Description
Crispy golden mozzarella sticks deliver irresistible Italian comfort right from your air fryer. Cheese lovers will savor these perfectly crunchy breaded delights that bring restaurant-quality appetizers home with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 mozzarella sticks, cut in half
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Arrange a trio of shallow vessels for coating: one with powdery flour, another with whisked eggs, and the final with seasoned panko crumbs blended with aromatic herbs and spices.
- Carefully enrobe each frozen cheese cylindrical piece with a delicate flour dusting, ensuring complete coverage.
- Submerge the floured cheese stick into beaten eggs, allowing excess to drip away, creating a smooth adhesive layer.
- Roll the egg-dipped cheese stick through herbed breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to secure a comprehensive, crispy exterior.
- Preheat air fryer to a sizzling 390°F, ensuring optimal temperature for crisp transformation.
- Position breaded cheese sticks in a singular, non-overlapping arrangement within the air fryer basket, promoting even heat circulation.
- Suspend cheese sticks in heated air fryer chamber for approximately 6-8 minutes, rotating midway to guarantee uniform golden-brown coloration.
- Monitor closely during final moments to prevent excessive browning or potential cheese leakage.
- Extract immediately once achieving a gorgeous, crisp exterior with molten cheese core.
- Present piping hot alongside zesty marinara or preferred dipping companion for maximum gustatory pleasure.
Notes
- Chill the mozzarella sticks for at least 2 hours before breading to prevent cheese from melting too quickly during cooking.
- Use low-moisture mozzarella for better structure and less leakage in the air fryer.
- Freeze breaded sticks for 15-20 minutes before air frying to create a crispier exterior and help retain cheese inside.
- Spray a light coating of cooking oil on breaded sticks to enhance golden-brown color and crunchiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg