Air Fryer Cheese Curds

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For a less greasy alternative to fried cheese curds, try these Air Fryer Cheese Curds. They have a crispy panko breadcrumb coating and a warm and gooey cheese filling. You only need a small amount of oil and they make a fun appetizer or snack! 

Fried cheese curds are no longer just a fun food to enjoy at festivals and fairs! You can make them at home, and this air fryer recipe helps you make them a little healthier.

Just like these air fryer mozzarella sticks, this air fryer halloumi and air fryer chicken tenders, the air fryer lets you make crispy snack foods without all the oil of deep frying! 

We love these air fried cheese curds served with homemade marinara sauce or ranch dressing. You can also serve them up as a meal with some air fryer frozen french fries.

If you're getting together with friends and need a selection of party foods, you can also pair these cheese curds with other crispy air fried snacks like these air fryer ravioli, air fryer jalapeño poppers and air fryer tater tots!

Jump to:

• Why this recipe works
• What is an Air Fryer?
• What are cheese curds?
• Ingredients
• Step by step instructions
• Expert tips
• Common questions
• Storage and reheating instructions
• Other air fryer recipes
• Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Why this recipe works

1. The air fryer gets ultra crispy results without deep frying. You just need a little spritz of oil.
2. If you want to make these cheese curds a little healthier, you can use whole wheat flour and whole wheat panko crumbs for the crispy coating.
3. While these cheese curds are seasoned with a little cayenne pepper, you can change up the seasonings with different dried herbs and spices.

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

What are cheese curds?

Cheese curds are pieces of curdled milk that didn’t make it into the block of cheese as it was being made.

Cheese curds are usually made from cheddar cheese, so they can be white, orange or yellow. They have a mild cheddar flavor and often squeak when you bite into them. That’s a sign of fresh cheese curds and a reason why they are sometimes called squeaky cheese.

Cheese curds are popular in the U.S. Midwest and can usually be found at state fairs as a battered and deep fried snack. In Canada, they’re a key ingredient in poutine, which is just cheese curds and gravy served over french fries. 

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and quantities, please see the recipe card below.

You’ll need 8 ounces of cheddar cheese curds for this recipe. For the best flavor, make sure the cheese curds are fresh. (They’ll squeak when you bite into them).

As part of the crispy coating, you’ll need ½ cup of panko crumbs. Make sure they’re fine crumbs and unseasoned. 

The coating also includes ¼ cup of flour. You can use all-purpose white or whole wheat flour.

A simple seasoning of salt, pepper and cayenne pepper is added to the flour. If you prefer savory over spicy, you can change up the seasoning with some garlic powder, smoked paprika or Italian seasoning. 

Step by step instructions

Combine the flour, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper and mix to combine.

Spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil.

Dip the cheese curds in flour, then egg, then roll in panko and place in the air fryer basket.

Repeat until all cheese curds are coated.

Cook at 350F degrees for 4-6 minutes, until golden brown on the outside. (Start checking them at 3 minutes to make sure they don't melt). 

Expert tips

1. Cheese curds should be cold before you start breading them. This will help slow the melting process as they cook.
2. To ensure even cooking, arrange the cheese curds in a single layer in the air fryer basket and don’t overcrowd them. This may mean cooking them in multiple batches.
3. If they look like they are browning too much on one side, you can flip them over.
4. As cheese curds cook and melt quickly, start checking on them after 3 minutes. If you overcook them, cheese will ooze out into the air fryer.
5. Since melted cheese can be sticky, I suggest spraying your air fryer basket with oil, especially if you don’t have a non-stick basket.
6. Larger cheese curds will take longer to cook. I like to make sure the curds I’m using are all roughly the same size.
7. If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should preheat it before adding the cheese curds.
8. Different air fryer brands and models will vary slightly, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly. 

Common questions

Storage and reheating instructions

Leftover cheese curds should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge, where they will last for 1-2 days.

To reheat, just set the temperature of your air fryer to 350F degrees and warm for 3-5 minutes, or until crispy and heated through. 

Other air fryer recipes

• Air Fryer Artichokes
• Air Fryer Okra
• Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
• Air Fryer Garlic Bread

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