Air Fryer Cheese Curds

4.72 from 7 votes
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Discover the ultimate air fryer cheese curds recipe, perfect for cheese lovers craving a crispy snack with minimal effort. These cheese curds have a golden, crunchy exterior with a gooey, melted center — undoubtedly the best rendition you’ll find online IMO. 😋

air fryer cheese curds with a bowl of marinara sauce in the background
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I’ve made a Homemade Fried Cheese Curds recipe before, and this delicious appetizer is even better when it’s cooked in the air fryer. There is no better feeling than dipping your golden brown breaded cheese curds in your favorite dipping sauces and taking a ride on the flavor train! Amiright!?

Easy Ingredients You Need

Time to round up the following ingredients for your air fryer cheese curds:

  • Fresh cheese curds: Essential for their signature texture and flavor.
  • All-purpose flour: To dip cheese curds in, because it helps the breading adhere during cooking.
  • Eggs: Binds the flour to the cheese curds, creating a crispy coating.
  • Panko bread crumbs: Provide an extra crunch compared to traditional breadcrumbs.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and any of your favorite seasonings to enhance the flavor.

choosing the right curds

We used a classic white cheddar cheese curds, but feel free to use whatever variety of curd you’d like. Yellow cheddar curds or a flavored curd like garlic or dill would also taste amazing!

Top Tips for These Cheese Curds

Preheat Your Air Fryer: Just like the oven, make sure to preheat your air fryer before putting your curds in.

Cook in Batches: whatever you do, cook your cheese curds in batches. To get the best crispy on the outside gooey on the inside curds, you want to make sure your curds are not touching in the air fryer basket.

Don’t Skip the Olive Oil Spray: spraying your curds with olive oil with help them crisp up to a golden brown. And spraying the basket itself will prevent the curds from sticking to the basket.

cheese curd with breading about to be dipped into an egg wash

Serving Suggestions

Serve your air fryer cheese curds with marinara sauce, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce. Pair them with a cold beer or soda for the ultimate indulgent snack experience.

How to Store Cheese Curds

Store any leftover cheese curds in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

To reheat: preheat your air fryer to 350°F, and reheat the curds for 2-3 minutes or until fully reheated.

air fryer cheese curds in a basket with a bowl of marinara sauce

Variations and Substitutions

  • Gluten-free option: Substitute gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs for a celiac-friendly version.
  • Spice it up: Add cayenne pepper or paprika to the breading mixture for a kick of heat.
  • Different cheeses: Experiment with various cheese types like cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack for unique flavor profiles.
cheese curd being dipped into marinara sauce

4.72 from 7 votes

Air Fryer Cheese Curds

These air fryer cheese curds are made perfectly crispy in the air fryer in no time at all! Serve these as an appetizer or game day snack.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 8 oz. cheese curds
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Olive oil spray

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth. 
  • In another small bowl, add the flour and salt. Mix to combine. 
  • In a third bowl, add the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix to combine. 
  • Working a few at a time, dip a cheese curd into the flour, followed by the egg wash and then the breadcrumbs. Then, dip the cheese curd back into the egg wash and back into the breadcrumbs again. Double-dipping will help keep the cheese sealed so it doesn’t explode in the air fryer. 
  • Place the breaded cheese curd on a parchment-lined baking sheet and repeat with the remaining cheese curds. Once all of the curds have been breaded, freeze them for 1 hour. 
  • Once the cheese curds have frozen, spray your air fryer basket with olive oil spray and add as many cheese curds as will fit (you don’t want to overcrowd the basket). Spray the top of the curds with olive oil spray and bake at 400F for 6-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp. 
  • Serve warm, your favorite dipping sauce on the side. 
  • Store any leftover cheese curds in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 396 kcal, Carbohydrates: 28 g, Protein: 20 g, Fat: 22 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 2 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Emily Richter

Emily spent the first 10 years of her career in marketing and advertising roles and started side-hustling with our sister site, Fit Foodie Finds, in Fall of 2015. She joined the team full-time in the Spring of 2018. Em lives in Minneapolis with her husband and dog, and manages The Cheese Knees (and Fit Foodie Finds) business operations as well as all things sponsorships and brand collaborations.

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