Last Updated on August 4, 2021 by Slow The Cook Down
Get the most crispy and delicious fried halloumi fries without any oil in your air fryer. Simple and easy to make, this cheesy appetizer is ready to serve in minutes.
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This recipe was first published in August 2016. It has been updated for the air fryer with new photos and improved recipe.
I mean, who doesn't love a cheese stick?! These halloumi fries are so easy to make and they are hands down delicious! Cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer, this is one delicious party food!
Coated with panko breadcrumbs, the halloumi is perfectly melted with that awesome squeaky texture we all know and love.
Be sure to try my Marinated Feta Cheese and Goats Cheese Crostini too!
Why you will love this recipe!
- Quick and easy: Just dredge the halloumi, pop them in your air fryer for 10 minutes and they are ready to serve!
- No oil: I'm not going to make out that these are a healthy option, but, they are definitely healthier than the traditional deep fried recipe as you need zero oil to get them nice and crispy.
- Great for entertaining: These are a real crowd pleasing appetizer. Serve with your favorite dips, like marinara and ranch, for delicious bite that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- Halloumi: Halloumi is a semi hard goat and sheep's milk cheese from Cyprus. It has a high melting point, so it's perfect for air frying as it will hold it's shape. It's slightly tangy as it's a brined cheese and it has a fresh and milky flavor.
- Flour: Used to coat the halloumi. All purpose is great and most other flours, like cornflour or almond flour will work well.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder and a little black pepper. Optional, but they add a nice flavor.
- Eggs: Beaten eggs help the breadcrumbs stick to the halloumi fries.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are super crispy and they eliminate the need for any oil in this recipe. You can use fine breadcrumbs, but they won't be as crispy, and you may want to spray a little oil on them to get nice and browned.
How to make air fryer halloumi fries
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Cut the halloumi and coat in flour, egg and panko breadcrumbs (photo 1).
- Place in the air fryer basket in an even layer (photo 2).
- Cook until golden brown and crispy (photo 3).
Other Cooking Methods
These halloumi fries come out so great in the air fryer and you can cook a fairly big batch pretty quickly. If you don't have an air fryer, you can oven bake or deep fry them too:
- Oven baked: Bake at 350F for around 20 to 25 minutes on a lined baking sheet.
- Deep fried: Heat oil in a large pot and fry in batches til golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
These air fryer halloumi fries are best served soon after they are cooked so that the cheese is soft and the coating is nice and crispy. You can dredge them up to a day ahead of time and keep them covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours until you are ready to cook.
Halloumi cheese has a high melting point, so you will need a similar type to make this recipe. Paneer or feta both work well and the Mexican queso para frier makes a great substitution.
The good news is, is that if you do have leftovers (unlikely!) they are easily reheated in the air fryer at 360F for 3 or 4 minutes. They'll get nice and crispy again and the cheese will soften. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer halloumi fries are such a great sharing appetizer. Serve them up with your favorite dips, marinara, ranch, sweet chili and garlic and herb all work great. I like to serve them with some lemon wedges to squeeze over them for a burst of zingy freshness.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Cut the halloumi into similar sized thicknesses so that they cook through evenly.
- Place the halloumi fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer and not touching. Cook in two batches if needed.
- Use tongs to turn the fries over halfway through cooking.
- The panko coating is super crispy, but to get them browner and even crispier spray a little oil on them in the basket before cooking and when you rotate them.
More Easy Appetizers
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Air Fryer Halloumi Fries
Ingredients
- 14 ounces halloumi (400g)
- 1 cup flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Cut the halloumi cheese into long fries.
- Mix together the flour, garlic powder and black pepper in one bowl, place the panko breadcrumbs in another and beat together two eggs in a third.
- Coat each halloumi stick in flour, then dip in the egg to fully cover before coating in the panko breadcrumbs. Place on a lined baking sheet and continue until the rest of the cheese has been dredged.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Place the halloumi fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes at 400F.
- Use tongs to turn the fries halfway through cooking so that they get crispy all over.
Notes
- Cut the halloumi into similar sized thicknesses so that they cook through evenly.
- Place the halloumi fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer and not touching. Cook in two batches if needed.
- Use tongs to turn the fries over halfway through cooking.
- The panko coating is super crispy, but to get them browner and even crispier spray a little oil on them in the basket before cooking and when you rotate them.
- Calorie values are an approximation based on one of six servings and are an estimate only.
These were perfect! Can’t wait to make them again. I did small cubes rather than a fry shape and used as faux croutons on a salad.
So glad you enjoyed them Sara! They are great added to salads! Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂