Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Dip
Air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks are amazing. This game day snack will definitely remind you why you love the air fryer! This tasty air fryer appetizer is easy to make with ground chicken and mozzarella sticks. You can also call them mozzarella stick chicken fries.
Servings: 8
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds ground chicken
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 eggs large
- 1 Cup bread crumbs Italian, divided
- 1 Tablespoon parsley chopped
- 4 Cloves garlic minced
- 9 cheese sticks mozzarella
- 1 Cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/4 Cup heavy cream
- 1 Cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Cup marinara sauce for dipping
- nonstick cooking spray as needed
Instructions
- Combine ground chicken, salt, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, 1 egg, ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs, parsley, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl. Thoroughly mix.
- Cut cheese sticks in half down the length.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over a plate. Remove ¼ cup of the ground chicken and place onto the plastic wrap. Lightly flatten ground chicken with a spoon and form into a rectangle. Lay a cheese stick next to the chicken as you work to aid in measuring - you will want the chicken to be slightly longer than the cheese.
- Place the cheese stick into the center. Use the plastic wrap to wrap the cheese with the chicken. Twist both ends of the plastic wrap in opposite directions to tightly seal the chicken around the cheese stick and help it to hold its shape. Place onto a baking sheet and store in the fridge as you work.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 with remaining chicken and cheese sticks.
- Prepare a dredging station. In a shallow dish, combine flour and garlic salt. Add whisked eggs and heavy cream to a second dish. In a third shallow dish, combine remaining Italian breadcrumbs and pankobread crumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Dredge the chicken in the flour, then the eggs, after excess eggs have dropped off roll each stick in the bread crumbs. Press crumbs gently to adhere.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange chicken sticks in a single layer. Cook for 12 minutes, stopping once halfway through to turn
- Serve with marinara sauce as dip and garnish with parsley.
Notes
Add the coating: I find it easier to use one hand for the dry dipping then the other for the egg mixture and then once they have the crumb coating on I can again use the 'dry' hand to press the crumbs in. Everyone has their own favorite method for dredging and dipping though, so do whatever works for you.
Check for doneness: You might like to slice one of the air fried mozzarella sticks in half to check the chicken is cooked through.
Best served hot: Serve these immediately, while they're still hot and crispy!
Check for doneness: You might like to slice one of the air fried mozzarella sticks in half to check the chicken is cooked through.
Best served hot: Serve these immediately, while they're still hot and crispy!
Nutrition
Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 207mg | Sodium: 1393mg | Potassium: 798mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 449IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 4mg
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