Homemade Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Gluten Free Option)

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Whether you're gluten free or not, this recipe gives you perfectly light and crispy homemade mozzarella sticks without deep frying.

Prep: 15

Cook: 10

Freeze: 1

Total: 1 21

Recipe makes approximately 2 servings

Get Recipe Ingredients

Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Lay 6 mozzarella sticks side-by-side on cutting board. Use sharp knife to carefully cut mozzarella sticks in half horizontally, creating 12 short mozzarella sticks.
Transfer short mozzarella sticks to prepared baking sheet. Place baking sheet in freezer and let cheese set up at least 30 minutes.
Just before removing mozzarella sticks from freezer, crack egg directly into 1 shallow bowl. Whisk egg vigorously until mixture is pale in color and no longer streaky. Set bowl aside.
Fill second shallow bowl with flour and set aside.
Fill third shallow bowl with breadcrumbs, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning (if gluten-free). Quickly mix ingredients with hand to combine spices and breadcrumbs. Set bowl aside.
Remove baking sheet from freezer.

Working one by one, dip mozzarella stick in whisked egg, coating cheese completely. Allow excess egg to drip off cheese stick and back into bowl.
Place cheese stick in flour. Lightly coat cheese stick in flour on all sides, then shake any excess flour back into bowl.
After coating mozzarella stick in flour, return cheese to egg wash. Coat cheese completely in egg, allow excess egg to drip back into bowl, then transfer cheese stick to breadcrumb mixture.
Lightly coat cheese stick in breadcrumb mixture on all sides, covering completely. Gently press mozzarella stick into breadcrumbs to ensure crumb coating sticks. Shake excess breadcrumbs back into bowl, then place breaded cheese stick back on baking sheet.
Repeat with remaining mozzarella sticks until all have been breaded.
Once all mozzarella sticks have been breaded and placed on baking sheet, return baking sheet to freezer. Allow mozzarella sticks to set up in freezer at least 30 minutes.
Freeze for Later (Optional): If desired, stop here and transfer frozen, breaded cheese sticks to sealable freezer bag or other airtight container. Keep cheese sticks in freezer up to 3 months. Continue with cooking process below when ready to enjoy. Do not defrost cheese sticks first.

Just before removing baking sheet from freezer, preheat air fryer to 370° Fahrenheit.
Once air fryer is preheated, remove baking sheet from freezer. Lightly spray air fryer basket with cooking spray that's safe for air fryers.
Place frozen mozzarella sticks in air fryer basket, working in batches as needed to ensure cheese sticks don't stack, overlap, or touch at all.
Return basket to air fryer. Air fry mozzarella sticks 3 minutes, then pause air fryer and remove basket. Use tongs to quickly and carefully flip mozzarella sticks over.
Return basket to air fryer and air fryer mozzarella sticks 3 minutes more, or until breading is crisp and lightly golden, and cheese is warmed through.
Remove basket from air fryer and transfer mozzarella sticks to plate or bowl. Repeat cooking process with any remaining mozzarella sticks.
Serve cheese sticks warm with marinara or ranch dressing if desired.

For store-bought frozen cheese sticks in the air fryer, check out our post here!
For gluten-free mozzarella sticks that are fried on the stovetop, we've got a perfect recipe over here!