Air fryer frozen mozzarella sticks make a perfect easy snack or quick appetizer. They’re crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and ready in minutes. This makes them great for an afterschool snack, game night appetizer, or football game day party tray!

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

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Whether you’re whipping these up for a party, game night, or just a personal treat, this recipe ticks all the boxes. I’m a huge fan of my air fryer and I think it’s the best way to make frozen foods. When we needed a new oven, I even got one that has an air fryer option so I can use it or my air fryer!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and easy: If you have 10 minutes, you can whip up a batch of air fryer frozen mozzarella sticks. It takes about 5 minutes to cook as many as will fit in your air fryer basket!
Best crispy texture: There’s nothing worse than soggy mozzarella sticks. You just can’t have it and the air fryer makes sure your cheese sticks come out crispy and crunchy!
Crowd pleaser: Mozzarella sticks are a great snack for all ages. You can pair them with so many different dipping sauces that there is really a flavor combo for everyone! Scroll down for some of our favorite dipping sauces for frozen mozzarella sticks!

Ingredients and Equipment

There’s one must-have for your grocery list for this recipe:

1 package of frozen mozzarella sticks

For this recipe I used Appetito’s mozzarella sticks from Aldi but you can use your favorite brand!

Depending on how you plan to serve them, there are some other things you might want to buy. Marinara is a classic dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks along with ranch dressing. So you might want to pick up some dipping sauces while you’re shopping too!

To make this recipe as easy as possible, you’ll only need a couple of basic items from your kitchen.

Tongs are super helpful when you need to turn the cheese sticks and when getting them out of the air fryer basket.

Step by Step Instructions

The cook time on this recipe is about 5 minutes. You can make as many as fit in your air fryer basket. For me, this is 8 to 10 cheese sticks usually.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. If your air fryer does not have a preheat setting, you can just set it to cook for a few minutes. Preheating your air fryer helps the sticks crisp up better.
Place the mozzarella sticks in the basket of the air fryer in a single layer. Make sure you don’t overcrowd them. Leave room for the air to circulate around each of the cheese sticks.
Air fry for 4 to 5 minutes or until the breading is crispy. Turn the mozzarella sticks halfway through the cooking time.
Remove from the air fryer basket and serve with your favorite dipping sauces.

Leftovers & Reheating

The great thing about making air fryer cheese sticks is that you can make just the amount that you need. But if you do have leftovers, you can save them.

Be sure to allow them to cool completely before putting them away. Place them in an airtight container or use a resealable plastic bag. You can refrigerate them for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing these. They’re just not the same if you freeze them, thaw them, and reheat them so skip the freezer.

The air fryer is the best way to reheat frozen mozzarella sticks. It’s the best way to get the crispiness back. To use the air fryer, preheat the itr to 350°F for 2-3 minutes. Arrange the mozzarella sticks in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd the basket. Heat for 3-4 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

Dipping Sauces

If you’re looking for ideas for dipping your cheese sticks, try one of these:

Classic Marinara Sauce
Ranch Dressing
Horseradish Aioli
Buffalo Sauce
Honey Mustard
Barbecue Sauce
Spicy Mayo
Sweet Chili Sauce
Alfredo Sauce
Garlic Dipping Sauce

Tips & Tricks

Preheat your air fryer before cooking the cheese sticks for the best texture.
Air fryer cooking times can vary from model to model. You want to check on the mozzarella sticks near the end of the cooking time. If you overcook them, the cheese will leak out.
Do not thaw the frozen mozzarella sticks. You want to cook them frozen.
You can use different dipping sauces, but you can also try extra seasonings when the cheese sticks come out of the air fryer. Lightly sprinkle some garlic powder or Italian seasoning on the sticks before they cool for a pop of flacor.

FAQs

How long do you cook frozen mozzarella cheese sticks in an air fryer?
Typically 4-5 minutes at 400°F works well. But cooking time can vary by air fryer model so you may need to add a minute or two. It can also take longer if you’re cooking them in an oven style air fryer instead of a basket air fryer.

Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Preheating helps you get crispier results, so I highly recommend it.

Can I thaw mozzarella sticks before air frying them?
No. Cook them straight from frozen to prevent the cheese from melting too quickly and leaking out.

How do I prevent the cheese from leaking?
Avoid overcooking your air-fried mozzarella sticks. Stop once the cheese begins to soften or slightly ooze out. Every air fryer is different, so adjust cooking time accordingly.

Can I cook multiple mozzarella sticks at once?
Yes, but don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange them in a single layer with space in between for even cooking.

How do I clean up melted cheese in the air fryer?
If cheese does melt onto the basket, let it cool completely, then gently scrape it off.

More Air Fryer Frozen Foods

If you like making frozen foods in the air fryer, try some of our other favorites:

Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks

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Cook Time: 1

Equipment

Ingredients

1 package Frozen mozzarella sticks

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
Place the mozzarella sticks in the basket of the air fryer in a single layer.
Air fry for 4 to 5 minutes or until the breading is crispy. Turn the mozzarella sticks halfway through the cooking time.
Remove from the air fryer basket and serve with your favorite dipping sauces.

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