Air fryer cheese curds are such a tasty snack!
Making fried cheese curds in the air fryer is fun and easy. These crunchy little bites are a fun snack that squeak when you bite into them!
Ready in minutes with minimal prep, these are sure to be enjoyed by all.
Air Fryer Cheese Curds
- Tasty appetizer or snack! A county fair favorite throughout the Midwest, cheese curds are little pops of raw, unaged cheese that are breaded and fried!
- Delicious battered cheese curds are a popular bistro menu snack that’s easily made at home using the air fryer!
- Versatile! Enjoy them hot out of the air fryer or add them to homemade poutine for movie night or when the big game is on.
- Spear three or five cooked cheese curds onto wooden toothpicks or skewers as fun appetizers that are perfect for dipping into buffalo sauce, homemade marinara, or a simple bottle of ranch dressing!
Ingredients and Variations
Cheese – Choose your cheese! Try cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, Havarti, provolone, gruyere, fontina, or halloumi – use what you can find, they’ll still turn out perfect in this recipe!
Batter – Keep the batter ingredients the same but mix up the seasonings if you like! Try taco-flavored cheese curds, or a light Italian blend instead of garlic powder and smoked paprika.
Variations – Make a keto version of Air Fryer cheese curds by using homemade pork rinds.
How to Make Air Fryer Cheese Curds
Double up on a batch of air fryer cheese curds because they won’t last long!
- Whisk an egg and put it in a bowl. Mix the Panko and seasonings (per the recipe below) in another bowl.
- Toss the cheese curds into the flour mixture, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally press into the seasoned breading.
- Freeze the curds, then cook them in the air fryer until the coating is crispy and brown, shaking the basket halfway through, if necessary.
Tips & Tricks
- Place a clean coffee filter on the bottom of the air fryer basket to catch any drips of melted cheese. Avoid crowding the basket so the pieces brown and cook evenly.
- Don’t forget to freeze the cheese curds in Step 5! This allows the cheese to solidify enough to stay whole as they’re being cooked.
- Cooking time can vary based on the size of the battered cheese curds and the wattage of your particular air fryer model. Feel free to check halfway through cooking and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Air Fryer cheese curds in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer until they’re crispy again! Freeze the fried and cooled cheese curds in a zippered bag and reheat from frozen in the air fryer!
Best Appetizers in the Air Fryer
Air Fried Cheese Curds
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cheese curds
- ⅓ cup flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Crack egg into a small bowl. Place bread crumbs and seasonings in another bowl.
- Place cheese curds in third bowl and toss with flour. Remove from the flour allowing excess to fall off and toss with egg.
- Dip the cheese curds in the crumb mixture gently pressing to adhere. Repeat with remaining curds and place on a baking sheet.
- Freeze cheese curds for 30 minutes before cooking, once frozen generously spray curds with cooking spray.
- Place in a single layer in the preheated basket and cook 3-4 minutes or until crisp and melted.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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To freeze the cheese curds, should we cook them first then freeze? Or freeze them after they are covered in the egg and panko crumbs? I am not sure if “prepared and frozen” include the air fryer
You can freeze them before air frying or after. If freezing them after, toss the cooled cheese curds in a little corn starch to absorb moisture. Then place them in a zippered bag with the date labeled on the outside and freeze for up to 8 weeks. I hope this helps Sarah!