Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella (Easy Air Fryer Copycat)

This copycat Olive Garden fried mozzarella comes out of the air fryer golden and crisp, with a soft, stretchy center, in just 8 minutes of cooking. There is no pot of hot oil to manage. Block mozzarella is double-coated in seasoned Italian breadcrumbs, frozen so the cheese holds its shape, then air fried at 390°F.

If you love the Olive Garden mozzarella sticks appetizer as much as my family does, this is the version to make at home. Serve it with warm Olive Garden marinara sauce for dipping and it tastes like you ordered it at the table.

Quick answer: Air fry double-coated, frozen mozzarella at 390°F for 6 to 8 minutes, in a single layer, until golden brown.

Why This Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella Recipe Works

• Make-ahead friendly. Bread a batch, keep it in the freezer, and cook straight from frozen.
• Air fried, not deep fried. You get the crunch with a light spray of olive oil, at 328 calories per serving.
• Six pantry ingredients. Mozzarella, eggs, water, Italian breadcrumbs, garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
• Double coating. Two layers of egg and crumbs build a shell thick enough to hold melted cheese.
• Two short freezes. Thirty minutes after each coat keeps the cheese from leaking before the crust sets.

Fried Mozzarella Olive Garden Ingredients

• Mozzarella cheese (16 ounces): Use a block of low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella. Fresh mozzarella packed in water is too wet and will leak.
• Large eggs (2) and water (1/4 cup): Beaten together, this egg wash glues the crumbs to the cheese.
• Italian breadcrumbs (1 cup): Already seasoned, and fine enough to coat every edge.
• Garlic salt (1 teaspoon): Garlic powder plus a pinch of salt works too.
• Italian seasoning (1 teaspoon): Adds the herb flavor you expect from the restaurant version.
• Olive oil spray: Helps the breading brown and crisp.
• Marinara sauce: For dipping.

How To Make Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella In The Air Fryer

Step 1: Cut the cheese. Slice the mozzarella block into pieces about 1 inch in size. For the restaurant look, cut thick slices, then cut each slice corner to corner into triangles.

Step 2: Set up two bowls. Beat the eggs and water in one small bowl. Mix the breadcrumbs, garlic salt and Italian seasoning in another.

Step 3: First coat. Dip each piece of mozzarella in the egg mixture, then press it into the breadcrumb mixture until covered. Set the pieces on a baking sheet sprayed with olive oil spray.

Step 4: First freeze. Freeze the baking sheet for 30 minutes.

Step 5: Second coat. Dip each piece in the egg and breadcrumbs again, covering every corner and edge.

Step 6: Second freeze. Freeze for another 30 minutes, until the pieces are firm.

Step 7: Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Spray the basket with olive oil spray or line it with parchment paper. Arrange the frozen mozzarella in a single layer with space between pieces, and spray the tops with olive oil. Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown.

Step 8: Serve. Let the pieces rest for a minute so the cheese settles, then serve hot with marinara.

Tips For The Best Air Fryer Fried Mozzarella

• Do not skip either freeze. Frozen cheese gives the crust time to set before the center melts.
• Cover every gap. Bare spots are where cheese escapes, so press crumbs into the corners on the second coat.
• Cook in a single layer. Crowded pieces steam and stick together. Work in batches.
• Spray the breading. A light coat of olive oil spray is what turns the crumbs golden.
• Watch the last two minutes. Pull the batch as soon as you see cheese starting to bubble at an edge.
• Want more crunch? Swap half the Italian breadcrumbs for panko.

What To Serve With Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella

Marinara is the classic dip. Ranch dressing and Alfredo sauce are good alternatives.

For a full Olive Garden night at home, add a basket of Air Fryer Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks and a second appetizer like Air Fryer Olive Garden Lasagna Fritta. Feeding a game day crowd? Loaded Potato Skins and Air Fryer Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms round out the table.

How To Store, Freeze And Reheat

• Freeze before cooking: After the second freeze, move the breaded pieces to a freezer bag and keep them for up to 2 months. Air fry from frozen at 390°F, adding a minute if needed.s fried mozzarella olive garden style with ease and perfection in your air fryer.
• Store: Refrigerate cooked fried mozzarella in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Air fry at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes, until hot and crisp. The microwave makes the coating soft.

More Mozzarella Stick Recipes

Prefer string cheese? My Air Fryer Homemade Mozzarella Sticks use the same freeze method. For another restaurant version, try the Arby’s Mozzarella Sticks Copycat. And if you have a box from the store, here is how to cook frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer.

Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella FAQs

What kind of cheese is best for Olive Garden fried mozzarella? A block of low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella. It melts smoothly and holds its shape when cut. Skip fresh mozzarella in water, which is too soft and wet to bread.

How long do you air fry fried mozzarella? Air fry at 390°F for 6 to 8 minutes. Start checking at 6 minutes, since air fryers vary and thinner pieces cook faster.

Why did my mozzarella leak in the air fryer? The cheese was not frozen long enough, the coating had gaps, or it cooked too long. Freeze for the full 30 minutes after each coat, cover every edge, and pull the batch when the crust is golden.

Do I have to freeze the mozzarella before air frying? Yes. Cheese that goes in cold melts before the breading can crisp. The two 30-minute freezes are what keep the pieces intact.

Can I use string cheese instead of block mozzarella? Yes. Cut each stick in half and follow the same coating and freezing steps. You will get stick shapes instead of slices.

Can I make air fried mozzarella slices ahead of time? Yes. Bread and freeze them, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Cook from frozen at 390°F.

Can I bake these in the oven instead? Yes. Bake the frozen, breaded pieces on a parchment-lined sheet at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once.

What sauce goes with fried mozzarella? Warm marinara is the classic. Ranch and Alfredo sauce are also popular.