Golden Crunch Mozzarella Sticks (Oven or Air Fryer) Recipe
Golden Crunch Mozzarella Sticks are a crispy, cheesy snack made with part-skim mozzarella string cheese coated in a seasoned panko breadcrumb crust. Perfectly cooked in the oven or air fryer, these mozzarella sticks achieve a golden, crunchy exterior with a gooey melted cheese center, served best with warm marinara sauce or ranch dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 mozzarella sticks 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
The Cheese
- 12 part-skim mozzarella string cheese sticks
The Flour
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
The Egg Wash
- 2 large eggs, beaten (optional splash of milk or water)
The Crunch
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
The Flavor
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
The Finish
- Cooking oil spray
For Dipping
- Warm marinara sauce or ranch dressing
Instructions
- Freeze the Cheese Sticks: Arrange the 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes to ensure they are very firm before breading.
- Prepare Breading Stations: Set up three shallow bowls—one with ½ cup of all-purpose flour, one with 2 beaten eggs (with an optional splash of milk or water), and one with 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs mixed with 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper for seasoning.
- Coat the Cheese Sticks: Remove the frozen cheese sticks and coat each one first in flour, then dip in the egg wash, followed by the seasoned panko breadcrumbs. For a thicker crust, repeat the egg wash and panko coating steps one more time.
- Freeze Again: Place the coated cheese sticks back on the parchment-lined tray and freeze for at least 30 minutes to an hour until they are solid. This step prevents the cheese from melting too quickly during cooking.
- Cook in Air Fryer or Oven: For air fryer, preheat to 390°F–400°F (200°C) and place the sticks in a single layer. Lightly spray with oil, cook for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crisping. For oven, preheat to 400°F (200°C), place sticks on a wire rack for even heat circulation, spray lightly with oil, and bake for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Rest and Serve: Let the mozzarella sticks rest for one minute after cooking to cool slightly and set. Serve warm with your choice of warm marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping.
Notes
- Avoid overcrowding the cooking appliance to ensure even crisping of mozzarella sticks.
- Cooking times may vary based on appliance and stick thickness; monitor closely.
- Breaded and frozen mozzarella sticks can be stored in an airtight freezer-safe bag for up to one month.