Step 1

Place halved cheese sticks into a ziplock baggie and place in freezer until frozen, at least 30 minutes.

Step 2

Place egg into a shallow bowl and whisk until broken up. Set aside.

Step 3

Place breadcrumbs, panko, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, and smoked paprika in another shallow bowl and whisk until well combined. Set aside.

Step 4

Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Step 5

Place frozen cheese sticks and flour into another ziplock baggie (the one from the freezer will have too many ice chunks) and shake until the cheese sticks and fully coated in the flour.

Step 6

Discard excess flour.

Step 7

Dunk one cheese stick in egg until fully coated and then in panko mixture until fully coated.

Step 8

Place on lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining cheese sticks.

Step 9

Place baking sheet in freezer until all the cheese sticks have re-frozen, at least an hour.

Step 10

Hit “ON” on the air fryer.

Step 11

Then hit “PRE-HEAT”. Set the temperature to 370 degrees F and set the timer to 5 minutes.

Step 12

Hit “START”.

Step 13

The air fryer will beep at you when it’s finished preheating.

Step 14

Open up the air fryer and spray the basket with cooking spray.

Step 15

Place in the mozzarella sticks, work with about 6 at a time, so you don’t over crowd them.

Step 16

Close the air fryer. It will beep at you when it’s finished cooking.

Step 17

Repeat with as many mozzarella sticks as you’d like. Store uncooked leftovers in the freezer!

Step 18

Serve with dipping sauces and enjoy!