frying is a simple process that can be repeated over and over, with minimal effort and clean-up. A little bit of wear and tear on your machine is a badge of honor. I repeat this message in many of my posts!

Step 1: Treat your basket

Rub your basket with some olive oil using a paper towel or spray it with a non-aerosol EVOO mister.

Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 380 for 1-2 minutes

You just need to get it warmed up. These items are a little temperamental so just get it warmed up quickly.

Step 3: Load the basket

Place your frozen mozzarella sticks in the basket. Leave space between your sticks and keep them in a single layer for the best results. I like to give them a quick spray with some cooking oil to ensure that crunch; however, the sticks for higher-end brands have a nice thick coating on them already so this may not be necessary.

Step 4: Cooking Time

Cook your mozzarella sticks for 6 minutes. Open the basket and check the texture.

Let them rest in the air fryer for another 2-4 minutes checking them every minute. You want to pull them out before they start to split and that gooey cheese starts to seep into your basket.

Plate and serve immediately.

NOTE: This is a quick and tasty snack for someone who has a hard time navigating the kitchen. However, with a little extra effort, I would suggest you try making some homemade mozzarella sticks. That way you can control the coating and get that crunchy outer coat with that melty cheese center!

Plating idea

There’s not much we can do to make these interesting - or is there? We can just throw them on a plate, in a basket, or on any random dish and we’re off and running. I like to load up all of my air-fried food and turn my side dishes into hearty meals or something fun to display. Here’s one way to feature your frozen mozzarella sticks below.

• Glass bowl
• Square white plate
• Favorite sauce (marinara preferred)
• Rosemary
• Red pepper flake
• Shredded cheese

Simply layer up these items one at a time, stacking your mozzarella sticks in a criss-cross pattern first. Next, add your favorite marinara sauce, seasonings, and red pepper flake. Top your creation off with some more shredded cheese and you have another gooey cheese masterpiece.

If you feel like something is missing, I always recommend adding some fruit to your meal. Well, add it to any meal. Since this is a finger food feast, why waste any utensils at this sitting. Therefore, I’d recommend some concord grapes. Sweet, juicy, and a nice green colorful offset to your golden brown sticks dunked in your favorite red sauce.

About the author