Looking for a dippable, cheesy snack? Then you should definitely try making frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer!
Cooked right from frozen and hot and crispy in no time, they make a great snack or appetizer and taste delicious dipped in a simple marinara sauce!
Recipe Tips
- You don’t need to thaw the mozzarella sticks before cooking.
- There’s no need to add extra oil to the mozzarella sticks before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer so the mozzarella sticks can cook and crisp evenly.
- Since there are so many different brands of frozen mozzarella sticks, be sure to keep an eye on yours. The cooking time may vary slightly – and you don’t want to overcook them to the point where they explode!
- For the best taste, serve the mozzarella sticks right away.
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Step by Step Instructions
If you want to see the step-by-step process photos for how to cook frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer, check out this section. It’s super easy!
Otherwise, you can skip to the bottom of this post to check out the recipe card.
Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. When it is hot, add the frozen mozzarella sticks in one even layer without overlap.
As you can see in the photo above, two of our mozzarella sticks were frozen together and we couldn’t separate them. In that case, it is obviously fine if they are touching. Just keep in mind that they likely won’t get as crispy as the other ones.
Cook the mozzarella sticks for a total of 5-6 minutes until hot. Flip after 3 minutes.
Watch/listen closely after the 4-minute mark since they can pop open quickly and spill their cheesy filling.
The cooking time can vary depending on the brand of mozzarella sticks you use and your air fryer.
Once heated through and crispy on the outside, carefully remove the sticks from the air fryer with silicone tongs and serve them with a dipping sauce of choice!
Mozzarella sticks taste great with a tomato-based dipping sauce. If you want to go classic “pub style”, serve them with marinara sauce!
These mozza sticks can be enjoyed as a simple snack on their own or as one of many appetizers as you watch the big game!
Storage Tips
Mozzarella sticks taste best when they are hot and crispy, so don’t plan to make extra for leftovers.
If you end up with leftovers, store them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. Keep in mind that they may get slightly soggy over time.
To reheat, use the air fryer to bring back some of their crispiness.
Related Recipes
Here are some more frozen appetizers that you can just toss in the air fryer:
- Air Fryer Frozen Spring Rolls
- Frozen Fried Pickles in the Air Fryer
- Air Fried Mini Quiche (From Frozen)
- Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Shrimp
- Frozen Mini Empanadas in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- 8-9 frozen mozzarella sticks
- marinara sauce for dipping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once hot, add the frozen mozzarella sticks in one even layer. The sticks should not be touching so that they can cook and crisp evenly.
- Cook the mozzarella sticks at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes total until hot. Flip after 3 minutes. Watch/listen closely after the 4-minute mark since they can pop open quite quickly and spill their cheesy filling. The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer and the brand of mozzarella sticks you use.
- Once heated through and crispy on the outside, carefully remove the sticks from the air fryer and serve them with marinara dipping sauce or another dipping sauce of your choice!
Video
Notes
- You don’t need to thaw the mozzarella sticks before cooking.
- There’s no need to add extra oil to the mozzarella sticks before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer so the mozzarella sticks can cook and crisp evenly.
- Since there are so many different brands of frozen mozzarella sticks, be sure to keep an eye on yours. The cooking time may vary slightly – and you don’t want to overcook them to the point where they explode!
- For the best taste, serve the mozzarella sticks right away.
- The cheese filling inside the mozzarella sticks will be very hot, so enjoy them carefully!
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
This post was first published in April 2021 and updated in July 2024.
