Air Fryer Ranch Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients

1 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
One 1-ounce package ranch dressing mix
2 large eggs
One 12-ounce bag mozzarella string cheese
Nonstick cooking spray, for coating
Chopped fresh parsley and marinara sauce, for serving

Directions

Add the breadcrumbs to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 4 minutes.

Transfer the breadcrumbs to a medium shallow bowl and stir in the black pepper and half of the ranch dressing mix (reserve the remaining mix for another purpose). Crack the eggs into another medium shallow bowl and whisk to combine. Cut each cheese stick in half crosswise.

Dip a cheese stick in the eggs to coat completely, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl. Coat the cheese stick in the breadcrumb mixture, patting to adhere and cover completely. Dip the cheese stick back in the eggs and then back in the breadcrumb mixture a second time. Transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cheese sticks, eggs and breadcrumbs.

Freeze the mozzarella sticks until frozen solid, at least 2 hours and up to 4 months in the freezer in a resealable freezer bag.

To cook, preheat a air fryer to 390 degrees F. Lightly coat each mozzarella stick with nonstick spray.

Working in batches, fill the air fryer basket with mozzarella sticks, making sure there’s space between each so they’re not touching. Cook, flipping once, until the mozzarella sticks are just beginning to ooze cheese out of the ends, 3 to 4 minutes total. Gently remove them to a serving plate and top with parsley. Serve with marinara sauce.