Air-Fried Mozzarella Cheese Bites (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 egg, lightly beaten
02 -
1 tablespoon water
03 -
½ cup all-purpose flour
04 -
½ teaspoon salt
05 -
½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
06 -
¾ cup panko bread crumbs
07 -
6 mozzarella cheese sticks, cut in half, crosswise
08 -
Cooking spray
09 -
¾ cup marinara sauce
10 -
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
# Instructions:
01 -
Whisk together the egg and water in a shallow dish. In a separate shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, and Italian seasoning. Place panko bread crumbs in a third shallow dish.
02 -
Dip each cheese stick into the egg mixture, then coat it with the flour mixture. Dip the cheese stick back into the egg mixture and finally into the panko bread crumbs until well-coated. Place coated cheese sticks on a baking sheet.
03 -
Freeze the coated cheese sticks on the baking sheet until firm, for about 1 hour.
04 -
Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
05 -
Place the frozen cheese bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed. Cook until golden brown and the cheese just begins to melt, for about 4 to 6 minutes.
06 -
In a bowl, stir together marinara sauce and crushed red pepper.
07 -
Serve the mozzarella bites warm with marinara sauce for dipping.