Instructions

• Unwrap the 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks and cut each in half crosswise to make 24 pieces; set aside on a plate.
• Set up a dredging station with three shallow bowls: Bowl A — ½ cup all-purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed; Bowl B — 2 large eggs, beaten; Bowl C — 1 cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated Parmesan, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, stirred to combine.
• Working one piece at a time, coat a cheese piece in the flour/cornstarch mixture, shaking off any excess.
• Dip the floured piece into the beaten eggs, letting excess egg drip back into the bowl.
• Press the egg-coated piece firmly into the breadcrumb mixture so it has an even, complete coating; place the coated piece on a plate. Repeat steps 3–5 with the remaining 23 pieces.
• Transfer the plate of coated cheese sticks to the freezer and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours before air frying. (Do not skip this step; chilling helps the coating set and prevents the cheese from leaking during cooking.)
• If you want to make-ahead, place the chilled, uncooked coated sticks into a zip-top freezer bag or airtight freezer container and freeze for up to 2 months. When air frying from frozen, add about 2–3 minutes to the cooking time and monitor doneness.
• When ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
• Spray the air fryer basket well with cooking spray. Arrange chilled cheese sticks in a single, even layer without crowding so air can circulate; you will likely need to cook in two batches depending on your air fryer size.
• Lightly spray the tops of the arranged cheese sticks with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for 6–8 minutes, flipping once halfway through (about 3–4 minutes in). Check at the lower end of the time range and continue until the coating is golden and crisp.
• While the first batch is cooking (or while all batches cook), make the herb marinara: heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2 cloves minced garlic and sauté about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently.
• Add 1 cup marinara sauce, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook about 5 minutes, until warmed through and slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
• Serve the air-fried mozzarella sticks hot with the warm herb marinara sauce for dipping.