Ingredients

8.5 ounces bag Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Crunchy crushed into fine crumbs (approximately 3 cups)
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs room temperature
1 tablespoon water room temperature
12 (1 ounce) mozzarella string cheese sticks cut in half
Olive oil cooking spray

Garnish:
¼-½ cup bottled ranch dressing

Directions

To a food processor, add the crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, and pulse for 30-60 seconds or until you have very fine crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a medium sized dish suitable for dipping, and coating, the cheese sticks. Set aside.

To a second medium sized dish combine together the all-purpose flour and salt. Set aside.

In a third medium sized dish whisk together the eggs and water. Set aside.

Once you have your dredging station ready (the Cheetos crumbs, flour and egg dishes) place a medium rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, next to the other dishes. You will need to have all your coatings ready before you start coating the cheese sticks.

Place a single cheese stick half into the egg wash and coat it completely. Using a fork, lift the cheese stick out of the egg and place it into the flour mixture to coat it completely with the flour. Return it back to the egg, coat completely then lift out of the egg again with a fork and allow any excess egg to drip back into the bowl.

Place the egg and flour coated cheese stick into the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs and gently roll to evenly coat the cheese stick in the crumbs. Remove from the crumbs and place onto the prepared baking tray.

Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all the cheese sticks are coated and placed onto the tray. Place the tray of Hot Cheetos Cheese Sticks into the freezer for 50 minutes. The cheese sticks need to be frozen for best air frying results.

Once the cheese sticks are frozen, remove them from the freezer and lightly spray them with olive oil cooking spray on both sides.

Preheat an air fryer to 390* F for 5 minutes.

Place 10 cheese sticks into the basket of the preheated air fryer, being sure to leave space between each cheese stick, and fry for 5-7 minutes or until hot and crunchy. Transfer to a plate and air fry the remaining cheese sticks.

Remove the Hot Cheetos cheese sticks from the air fryer and place them onto a serving plate with a side of ranch sauce for dipping when served.