You can bake a whole block of halloumi in the air fryer and it will actually taste pretty great but if you would like little pieces of salty, crunchy, breaded heaven, then you have to make these air fryer halloumi bites.
They’re cubes of halloumi, coated in breadcrumbs and baked until crisp on the outside and perfectly gooey in the centre.
Halloumi is famous for its firm texture and high melting point, making it perfect for frying, grilling, or baking.
These air fryer halloumi bites take things a step further by coating the cheese in a crisp, gently spiced breadcrumb crust, giving each bite a satisfying crunch before revealing the warm, chewy, gooey halloumi inside.
The combination of paprika, cumin, and garlic in the breadcrumb coating adds a layer of warmth and savoury depth, complementing the natural saltiness of the halloumi.
Panko breadcrumbs ensure a light, crispy finish, while the air fryer method keeps things quick and fuss-free, requiring only a light spray of oil to achieve a golden crust.
These halloumi bites make a fantastic appetiser or party snack.
They pair wonderfully with a selection of dips, such as sweet chilli sauce for a bit of heat, tzatziki for a cooling contrast, or a simple garlic mayo for extra indulgence.
For a little freshness and to round out lunch, you could serve them alongside a crisp salad with lemon dressing to cut through the richness.
These halloumi bites are best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer while the coating is at its crispiest, but if you have leftovers, you can reheat them for a few minutes in the air fryer to restore their crunch.
Whether you're making them as a starter, a side dish, or a snack to share, they’re sure to be a hit.
Read on for the full recipe with detailed instructions and a helpful photograph for every step. And if you have any questions, just leave me a comment. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 250 g (8.8 oz) halloumi
- 50 g (1.8 oz) plain white flour (all purpose flour) all purpose flour
- 1 medium free-range egg beaten
- 50 g (1.8 oz) panko breadcrumbs
- pinch salt and black pepper
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) paprika
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic granules
- 2 tbsp oil to brush or spray
Instructions
Drain your halloumi and pat it dry.
Cut into cubes to give 16 bitesize pieces.
Put the breadcrumbs in a bowl. Add the cumin powder, paprika, garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper and mix together. Set up two further bowls, one containing your flour seasoned with salt and pepper and one containing your beaten egg.
Dip a piece of halloumi into the flour, turning to lightly cover on all sides. Shake off the excess.
Now dip the piece of halloumi into the beaten egg, coating on all sides. Allow any excess to drip away.
Finally, turn your piece of halloumi over in the breadcrumbs to cover all over.
Repeat with every cube of halloumi.
Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacturer instructions. Mine defaults to 4 minutes at 205C.
Brush or spray the air fryer basket with a little oil, place the halloumi bites in the basket.
Spray or drizzle oil over the tops.
Set the air fryer to 180C and bake for 10 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Serve hot while still delightfully gooey.
Enjoy on their own as a shared snack, or as a starter or side to accompany a main meal. They're wonderful served with a sweet chilli sauce to dip in.
Once you've given my recipe a go, I'd love you to come back and leave a comment letting me know how yours turned out.
I'd love to see your videos and pics, too! Just tag me on social media. I'm @emilylearycooks on Twitter and TikTok or @amummytoo on Instagram.
Air fryer halloumi bites recipe
Air fryer halloumi bites (breaded) recipe
Ingredients
- 250 g (8.8 oz) halloumi
- 50 g (1.8 oz) plain white flour (all purpose flour) all purpose flour
- 1 medium free-range egg beaten
- 50 g (1.8 oz) panko breadcrumbs
- pinch salt and black pepper
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) paprika
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic granules
- 2 tbsp oil to brush or spray
Instructions
- Drain your halloumi and pat it dry, then cut into cubes to give 16 bitesize pieces.
- Put the breadcrumbs in a bowl. Add the cumin powder, paprika, garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper and mix together.
- Set up two further bowls, one containing your flour seasoned with salt and pepper and one containing your beaten egg.
- Dip a piece of halloumi into the flour, turning to lightly cover on all sides. Shake off the excess.
- Now dip the piece of halloumi into the beaten egg, coating on all sides. Allow any excess to drip away.
- Finally, turn your piece of halloumi over in the breadcrumbs to cover all over.
- Repeat with every cube of halloumi.
- Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacturer instructions. Mine defaults to 4 minutes at 205C.
- Brush or spray the air fryer basket with a little oil, place the halloumi bites in the basket and spray or drizzle oil over the tops.
- Set the air fryer to 180C and bake for 10 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Nutrition
More air fryer recipes to try
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