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Everyone is obsessed with these gooey homemade mozzarella sticks, breaded with a flavorful coating and fried to golden perfection.

If you love ordering mozzarella sticks and Marinara, you will be blown away by this homemade recipe. For something more bite-sized try Mozzarella Bites!

Mozzarella sticks on a platter with marinara dipping sauce.


Who loves mozzarella sticks?!

This next appetizer happens to be a family favorite. Whether we’re making them at home, or ordering them at a restaurant, the kids especially love mozzarella sticks!

I finally learned how to make fried mozzarella sticks homemade. I’m so glad I did because they’re pretty quick and easy!

Why we love them:

  • Quick. Only takes about 35-40 minutes from start to finish, with freeze time!
  • Tasty. This little snack tastes WAY better than frozen! They’re crispy and golden.
  • For sharing. Serve them up with Marinara Sauce or some Homemade Ranch Dressing.
All the ingredients for breading the cheese sticks on a counter.

Ingredients

  • cheese sticks I use string cheese for ease, but you can also cut a block of mozzarella cheese into sticks.
  • all-purpose flour
  • paprika
  • seasoned salt
  • panko breadcrumbs – Panko crumbs stay nice and crisp, but you can also use regular bread crumbs.
  • dried parsley
  • dried oregano
  • large eggs
  • milk
  • vegetable oil – The ideal oil temperature for frying is about 350-375°F so choose an oil with a high smoking point such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.

How to make mozzarella sticks

  1. PREP. Unwrap cheese sticks and cut them in half.
    • Prepare breading stations. In bag #1, toss the flour, paprika, and salt. In bag #2, mix the panko, parsley, and oregano. And in a bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together.
  2. COAT. Now coat your cheese sticks.
    • Toss 5 or 6 in your milk bowl for a good soaking.
    • Throw them in the flour bag and shake, shake, shake.
    • Put them back in the milk bowl, making sure to coat every side.
    • Finally, toss them around in the panko bag for your second coating.
  3. FREEZE. Place them on a cookie sheet and freeze for 20-30 min.
  4. FRY. Heat a few inches of your canola or vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Place sticks, in batches, in the oil and fry until golden brown on all sides (about 30-60 seconds).
  5. SERVE. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.

Air fryer directions

PREP. Prepare the Mozzarella Sticks as directed in the recipe.

FRY. Once they are frozen, fry them up in the air fryer. Place the mozzarella sticks in the basket and spray with cooking spray. Set the temperature to 390°F. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until the exterior is golden and crispy. 

Fried mozzarella sticks draining on paper towels.

Recipe Tips

  • Cheese. Unwrap your cheese sticks while still connected and the wrappers will all come off at once.
  • A double coating helps the cheese stay inside and not melt out while frying.
  • Freeze! It’s super important that they are frozen before frying, or the cheese will ooze out of the coating.
  • Fry basket. A fry basket is handy to cook up several at a time. If you don’t have a fry basket, be cautious about adding too many cheese sticks to the oil. If you’re too slow to take them out of the oil, the cheese will ooze out.
  • Seasoning. Flavor the panko mixture with garlic powder, pepper, paprika, or Italian seasoning.
A homemade mozzarella stick being dipped in marinara.

Storing info

  • Make ahead of time. Bread your cheese sticks ahead of time and pop them in the freezer.
    • Once they’re frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Then you have a whole batch on hand ready to fry up whenever you like!
  • Serve immediately. This best mozzarella sticks recipe tastes the best served fresh.
  • STORE. Keep leftover fried cheese sticks in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for a couple of months.
Easy mozzarella sticks on a serving platter with dipping sauce.

For More Favorite Appetizers:

5 from 24 votes

Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Everyone is obsessed with these gooey homemade mozzarella sticks, breaded with a flavorful coating and fried to golden perfection.
Servings: 24 sticks
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Freeze: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 12 string cheese sticks
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • teaspoon paprika
  • teaspoon seasoned salt
  • cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • vegetable oil for frying

Instructions 

  • Unwrap cheese sticks and cut them in half crosswise.
  • Combine flour, paprika and salt in a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. In a second bag, mix panko, parsley and oregano. In a bowl, beat eggs and milk together.
  • Add 5 or 6 cheese sticks to the bowl with eggs and milk and toss around to coat. Transfer sticks to the flour bag and shake around, then return them to the milk bowl, making sure to coat every side. Finally, add sticks to the panko bag and toss to coat. Place panko-coated sticks on a baking sheet. Repeat to coat all the remaining cheese sticks.
  • Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 20–30 minutes. This will ensure that the cheese does not ooze out of the coating while frying.
  • Heat a few inches of vegetable oil in a large frying pan to 350–375°F.
  • Working in batches, fry sticks in the oil until golden brown on all sides, 30–60 seconds.
  • Drain on a paper towel–lined plate. Serve immediately with marinara sauce or ranch dressing.

Video

Notes

Make ahead: Bread your cheese sticks ahead of time and pop them in the freezer. Once they are frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag. Store for up to 1 month before frying as instructed above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1stick, Calories: 72kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Trans Fat: 0.001g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 156mg, Potassium: 23mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 0.4g, Vitamin A: 34IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
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Recipe adapted from: Noshing with the Nolands



About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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28 Comments

    1. I haven’t tried them in the air fryer, but they should be able to!! I’d guess maybe 390 or so for about 5 minutes?

    1. They sure can! You can set your air fryer to 390°F. Spray the air fryer basket and the mozzarella sticks with a nonstick cooking spray. Then you can air fry the mozzarella sticks for 6 to 8 minutes until the exterior is crispy. You can do this in batches if needed. Hope this helps!

  1. Can you put THese in the air fryer like your cream cheese stuffed JALAPENOS? Just made those and they are awesome!