Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer

Cooking this fun finger food with hot air vs. the oven is so much better!! Since we we’ve been making lots of air fryer recipes I’ve been tinkering with cooking all the things in it. These cheese sticks are no exception to the rule that everything is better air fried!

These and our air fryer cheese curdsare probably my biggest weaknesses. I love being able to add just a few for a quick snack. My teenagers love how crunchy they get, and can “cook” by themselves when I am away.

Ninja Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks

You can use any of the machines out there on the market. I have a few and there really aren’t a lot of differences other than if you are making as a Ninja Foodi recipe then you will use the lid that IS attached with the air crisp button on the front and you’re good to go!

If you have not transitioned to baking things right out of your freezer in this hot air basket you are in for a real treat. Everything is so so so much better, takes less time and tastes like what you get served at a restaurant for way cheaper.

It was a big surprise to me just how much I enjoyed everything cooked in this thing to be quite honest. I thought “why bother” until I tried it with these air fryer frozen chicken nuggets. We will NEVER cook them in the oven again after this. They just don’t come out nearly as crispy, and the cook time is so much faster. Game over.

How Long to Cook Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer

There is a bit of a range depending on how large yours are. FarmRich is what we used here and love because the cheese comes out nice and gooey inside so I recommend this one. You only need about 6 minutes total for the perfect texture so start with this and adjust the last minute if it isn’t as crispy as you’d like.

Tips for Success

Let’s talk about the biggest tip when it comes to air frying food: Do NOT overlap pieces! You need all areas to have a bit of space so browning and crisping can occur. Now for me the exception to this rule is when I’m cooking air fryer vegetables. There’s no breading on those so it doesn’t matter as much.

How do you know how long to cook each item though?? Well this air fryer frozen food cooking times printable is a huge help! Go ahead and print this out now and tape it to your fridge. I will wait. 😉 Note: Timing will vary depending on how thick the brand you use is, and how crispy you want the outsides. Whether you use a Cosorior other brand won’t change it though.

What sauce do you use for mozzarella sticks?

Of course you can use whatever you wish but if you’re new to this cheesy snack here are a few suggestions. Fry sauce is probably top on our list, bottled or you can make your own of course.

1. Marinara sauce is what is usually served on the side in restaurants
2. We love bang bang shrimp sauce too.
3. Blue cheese dressing can be an option
4. Ketchup goes on anything really
5. Mustard dip is my husband’s favorite

FAQ

They can if you cook them too long. I mean “explode” is a bit of an exaggeration but yes the cheese will begin to leak out if they are cooked beyond the suggested time and temp so just stick to 6 minutes.

You do want to keep the air out. Wait until they cool off completely and store in a freezer bag with the air sucked out, in the fridge for up to 3 days for the ideal texture when reheating.

You are going to want to use an air fryer!! Ideally you should preheat your machine at 400F for 5 minutes. Lay in a single layer for about 2 minutes to heat the inside and crisp the outer breading again.

Other air fryer recipes you’ll love

Our air fryer quesadilla recipe, air fryer grilled cheese, andfrozen french fries in air fryer are probably our go to’s! Try our air fryer fish sticks for dinner too.