Get the best of both worlds with these Low Calorie Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks! Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, these sticks are a perfect snack or appetizer. Oven baked instructions included!
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Check out my Air Fryer Sweet Plantains (Plátanos Maduras) and my Air Fryer Carrot Chips for more great air fryer recipes!
Low calorie air fryer mozzarella sticks are a delicious and healthier alternative to the deep-fried version. They are made by coating mozzarella cheese sticks in a mixture of flour, eggs, and nonfat milk, and then rolling them in bread crumbs.
The coated sticks are then placed in an air fryer, where they are cooked until crispy and golden brown. This recipe is quick, easy, and results in a tasty snack that is lower in fat and calories compared to traditional mozzarella sticks.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe is quick and easy to make, taking only a few minutes to prepare and less than 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
- Air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying, as it uses less oil and results in a lower fat and calorie dish.
- The crispy breading combined with the melted, gooey mozzarella cheese is a delicious and irresistible combination.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Mozzarella Cheese: The main ingredient in this recipe and provides the delicious melted cheese center. It is best to use a block of mozzarella cheese and cut it into sticks rather than pre-packaged cheese sticks.
- Eggs: Binds the flour and bread crumbs to the cheese sticks and add moisture to the coating.
- Nonfat Milk: Makes the coating creamy and provides a slight boost of flavor.
- All Purpose Flour: Used to coat the cheese sticks before they are egg-washed and breaded. This helps the breading to stick to the cheese.
- Bread Crumbs: Provides a crispy outer layer and add a crunchy texture to the mozzarella sticks. You can use regular or seasoned breadcrumbs, depending on your preference.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut the mozzarella cheese into sticks and set aside.
Step 2: Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat lightly. Add nonfat milk to the eggs and mix well.
Step 3: Place the flour into another shallow bowl. In a third shallow bowl, place the bread crumbs.
Step 4: Coat each cheese stick in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into the egg mixture, then coat in the bread crumbs. Repeat this process for each cheese stick. Freeze cheese sticks for 1-2 hours.
Step 5: Set the air fryer to 400 ℉ and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the breading is crispy and golden brown.
Step 6: Remove the mozzarella sticks from the air fryer and let them cool for a minute before serving.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- To help prevent the cheese from melting out of the sticks during cooking, freeze the cheese sticks before air frying.
- To add extra flavor to your mozzarella sticks, use seasoned bread crumbs, such as Italian-seasoned bread crumbs.
- To be sure the mozzarella sticks cook evenly, don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
Variations
- Spicy: Mix in some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper into the breadcrumbs.
- Parmesan: Roll them in grated parmesan cheese before coating with the breadcrumbs.
- Herbed: Mix in some dried herbs, such as basil, oregano, or thyme, into the breadcrumbs.
- Whole Wheat: Use whole wheat breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
Oven Baked Mozzarella Sticks
- Cut the mozzarella cheese into sticks and set them aside.
- In a shallow bowl, crack the two large eggs and beat them lightly. Add the nonfat milk to the beaten eggs and mix well. Place the all-purpose flour into another shallow bowl. In a third shallow bowl, place the plain breadcrumbs.
- Take each mozzarella stick and coat it in the flour, making sure to shake off any excess flour. Dip the flour-coated cheese stick into the egg mixture, ensuring it is well coated. Finally, coat the cheese stick in the breadcrumbs, pressing the breadcrumbs onto the cheese to make sure it's evenly coated. Repeat this process for each cheese stick.
- Once all the cheese sticks are coated, place them on a tray or plate and freeze them for 1-2 hours. This helps the breading to adhere better during baking.
- Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking. Place the frozen mozzarella sticks on the baking sheet in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. Bake in the preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until the breading is crispy and the cheese inside is melted.
- Once the mozzarella sticks are done baking, carefully remove them from the oven. Allow them to cool for a minute or two before serving to avoid burning your mouth with the hot cheese inside.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: If you have any leftover mozzarella sticks, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, place them in the air fryer and cook at 400 ℉ for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
Freezing: To freeze the mozzarella sticks, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours, or until solid. Once frozen, transfer the mozzarella sticks to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, place the frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer and cook at 400 ℉ for 8-10 minutes, or until crispy and heated through.
Note: You can also freeze the coated cheese sticks before cooking them. Simply follow the steps for freezing, then place the frozen cheese sticks in the air fryer and cook as directed. This makes it easy to have a quick and delicious snack on hand any time!
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use different types of cheese, such as cheddar or gouda, to make your mozzarella sticks. Just keep in mind that different types of cheese may melt differently, so you may need to adjust the cooking time.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Low Calorie Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Special Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces block mozzarella cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons nonfat milk
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Cut the mozzarella cheese into sticks and set aside.
- Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat lightly. Add nonfat milk to the eggs and mix well.
- Place the flour into another shallow bowl. In a third shallow bowl, place the bread crumbs.
- Coat each cheese stick in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into the egg mixture, then coat in the bread crumbs. Repeat this process for each cheese stick. Freeze cheese sticks for 1-2 hours.
- Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the breading is crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the mozzarella sticks from the air fryer and let them cool for a minute before serving.
Notes
- To help prevent the cheese from melting out of the sticks during cooking, freeze the cheese sticks before air frying.
- To add extra flavor to your mozzarella sticks, use seasoned bread crumbs, such as Italian-seasoned bread crumbs.
- To be sure the mozzarella sticks cook evenly, don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Storing: If you have any leftover mozzarella sticks, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, place them in the air fryer and cook at 400 ℉ for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
- Freezing: To freeze the mozzarella sticks, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours, or until solid. Once frozen, transfer the mozzarella sticks to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, place the frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer and cook at 400 ℉ for 8-10 minutes, or until crispy and heated through.
- Note: You can also freeze the coated cheese sticks before cooking them. Simply follow the steps for freezing, then place the frozen cheese sticks in the air fryer and cook as directed. This makes it easy to have a quick and delicious snack on hand any time!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Cyndy
Oh I love this idea - just testing out a new Air Fryer and this is so easy!
Eileen Kelly
We love mozzarella sticks but not all the frying. This is a great recipe because it's delicious and way healthier than deep frying.
Tonje
These mozzarella sticks were amazing! So incredibly good, and I love that they are a bit healthier.
Dannii
Such a great idea to make mozzarella sticks in the air fryer.
Sara Welch
Another great recipe for my air fryer! These will make a great afternoon snack after school! Delicious!
Mary
These are gooey and so good! (And easy!)
Genevieve
Love mozzarella sticks and these sound so easy to make!
Urwah
I also have an air fryer and it is totally life changing! I can’t wait to try these out!!
Kendra
Love cheese sticks! Love my air fryer! Love saving calories! SOLD! 🙂
Josi
These look great! I need to try my hand at making more stuff in the air fryer. My toaster oven has an air fryer basket and I need to utilize it more!!
Jenna Hodge
These look so good! I love mozzarella sticks and can't wait to try this out!