Crispy and gooey, these breaded mozzarella balls come out so perfectly when cooked in the air fryer. Simple to make and quick to cook, serve them up with some marinara sauce, for a tasty and indulgent crowd pleasing appetizer.
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I just know that my cheese lovers are going to fall head over heels for this recipe! Buckle up and chow down!
These breaded mozzarella balls are one tasty appetizer that's sure to please everyone! Coated in panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch, they are so simple to make and super quick to cook in the air fryer. That stringy melted cheese is, quite simply, heavenly!
Perfect to serve up over the holidays, they also make a great game day appetizer when you want to indulge a little more than usual!
Be sure to try my Air Fryer Halloumi Fries and Air Fryer Camembert too!
Why you will love this recipe!
- Healthier: I am not, for one minute, going to suggest these are a health food, but compared to the traditional method of deep frying, this is a much better option. Less oil, less fuss, and you don't lose any of that crunch.
- Fun: This is such a fun recipe, to make and to serve! The cheese pulls are out of this world!
- Make ahead: You can easily prep these ahead of time and then quickly air fry them to serve. They are also freezer friendly.
- Simple ingredients: You'll likely have most of the ingredients on hand already to make these beauties.
- Dietary info: These air fryer mozzarella balls are vegetarian.
Ingredients
- Mozzarella: Use large bocconcini balls for this recipe, rather than the smaller pearls.
- Egg: So that the breadcrumbs adhere to the mozzarella.
- Flour: The flour helps to absorb moisture and protect the cheese from the high heat.
- Panko breadcrumbs: For an extra crispy bite.
- Seasonings: Salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper.
How to cook mozzarella balls in the air fryer
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Set up your dredging station (photo 1).
- Bread the mozzarella balls (photo 2).
- Place in the air fryer and oil (photo 3).
- Air fry til golden brown. Serve immediately (photo 4).
Recipe Variations
These air fryer mozzarella balls are pretty perfect as they are! You can easily add different seasonings in though for a different flavor if you like, dried herbs, taco seasoning or cayenne are all excellent additions!
Serving Suggestions
These cheesy balls are perfect to serve up with some marinara sauce for dipping, and let everyone get stuck in. You can also serve them as a more formal plated appetizer with a small fresh salad.
Try serving them up with some of these favorite homemade dips and sauces:
Make Ahead and Freezing
You can make these up the day before and keep them covered in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.
These are also great for the freezer! Bread the mozzarella, then wrap well and freeze for up to 6 months. You can air fry them straight from frozen, just place in the air fryer basket, spray with a little oil and cook. You may need to add a couple of extra minutes on to the final cooking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
To get that extra crunch coating on the mozzarella, panko breadcrumbs are definitely the way to go. You can use plain breadcrumbs, but because we don't use as much oil, they won't get as crispy.
I highly recommended serving and enjoying these air fryer mozzarella balls as soon as they are ready. The cheese will be perfectly soft and stringy, but once they cool down it will become harder and more rubbery. I recommend only cooking as much as you will eat.
I love to use the larger bocconcini for this recipe, but you can use the smaller pearls if you prefer. They will require less cooking time, about 4 to 5 minutes.
These air fryer breaded mozzarella balls are a must try recipe if you are a cheese lover! Super simple to make and they cook so quickly, they are a perfect appetizer to serve to guests.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Dredge the mozzarella balls twice in the flour and egg. This will help to stop the cheese oozing out when it melts.
- Cook the mozzarella balls in a single layer in the air fryer and not touching. This will help them to get browned and crispy all over.
- Depending on what air fryer model you have, cooking times may vary slightly.
- Serve immediately.
More Air Fryer Appetizers
- Air Fryer Spicy Breaded Shrimp
- Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins
- Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
- Air Fryer Quesadillas
Air Fryer Breaded Mozzarella Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 7 ounces large bocconcini balls (200g - each ball around 1.8oz / 50g)
- spray oil (canola, avocado or vegetable)
Instructions
- Set up your dredging station. -Crack one egg into a bowl and beat.-Mix the flour, salt, onion powder and garlic powder in another bowl.-Place the panko breadcrumbs in another bowl.
- Drain the mozzarella balls and gently pat with kitchen paper to remove excess water.
- Take one mozzarella ball and roll in the beaten egg til covered. Let excess egg drip off and then toss in the flour, again, shaking off any excess. Dip back in the flour, then the egg and then final roll in the breadcrumbs until coated. Place on a plate on one side and repeat with the other balls.
- Spray the inside of the air fryer basket with oil and place in the breaded mozzarella balls. They shouldn't be touching. Spray the tops with more oil.
- Cook at 380F / 190c for 5 minutes.
- Gently turn the balls (I find using a large spoon is best for this) and spray again with oil.
- Cook at 380F / 190c for 3 to 4 minutes til the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
Notes
- Dredge the mozzarella balls twice in the flour and egg. This will help to stop the cheese oozing out when it melts.
- Cook the mozzarella balls in a single layer in the air fryer and not touching. This will help them to get browned and crispy all over.
- Depending on what air fryer model you have, cooking times may vary slightly.
- Serve immediately.
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