Why We Love This Cheese Curds Recipe
The first time I ever had fried cheese curds was in a little pub in Wisconsin. And let me just say: They are. Life. Changing. There’s nothing like authentic Wisconsin cheese curds breaded and fried to crispy golden perfection, with oozing cheese ready to explode in your mouth. But there is no need to fret if you don’t happen to live in the Dairy State… With this fantastic Air Fryer Cheese Curds recipe you can enjoy those famously delicious little bites right at home. Fried cheese curds are easy to make in an air fryer! We treat them to a double dip of flour and Panko breadcrumbs so that the breading is thick and crisps up just right. But even with that delectable breading, these are a healthier option since they don’t require deep frying in oil. Make a batch in under 30 minutes, and serve as an appetizer, side dish, or party finger food. And don’t forget your favorite dipping sauces for a can’t-stop-won’t-stop snack!
Ingredients For Your Grocery List
Cheese curds – cold is best for the breading to stick All-purpose flour – to dust the curds Eggs – the binder for a nice thick breading Panko bread crumbs – for the crispiest, crunchiest fried curds Spices – garlic powder, salt, and pepper Oil spray – high heat like avocado or canola oil
How to Make Air Fried Cheese Curds
First, take care of the easy prep work: Set out three bowls. Place the flour and one bowl. Crack the eggs into the second bowl and whisk well. Then combine the Panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of black pepper in the third bowl. Mix well. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Remove the cheese curds from the refrigerator. Dunk half of them in the flour, stirring to coat. Working in small batches, dunk a handful of floured cheese curds in the egg. Stir with a fork to make sure the cheese curds are well coated in egg and the moisture from the egg saturates the flour. It’s helpful to let the cheese curds soak in the egg a bit. Then roll the cheese curds in the prepared Panko breadcrumb mixture. Check each curd. If you see gaps in the breading, re-dunk in the egg and then back in the breadcrumbs. Pro Tip: The biggest thing to remember, is the thicker the breading is, the less likely they are to leak as they fry. Make sure to double-dunk your cheese curds as much as needed to create the perfect coating. Set aside and repeat with the remaining first batch of cheese curds until half of them (8 oz) are ready for the air fryer. Spread the cheese curds in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they do not touch. Spray thoroughly with cooking spray. Then air fry for 4 to 6 minutes, until golden and crispy. It’s very likely that some of the air fryer cheese curds will leak if the coating is thin, so after the first batch, bread the second batch a little thicker if needed. Serve immediately or keep warm in the oven as you work in batches.
Serving Suggestions
Serve air fryer cheese curds hot by themselves or with your favorite dipping sauces. We love to pair them with creamy blue cheese or ranch dressing, marinara sauce, homemade buffalo sauce, creamy pesto sauce, peri peri sauce, or southern comeback sauce.
Recipe Variations
Cheddar cheese curds are classic, but there are lots of different flavors out there! Try this recipe with Cajun, ranch, smoked cheddar, or any cheese curd variety you like. It’s easy to make this a gluten-free fried cheese curd recipe. Simply swap all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free alternative. If you prefer not to use Panko breadcrumbs, feel free to substitute them with regular, unseasoned breadcrumbs. Want to spice up your cheese curds? Consider adding smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or even crushed red pepper to the breadcrumbs.
Looking for More Easy Snack Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
Air Fryer Mushrooms (Breaded) Crispy Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli Halloumi Fries (Air Fryer or Baked) Homemade Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks The Best Air Fryer Tater Tots
Share This Recipe With Friends!
