Crispy Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Remove the wrappers from the mozzarella sticks and place them on a plate or tray. Freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least 1 hour before breading. This helps prevent the cheese from melting too quickly during air frying.

Prepare three separate bowls. Add flour to the first bowl. In the second bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. In the third bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, Italian breadcrumbs, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

Roll each frozen mozzarella stick in flour, then dip it into the egg mixture, and finally coat completely with the breadcrumb mixture. For extra crispy results, repeat the egg and breadcrumb coating process one more time. Place the coated mozzarella sticks back in the freezer for another 30 minutes before cooking.

Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange the mozzarella sticks in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray and air fry for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.

Carefully remove the mozzarella sticks from the air fryer and allow them to cool for 1–2 minutes. Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping