Description
Bite-sized, crunchy pizza-flavored snacks with gooey mozzarella and marinara. Perfect for parties or quick lunches!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 1 cup marinara sauce (plus extra for dipping)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free alternative)
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- Cooking spray or vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Cut mozzarella into 1-inch cubes and set up three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs mixed with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
- Coat the Cheese: Dip each mozzarella cube in flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumbs. For extra crunch, dip again in egg and breadcrumbs (double coating).
- Chill the Crunchers: Place coated cubes on a baking sheet and freeze for 15-20 minutes to prevent the cheese from leaking during cooking.
- Cook the Pizza Crunchers:
- Air Fryer: Preheat to 375°F and cook for 6-7 minutes until crispy.
- Oven: Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway.
- Deep Fryer: Fry at 350°F for 2-3 minutes until golden.
- Serve: Enjoy hot with marinara sauce or your favorite dip.
Notes
- Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free flour and panko.
- Storage: Store leftover pizza crunchers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 minutes.
- Freezing: Freeze assembled crunchers on a tray, then store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen (add 1-2 minutes to cooking time).
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Air Fryer, Oven, Deep Fryer
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 crunchers
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: pizza crunchers, crispy snacks, cheesy bites, air fryer snacks