There’s nothing better than crispy, cheesy bites of goodness fresh out of the air fryer! These Air Fryer Crispy Cheese Bites are the perfect snack for any occasion—whether you’re hosting a birthday party, watching the big game, or just craving something extra delicious. They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and best of all, they skip the deep-frying for a lighter take on a classic favorite!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
I’ll be the first to admit it—I’m completely obsessed with my air fryer. It’s my go-to kitchen appliance, and I use it every single day. From delicious air fried salmon to air fried roasted veggies to even desserts like air fryer donuts, it does it all. But these Crispy Cheese Bites? They might just be my favorite air fryer recipe yet! Here’s why you’ll love them too!
- Crispy & Cheesy: The perfect combination of crunchy coating and melty cheese inside.
- Healthier Alternative: No deep frying means less oil, but all the flavor. Think of them as a miniature version of a mozzarella stick, except not deep fried in a bunch of grease!
- Quick & Easy: Only a handful of ingredients and minimal prep.
- Kid-Approved: My kids devour these in seconds! They’re the perfect after school snack!
- Perfect Party Snack: Great recipe for game day, birthdays, or even movie night. And if you’re looking for more air fryer recipes (who isn’t?), try out 11 Easy Recipes For Your Air Fryer.
The Ingredients
- Mozzarella string cheese sticks: The ultimate melty cheese for this recipe.
- All-purpose flour: Helps the egg and panko coating stick.
- Large eggs: Binds the breadcrumbs for a crispy exterior.
- Breadcrumbs or panko: For that golden crunch.
- Italian herbs: Adds a flavorful kick. Experiment with any seasonings you love!
- Olive oil or your favorite cooking spray: A little bit of oil ensures even crispiness.
- Marinara sauce (or your favorite dipping sauce): Because everything is better dipped!
Variations and Substitutions
- Change the Cheese: If you find a different cheese stick flavor you want to try, go for it! Cheddar, pepper jack, or anything you prefer.
- Go Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour to make these gluten-free.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat.
- Dipping Sauce Options – While marinara is a classic, ranch, buffalo sauce, or a garlic aioli are also fantastic choices.
How to Make Air Fryer Crispy Cheese Bites
Step 1: Cut each cheese stick into 4 even pieces making 24 pieces.
- Step 2: Place the flour in a bowl.
Step 3: Whisk the eggs and 2 teaspoons of water in a separate bowl.
Step 4: Whisk the breadcrumbs or panko, Italian herbs and salt in a third bowl creating an assembly line.
Step 5: Dip cheese cube in flour and tap off to remove excess, then into the egg and finally into breadcrumb mixture throughly coating and place in air fryer basket. Repeat with remaining cheese cubes.
Step 6: Coat cheese cubes with cooking spray and cook the cheese cubes in the air fryer at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Serve with favorite dipping sauce.
Tips and Tricks
- Freeze Before Cooking: If you have time, you can pop your coated cheese bites into the freezer for 10-15 minutes before air frying them. This helps them hold their shape and not melt too fast when cooking.
- Double Coat for Extra Crunch: Want an even crispier bite? Repeat the breading process for an extra layer of crunch. This could also help with preventing the cheese from oozing out.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Cook in batches if needed to allow for even crisping.
- Reheat Leftovers: We rarely have leftover, but if you do, air fry at 350°F for a couple minutes to bring back the crispiness.
FAQs
Yes! You can bread the cheese bites and freeze them in an airtight container. When ready to cook, air fry straight from frozen. Just add an extra minute or two to the cooking time.
Absolutely! Bake at 400°F for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.
More Easy Air Fryer Snacks
If you’re looking for the perfect air fryer snack, these Crispy Cheese Bites are a must-try! Quick, easy, and irresistibly delicious, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone. Give them a try and let me know what you think by leaving a comment and rating below!
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Air Fryer Crispy Cheese Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or panko
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- olive oil or favorite cooking spray
- marinara sauce, warmed or favorite dipping sauce
Instructions
- Cut each cheese stick into 4 even pieces making 24 pieces.
- Place the flour in a bowl.
- Whisk the eggs and 2 teaspoons of water in a separate bowl.
- Whisk the breadcrumbs or panko, Italian herbs and salt in a third bowl creating an assembly line.
- Dip cheese cube in flour and tap off to remove excess, then in the egg and finally into breadcrumb mixture throughly coating. Place in air fryer basket. Repeat with remaining cheese cubes.
- Coat cheese cubes with cooking spray and air fry at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until golden.
- Serve with favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
-
- Freeze Before Cooking: If you have time, you can pop your coated cheese bites into the freezer for 10-15 minutes before air frying them. This helps them hold their shape and not melt too fast when cooking.
-
- Double Coat for Extra Crunch: Want an even crispier bite? Repeat the breading process for an extra layer of crunch. This could also help with preventing the cheese from oozing out.
-
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Cook in batches if needed to allow for even crisping.
- Bake: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these at 400°F for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.
These were delicious, I also had extra of the egg, flour, and panko. I did fine that the cheese did ooz out of the breading on some- is there a way to prevent this?
Make sure they’re thoroughly coated with the breading and/or freeze them for a little before cooking. It’s hard to prevent them from a little bit of ooze, but that can help. Let me know how it goes!
Amazing mine turned out perfect but I had lots of extra eggs flour and breeding still amazing recipe 10/10 would recommend
OH MY GOODNESS! These are the most delicious little bites of cheesy goodness. I doubled the cheese pieces and ended up only using half the breadcrumbs, and they were perfect!!
Can these be baked if I have no air fryer?
Sure! Bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes flipping halfway through.
Wondering if you can just cube up regular or pizza mozzarella?