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We figured out how to make the perfect frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer. Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks are perfectly crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. You’ll have this dish ready in less than 10 minutes from start to finish! 

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks on a white plate with dipping sauce and topped with fresh parsley.

“Have used your recipe dozens of times and it has always been spot on for me.” – Pam

I love to air fry mozzarella sticks frozen because they always come out perfect and you don’t have to spend time making them from scratch. And I am ALL about saving as much time as I can. 

While you’re snacking on these mozzarella sticks, you might also enjoy these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, fun and easy Air Fryer Dino Nuggets, Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers, and this list of over 100+ Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer are some of my favorite, quick and easy snacks. Here’s why I am obsessed with them:

  • Perfect crunch – Air frying gives you that crispy golden coating while keeping the cheese perfectly melty inside.
  • Minimal effort – No prep needed, just pop them in the air fryer straight from the freezer.
  • Quick cook time – Ready in just 5–7 minutes, making them perfect for last-minute snacks or party apps.
  • Kid- and crowd-friendly – Cheesy, dippable, and always a hit with both kids and adults.
  • Easy to customize – Dress them up with garlic parmesan, spices, or serve with your favorite dipping sauce like marinara or ranch.
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How does the Air Fryer work?

Air Fryers are my favorite kitchen gadget and a bit special in my opinion. They can take delicious foods and make them taste just like they were made in a deep fryer. 

The best part about air fryers is that they are usually compact little gadgets that sit perfectly on your countertop waiting on you to use them. 

But how does the air fryer work? The Air fryer works by using a heating element that produces hot air, which is then circulated using a fan. Because of this, your food will be delicious, crispy, and typically finished a lot faster than using a conventional oven. 

Another thing to take into account with the air fryer is that it doesn’t need a lot of oil, just enough to usually coat your food or to create a nonstick surface on the basket. You can read more about the best oils for the air fryer here. 

plate full of mozzarella sticks made from frozen in the air fryer

Ingredients Needed

  • Frozen Mozzarella Sticks – Use your favorite brand of frozen mozzarella sticks. 

Variations

I love making frozen mozzarella cheese sticks. The melty cheese and crispy coating are what make the perfect, gooey mozzarella sticks. Here are a few ways to switch things up:

  • Spicy Kick: Sprinkle the mozzarella sticks with cayenne or crushed red pepper before air frying.
  • Garlic Parmesan Style: After cooking, toss with garlic powder and grated parmesan for an extra flavor boost.
  • Italian Twist: Serve with warm marinara and a sprinkle of dried basil or oregano.
Box of frozen mozzarella sticks ready to be made in the air fryer.

How to Make Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer

Step 1
Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (199°C) for 3–5 minutes. Prepare the basket with a nonstick cooking spray. You can also use parchment paper or foil after your air fryer has been preheated. 

Step 2
Place the frozen mozzarella cheese sticks in a single layer in the prepared air fryer basket. Make sure to leave enough room around the cheese sticks to allow the hot air to fully circulate around the cheese sticks. 

Frozen mozzarella sticks placed in a single layer in the air fryer basket ready to cook.

Step 3
Air Fry the frozen cheese sticks at 390 degrees F for 5-7 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking. 

Step 4
Carefully remove the air fryer cheese sticks from the basket of the air fryer and serve with marinara for dipping. 

Tips for the Best Mozzarella Sticks

Here are a few of my favorite tips to make sure your mozzarella sticks come out perfect every single time:

  • Avoid overcrowding: Give each mozzarella stick a little space to ensure they cook evenly and get crispy all around.
  • Check early: Start checking at 5 minutes. Overcooking can cause the cheese to ooze out completely.
  • Line the basket (optional): Use parchment paper with holes or a silicone liner for easier cleanup, but only if your air fryer allows it.

Storage and Reheating

Store any remaining mozzarella sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat the mozzarella sticks at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is gooey and the coating is crispy. 

Even though it’s possible to reheat mozzarella sticks, I personally think they are best when they are fresh out of the air fryer. 

FAQs

Do I need to thaw frozen mozzarella sticks before air frying?

No, for best results, place the mozzarella sticks into the preheated air fryer directly from the freezer. No thawing is needed.

What dipping sauces can I use for mozzarella cheese sticks?

You can honestly use any dipping sauce such as Ranch dressing, Bbq sauce, Buffalo sauce, Blue cheese dip, or your favorite dipping sauce. I am old school and love using marinara sauce. 

How do I make Homemade Mozzarella Sticks?

This is a little more in depth, but you can definitely make these homemade mozza sticks for the air fryer. I like to use seasoned breadcrumbs by adding garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and ground black pepper. I also like to add in panko breadcrumbs to make them extra crispy. 

I’ll use Mozzarella string cheese that’s already pre-packaged and cut those in half. 

Create a breading station using shallow bowls with whisked eggs, flour, and the bread crumb mixture. Dip a piece of cheese in egg, then flour mixture, then egg mixture, and then the bread crumb and panko mixture. Repeat this process.

Place the coated cheese sticks on a baking sheet with parchment paper and then set them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. 

Preheat the air fryer, spritz the cheese sticks with oil and then air fry in a single layer until you have golden brown mozzarella sticks with gooey cheese on the inside and a crispy layer on the outside. 

I love this delicious homemade version when I have the additional time to make them. 

You can also spice things up by adding some hot sauce to the egg mixture or creole seasoning to the breading process.

Mozzarella cheese sticks that were frozen and then air fried - placed on a white plate and topped with fresh parsley.

I love these mozzarella string cheese sticks as a snack, and so do my kids. It’s one of my favorite easy appetizer recipes. 

More Air Fryer Appetizers

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.

Frozen Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks on a white plate with dipping sauce and topped with fresh parsley.
4.89 from 9 votes
Servings: 5

Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks

We figured out how to make the perfect frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer. Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are perfectly crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. You'll have this dish ready in less than 10 minutes from start to finish! 
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 8 minutes
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Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients 

  • 10 mozzarella sticks, frozen

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit or 198 degrees Celcius. Prepare the basket with a nonstick cooking spray, [archment paper, or foil after your air fryer has been preheated.
  • Place the frozen mozzarella cheese sticks in a single layer in the prepared air fryer basket. Make sure to leave enough room around the cheese sticks to allow the hot air to fully circulate around the cheese sticks. 
  • Air Fry the frozen cheese sticks for 5-7 minutes, flipping the cheese sticks halfway through cooking. 
  • Carefully remove the air fryer cheese sticks from the basket of the air fryer and serve with marinara for dipping. 

Notes

All air fryers aren’t created equal. I use a Cosori 5.8qt air fryer and find that this is the perfect recipe for temperature and time for this mozzarella stick recipe. If you are using a different brand of air fryer, make sure you do a test run and start checking on the cheese sticks a minute or two before they are finished. You may have to add or take away a minute is you’re using a different brand of air fryer. 
Use any dipping sauce such as Ranch dressing, Bbq sauce, Buffalo sauce, Blue cheese dip, or your favorite dipping sauce. I am old school and love using marinara sauce. 
Store any remaining mozzarella sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the mozzarella sticks on 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is gooey and the coating is crispy. 
Even though it’s possible to reheat mozzarella sticks, I personally think they are best when they are fresh out of the air fryer. 

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 440mg, Vitamin A: 8IU, Calcium: 40mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jen Gamble

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4.89 from 9 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. Pam says:

    5 stars
    Have used your recipe on dozens of occasions and ty it has it spot on for me 🙂

    Reply
    1. Rebecca says:

      Thank you for sharing! And thank you for the feedback!

      Reply