These healthier air fryer cheese curds are so tasty! Crispy seasoned and breaded golden cheese curds on the outside with melted goodness on the inside. Less than 15 minutes start to finish, only 8 ingredients, and you'll have yourself a delicious snack or appetizer.
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Why You'll Love These
"Whenever we're visiting our family in Wisconsin, visiting the local cheese factory to pick up super fresh squeaky cheese curds is a MUST! I went through a lot of cheese curds to perfect this recipe. Such a hardship, right? 🙂 lol" -Kori
Quick and Easy
I think you'll love this recipe for fried cheese curds in your air fryer! They are quick and easy to make, and I think they have the perfect balance of crisp with perfectly seasoned breading with a little Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese.
Squeaky
Okay, fried curds aren't squeaky, but the fresh ones are! 🙂
When I was little, we would go to the local cheese factory and pick up fresh cheese curds. We called them squeaky cheese because fresh curds that have not been refrigerated, squeak when you bite into them. As a kid, I thought this was the funniest thing!
Whether you use fresh squeaky curds from a factory or a brand from your neighborhood grocery store, you will end up with delicious fried cheese curds.
Healthy
Air fried cheese curds are much healthier than those fried in oil. This recipe is lower in fat, calories, and carb than traditional oil-fried cheese curds.
A note to keto followers: I consider this recipe low carb, but not necessarily keto due to the flour and breadcrumbs that are used.
What Are Cheese Curds?
Simply put - cheese curds are really just a young cheddar that is separated from the whey during the cheese-making process.
The best cheese curds are sold fresh and unrefrigerated within 24 hours. The freshest curds squeak when you bite into them, which is why many people (including myself) often call them squeaky cheese. 🙂
Here is a great video from Discover Wisconsin on how curds are made.
You will need to visit your nearest cheese factory to get your hands on the freshest variety as they are not sold in grocery stores. Call ahead to make sure they have curds, though - many states have regulations regarding the sale of fresh unrefrigerated cheese curds.
Most grocery stores sell cheese curds, but these varieties have often been aged for a month or two, so you won't get that squeaky bite.
For this recipe, you can use either fresh or cured cheese curds. As long as the curds have been refrigerated, you will have equally good results with either.
Fried Cheese Curds In an Air Fryer Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need to make cheese curds (air fryer):
- Cheddar Cheese Curds - you can use yellow or white cheddar cheese.
- All Purpose Flour
- Panko Bread Crumbs - I used between 3/4 cups and 1 cup panko
- Parmesan Cheese - use the finely grated parmesan cheeese
- Italian Seasoning
- Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
- Ground black Pepper
- Eggs
- Olive Oil Cooking Spray - Use a good quality 100% olive oil spray for best results.
Air Fryer - I've been using a Ninja Foodi for air frying, slow cooking, and pressure cooking. Works like a charm and I was able to pair down my appliances.
Variations
There are a few ways you can vary or make substitutions to your air fried cheese curds:
- Experiment with different types of seasoning
- Try different flavors of cheese curds
How To Air Fry Cheese Curds
Please see the printable recipe card below for full details.
Make Coating
Bread The Curds
Air Fry
What To Do With Cheese Curds
- Air fried cheese curds are delicious with a favorite dipping sauce such as marinara or ranch dressing.
- Try different flavored curds
- Eat them on their own or on a cracker with salami
- Air fry or dip in batter and oil fry
- Top your burger with curds
- Add to a salad
- Add to soup
- Make a grilled cheese sandwich
- Use like regular cheese (they are usually too small to grate, though)
Kori's Tips
- Use cold, refrigerated, cheese curds. Warm, room temperature cheese curds melt too fast, so be sure to use refrigerated. You can alsouse frozen curds but you will need to increase the air frying time slightly.
- Use larger, uniform pieces. I found smaller pieces will melt before they can achieve a crispy texture and golden color. Air fry similar-sized pieces so they will cook in the same amount of time.
- How long the curds cook depends on their size and your air fryer. Experiment with a few following this recipe then adjust as needed. Keep your eye on the curds while cooking they go from perfect to melted quickly.
FAQ's
Yes! You can fry cheese curds. Many recipes use a batter then oil fry the curds, but this recipe uses a coating and an air fryer.
You don't have to use a batter, but for best results, a coating is necessary to bind the cheese together while air frying. Cheese curds without batter or a coating will not hold their shape well and will melt. This recipe uses flour, breadcrumbs, and cheese coating.
Cheese curds in air fryer have 10.2 grams of carbs for each serving. There is 0.6 g dietary fiber and 9.6 g net carbs. Flour is used in the recipe, as well as panko bread crumbs.
The answer to this question does depend upon the recipe you are using. Air fried cheese curds are healthier than oil-fried cheese curds. Air fried curds are lower in calories, fat, and carbohydrates than traditional ones fried in oil.
Can I ask you a favor?
If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5 star rating and leave a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my newsletter to get healthy fresh recipe ideas every week!
📖 The recipe.
Air Fryer Cheese Curds
Ingredients
- 2 cups cheese curds (1-½ to 2" in size)
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup flour
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- olive oil spray
- optional for dipping: marinara sauce (or ranch)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes
- In a small bowl, beat eggs
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- In a small bowl or plastic bag, add flour.
- Dredge cheese curds in flour, then dip in egg. Add to the breadcrumb mixture, then coat evenly, being sure to press coating on. Set aside on a plate.
- Add half the cheese curds in a single layer to the air fryer basket. Spray the curds with a light coating of olive oil spray. Close lid and air fry for 3 minutes.
- Flip the curds over using a fork and spoon and give them another light spritz with olive oil spray. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 more minutes until they are crispy, just melted, and golden.
- Remove from fryer and serve immediately with a favorite dipping sauce.
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Kori's Tips
Nutrition
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Air Fryer Snacks
If you are looking for more air fryer snacks, here are a few of my favorite ideas! A few can be made as a meal, too (chicken tenders and crab cakes).
- Lemon Pepper Wings Air Fryer Recipe
- Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
- Air Fryer Nachos
- Pork Rind Nachos (Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Air Fryer cheese curds are a super easy and tasty appetizer or snack! Cheese curds in an air fryer are much healthier than those fried in oil. Only 8 ingredients and less than 15 minutes from start to finish! A huge hit at parties and get-togethers. You'll love them because they're an easy appetizer. Fried cheese curds are delicious dipped in marinara or ranch dressing.
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