Mozzarella Bites

Fried Mozzarella Bites are delicious, easy, and the perfect party appetizer when served with marinara. Everyone loves this bite-sized snack!

Mozzarella Bites are perfect for snacking! These bite-sized versions of one of our favorite appetizers, Mozzarella Sticks, are absolutely divine dipped in homemade Marinara or Ranch.

Easy, Cheesy Appetizer

We love appetizers! This next recipe is one my sister, Kellyn, tried out. For years she’s always been the one to make Mozzarella Sticks, but she wanted to change things up and decided to make some Fried Mozzarella Bites instead.

Sticks? Bites? We weren’t complaining. We’re a family that loves cheese, especially gooey mozzarella cheese.

Best of all, these cheesy Mozzarella Bites were super easy to make. My sister made them just like we make our Fried Zucchini, but they can also be baked.

There are a few different types of mozzarella you can use. The recipe card states to use mozzarella sticks cut into bite-size pieces.

Marinated mozzarella balls or mozzarella pearls will also work. The latter are a bit smaller, but they turn out great and are so delicious.

How to Make Mozzarella Balls

PREP. Cut string cheese into 1″ pieces

Prepare the coating process. Pour milk into a bowl and set aside. Put 1 cup of flour in a plastic bag. Add 2 cups panko, mixed with seasonings in a second bag.

COAT. Place cheese in milk, one handful at a time.

• Toss into your flour bag and shake well.
• Put cheese back into your milk bowl and coat completely.
• Toss in panko bag and shake until evenly coated.

FREEZE. Place mozzarella bites on a plate or in a bag and freeze for at least 2 hours.

FRY. Heat up oil on medium heat. Fry in hot oil until golden brown. Be sure to take them out of the oil before they get too hot or cheese will ooze out of breading.

ENJOY! Serve warm with marinara sauce. ENJOY!

Alternative Cooking Methods

Baking directions. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

• Place the coated cheese bites on the sheet. Lightly spray them with cooking oil.
• Bake for 4-6 minutes or until heated and soft. One indicator is to wait for 1-2 bites to ooze a bit of cheese.
• Remove and let cool just a bit before serving.

Air Fryer Directions. Easily air fry Mozzarella Balls. It’s healthier than frying in oil and they are still warm crisp bites.

• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket with cooking spray.
• Place the bites in a single layer. Spray the top of the bites with cooking spray and then fry for 6-8 minutes or until warm and gooey.
• They may need to be fried in batches. Keep the remaining bites in the fridge or freezer while the others are being fried.

Recipe Tips

Dipping. Our favorite sauces to dip Fried Mozzarella in is Marinara. It’s hard to beat that combination! You might like to place a cup of toothpicks near the bites to make it easier to dip.

For some other delicious combinations try pairing these bites with:

• Homemade Ranch Dressing
• Pizza Dip
• Creamy Pesto Dressing

Cheese. I used mozzarella string cheese sticks for this Mozzarella Balls Recipe. Even though they are made of real mozzarella cheese they are low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese.

Fresh mozzarella balls are typically kept moist in water or brine and will need to be drained of excess moisture. Place the balls in a colander and let them drain naturally for a few minutes, then use a paper towel to soak up any remaining liquid. 

Oil. Vegetable oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, or avocado oil all have high smoking points and are perfect for frying. Keep in mind that the different oil may add extra flavor to the bites.

Seasoning. I used Italian seasoning to help give some flavor to the bites. Add additional spices like garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, or black pepper.

Oozing cheese. The biggest problem you’ll face is frying them enough to get crispy, but not long enough for them to ooze out cheese.

• Freezing the coated cheese bites can help keep the cheese from oozing.
• Work in small batches to ensure all bites can be removed at the proper time. The longer they fry the higher the chance that the cheese will ooze.
• The bites should brown within 1-2 minutes. If they take longer, increase the oil temperature. If they burn within a few seconds the oil is too hot. 

Storing Info

STORE. Mozzarella Cheese Balls are best when eaten right away. If you do end up with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

To reheat. Preheat the oven to 400°F and then bake until warm and crisp, about 5 minutes, or crisp them up in an air fryer.

For More Appetizers:

• Bacon Wrapped Potatoes
• Fried Ravioli
• Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos
• Easy Bruschetta
• Fried Cauliflower

For more mozzarella recipes:

• Mozzarella Penne
• Mozzarella Sticks
• Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad
• Tomato Mozzarella Salad
• Penne Tomato Mozzarella Salad