These Trader Joe's mozzarella sticks in the air fryer do not disappoint! The circulating hot air cooks the breading until it turns out crisp and crunchy and the cheese is perfectly melty and gooey on the inside. It's a quick and easy finger food that everyone will enjoy and they taste incredible served with marinara sauce or ranch dip!

cooked trader joe's mozzarella sticks in air fryer

Cooking frozen cheese sticks in the air fryer is the best way to get restaurant-quality results at home. This recipe shows you just how cook them in a way so they won't explode but turn out perfect everytime! There's no need to grab a deep fryer and in the time it takes to preheat your oven these cheesy, crispy mozzarella cheese sticks are ready to eat!

Frozen convenience foods are always a lifesaver when you are having a busy week or simply do not feel like cooking. There's no prep work involved and since they are already seasoned and breaded they are much easier and quicker than making cheese sticks from scratch.

For this recipe, we like to use the Trader Joe's brand of mozzarella sticks but feel free to use any variety or brand of cheese sticks you like. Regular grocery store brands can be really delicious as well! Either way, the instructions are the same and you will still get delicious results!

Trader Joe's cheese sticks in the air fryer are a simple crowd pleasing snack perfect for game day parties, afterschool snacks, or simple weeknight family dinners.

They are perfectly crisp, gooey, and just waiting to be dipped in your favorite sauce and dip. Or they can be served alongside pizza or chicken wings for an extremely quick and delicious lunch or dinner.

How to cook Trader Joe's mozzarella sticks in air fryer

Turn your air fryer on to 400 degrees. You don't need to wait for it to preheat, just get it going. Grab your mozzarella sticks from the freezer. They cook straight from frozen, so no need to thaw them.

Put the mozzarella sticks in the air fryer basket. Spread them out so they're not touching. This way, they'll all get nice and crispy. Set the timer for 7 minutes. Keep the air fryer closed the whole time so the heat stays in and cooks the sticks evenly.

After 7 minutes, carefully open the air fryer – it's going to be hot! Use tongs to take out the mozzarella sticks and put them on a plate.

They're best served right then, all warm and crispy. No reheating needed, they're ready to enjoy straight from the air fryer. Happy snacking!

raw frozen trader joe's mozzarella sticks in air fryer

Pro tips

Check on your cheese sticks after about 3-4 minutes and every minute or two afterward. This is the secret to not having your cheese sticks explode on you. If you see the cheese start to leak out the sides it's time to take them out.

Don't crowd the air fryer basket. Space out your cheese sticks evenly. You really want the circulating hot air of the air fryer to get all around the cheese sticks and crisp up the breading.

Cook from frozen. This allows the breading to stay intact while cooking. It's hard to get a crispy and crunchy cheese stick exterior if they were thawed beforehand.

Serving suggestions

Top with grated parmesan cheese and parsley to make an even more impressive appetizer.

Alongside any baked, roasted, or grilled chicken, beef, or pork dish.

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Grilled chicken salads, Caesar salads, or garden salads.

Onion rings or chicken nuggets

Pizza

Chicken wings

Burgers or sandwiches

Tomato soup

Antipasto platter with cured meats, cheese, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh or marinated veggies.

Dipping sauces

Warm marinara sauce or pizza sauce with fresh basil and red crushed pepper flakes.

Ranch dip

Buffalo sauce

Hot sauce

Romesco dip, or roasted red pepper dip.

Pesto sauce

Salsa or pico de gallo

stringy cheese in mozzarella stick in hand

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a different brand?

Absolutely. TGIF Fridays cheese sticks are delicious as well. Use your favorite brand of frozen mozzarella sticks, just make sure to check on them and adjust the cooking time if they are larger or smaller than the Trader Joe's brand.

How do you cook mozzarella sticks so that the cheese doesn't come out?

Checking on the mozzarella sticks after 3 -4 minutes will help you determine how much longer they need to cook. If you start to see the cheese oozing from the sides they are probably ready to come out.

Are frozen mozzarella sticks pre-fried?

Yes! Mozzarella cheese sticks are breaded and quickly fried then frozen. This way all you have to do is reheat them using your desired cooking method.

Why are my mozzarella sticks rubbery?

Mozzarella cheese can become rubbery if it's overcooked. Try not to walk away from the air fryer while they are cooking because the cheese can very quickly go from gooey to rubbery. As soon as the breading is brown and crispy, it's time to take them out.

More Trader Joe's recipes

Hope you will like this Trader Joe's mozzarella sticks air fryer recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.

Trader Joe's Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer

Yield: 6 servings

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Ingredients

1 package Trader Joe's mozzarella sticks
dipping sauce

Instructions

Open the package and transfer all the mozzarella sticks to the air fryer.
Cook at 400 degrees for 7 minutes. Cook for extra 2 minutes to make them more crispy.