I think we can all agree mozzarella sticks are a great appetizer, and the best way to make them crispy on the outside and oozing with hot gooey cheese on the inside is by air frying them to perfection! Air Fryer mozzarella sticks and your favorite marinara sauce are the perfect combinations for a quick snack, or to feed hungry fans on game day.
Air Fryer frozen mozzarella sticks were inspired by my other easy air fryer appetizer recipes: homemade air fryer pizza rolls, air-fried chicken flautas, homemade french fries, and air-fried Alexia sweet potato fries. No need for messy oily deep frying.
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Ingredients
- Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
- Favorite Dipping Sauce
Air Fry Range Instructions
Select the air fry setting on the oven/range and set the temperature to 375° Place the frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer and place the air fry tray on the 3rd rack position from the bottom with a drip pan on the rack directly below.
Air Fry for 12 minutes, turning or shaking the pan halfway through the cooking time. For best results use an air fry rack that elevates the food above the sheet pan to allow hot air to circulate around the food and crisp it evenly. Continue to air fry for 1-2 minutes longer if needed but watch closely, if you overcook them they will easily split open.
Counter Top Air Fryer Instructions
Place frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the countertop air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 400° Air for 6 minutes. If needed shake the basket and continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes to crisp the breading up completely. Watch them closely to avoid the cheese from oozing out.
What To Serve With Mozzarella Sticks
Whether you're hosting a party or having friends over during football season easy air fryer recipes will save you time and energy. Save money and make your own appetizer party platters with easy frozen foods or mix in a few from-scratch appetizers for a variety of delicious snacks.
Frozen Foods:
- Jalapeno Poppers
- French Fries
- Tater Tots
- Chicken Nuggets
- Onion Rings
- Alexia Sweet Potato Fries
- Sticky Fingers
Homemade Appetizers:
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
- Chicken Flautas
- Homemade Pizza Rolls
- Coconut Shrimp
- Garlic Knots Stuffed With Cheese
What Brand Of Mozzarella Sticks Should I Buy?
I have tried different brands of frozen cheese sticks, and although they seem very similar you may want to check out the nutritional information for added ingredients and unnecessary ingredients if they don't fit into your family's dietary needs you may want to try your hand at making homemade mozzarella sticks.
How To Make Marinara Sauce From Tomato Sauce
If you don't have store-bought jarred marinara sauce on hand don't worry! You can make a quick and simple marinara dipping sauce with ingredients you probably already have on hand in the pantry. Starting with a 15oz jar of organic tomato sauce or a pint jar home homemade tomato sauce. Pour the tomato sauce into a small saucepan and heat it over low heat.
Add to the tomato sauce:
- 1 tsp. Italian blend seasoning
- 1 tsp. granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. sea salt (start with ½ tsp. and add additional if needed)
- ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes (optional, add to your level of spice)
- 1 tsp. granulated sugar or a scant ¼ tsp. of monk fruit sweetener to cut the acidity of the tomato sauce
Stir to combine the tomato sauce and the spices and simmer for 10-20 minutes on low. The longer you can simmer the better it will be, use a lid if needed to prevent the sauce from making a mess on the stovetop.
Substitutions
- Dipping Sauce- pizza sauce, ranch dressing, BBQ sauce
- Gluten-Free - check your local grocery store for a GF option like these
Variations
- Spicy -Serve with a spicy marinara or tomato sauce.
- Deluxe -Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, garlic powder & parmesan cheese
Equipment
To make a large batch of crispy mozzarella sticks for entertaining I prefer to use the air fry feature on my full-size air fry range. This allows me to make an easy appetizer for a crowd all at one time. To prepare smaller batches of 5-6 gooey mozzarella sticks for an easy snack I prefer to use a smaller air fryer. The countertop air fryer will be faster overall in air frying time for preparing a small batch, however, if you are feeding a crowd use the large air fryer to save time.
Please Note not all air fry ovens or countertop air fryers are the same. When you are cooking something for the first time watch it closely and adjust your cooking time and air fryer temperature accordingly. I recommend using a notebook and writing down what time and temperature work for each recipe.
Storage & Reheating
Once frozen mozzarella sticks have been air-fried it is best to enjoy them immediately, however, if you have air fryer cheese sticks left over place them into an airtight container for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. To reheat place them back into a 400° preheated air fry range and cook for 7-8 minutes or until the cheese inside is hot and the breading is crispy. To reheat in a small air fryer place them back on the air fry tray and cook for 1-2 minutes. They may not get as crisp when reheating them from the fridge but they still make a great snack.
Top tip
Watch mozzarella sticks carefully. When you air fry frozen mozzarella cheese sticks just 1 minute too long the cheesy goodness will burst out and your tasty snack will be ruined. When using the air fry oven place aluminum foil on the drip tray below the air frying rack for easy cleanup.
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