Air Fryer Cheese Sticks Recipe

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Yes, healthy cheese sticks exist. Or more precisely, air fryer cheese sticks. Yum!!

I got an air fryer for Christmas. I’m not sure I knew what I was getting myself into with this thing, but I’m glad I have the chance to try it out. I want to do a few recipes in it before I do a full review, which I promise to do in the next month or so. I just need to cook a few recipes in it first to get a feel for the appliance.

Clean Eating Air Fryer Cheese Sticks Recipe

To me, air fryer means “lower fat junk food”. I’m not sure why I make that association other than the whole point of an air fryer is to be able to “fry” with less or even zero oil.

So I gave these cheese sticks a shot because I happened to have some in the cheese drawer of my fridge and they needed to be used up. We don’t eat a lot of cheese in this house these days. It was a package of regular, full-fat cheese sticks. I unwrapped them and got to work making a clean breading mix.

Now most people will use breadcrumbs for a recipe like this, but I just didn’t have any handy. But that didn’t seem to affect the outcome of the final dish. They were delicious. In fact, Mini Chef hates cheese and he actually gave these a thumbs up. I take that as pretty high praise these days.

Clean Eating Air Fryer Cheese Sticks served on a white, rectangular plate with a small metal dish of marinara along side it.

Considering An Air Fryer?

If you are going to spend the money on an air fryer, you are better off getting a multi-functional appliance that does more than just air fry. Especially if you are limited on kitchen space. To date, the absolutely best “air fryer” I’ve ever had is the Ninja Foodie FD401. That thing truly does it all, and is super easy to keep clean.

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Clean Eating Air Fryer Cheese Sticks Recipe

Air Fryer Cheese Sticks Recipe

Cheese sticks don’t have to be junk food. In fact, they can be just a “regular” as the cheese stick by itself.
4.20 from 5 votes
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Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 6 cheese sticks
Calories: 67kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 snack-size cheese sticks (the individual ones you buy for kids)
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup whole wheat flour (any type – pastry or white whole wheat work well)
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. ground rosemary

Instructions

  • Unwrap your cheese sticks and set aside.
  • Crack and beat your eggs with a fork a shallow bowl that is wide enough to fit the length of the cheese sticks.
  • In another bowl (or plate), mix the flour, cheese and seasonings.
  • Roll the cheese sticks in the egg, then in the batter. Repeat until the cheese sticks are well coated.
  • Place them in the basket of your air fryer, ensuring they don’t touch.
  • Cook to your air fryer’s directions. On mine, the temperature was 370 F. for 6-7 minutes.
  • Serve with a clean marinara or ketchup (or ranch dressing!)

DON'T HAVE AN AIR FRYER? NOT TO WORRY!

  • Freeze your cheese sticks before you bread them.
  • Follow the directions for breading and then place them on a parchment lined dish and freeze again.
  • When completely frozen, preheat oven to 400 F. The oven must be fully pre heated.
  • Place the frozen cheese sticks in the hot oven for about 4-5 minutes. They should be golden brown.
  • Cool and serve.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 1stick | Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 138IU | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg
Clean Eating Air Fryer Cheese Sticks Recipe shown from overhead showing the cheese sticks stacked on a white, rectangular plate with a small dish of marinara next to them. The warm cheese is oozing out of the sticks in a few places.

4.20 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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10 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    I too got an air fryer for Christmas and have been experimenting… I am in love and so glad I got it! Thank you for this recipe! Please do more!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Jennifer – Count on it! 😀

  2. 5 stars
    Change the above rating to all the stars! I must have brushed the mouse over the stars as I was submitting. Oops!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Jennifer – Thanks so much!!

  3. 5 stars
    When I first read you recipe I thought like what-a-pity-I-don’t-have-an-air-fryer. But as you mentioned one can also use the oven. In fact, it is so easy, I really like them!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Eileen – Awesome!! So happy you enjoyed them! 🙂

  4. 3 stars
    All of the cheese just melted out of mine. They still tasted good! Just more of an empty breaded shell with cheese on the outside. Did I do something wrong?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Erin – Oh no!! Hmm… what kind of cheese did you use?

  5. These sound great! My one question- I’m trying to understand how many sticks are in a serving? (How many for 50 calories?)
    Thanks!