Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

A plate of mozzarella sticks served with marinara sauce.

5 from 25 votes

Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

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

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Freeze20

Total Time40

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: sticks

Author: Kristyn Merkley

Ingredients

12 string cheese sticks
½ cup all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon paprika
⅛ teaspoon seasoned salt
1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

Unwrap 12 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 the 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 the vegetable oil in a large frying pan to 350-375 degrees F.
Working in batches, fry sticks in the oil until golden brown on all sides, 30-60 seconds.
Serve immediately with Marinara Sauce or Ranch Dressing.

Video

Notes

Recipe Tips.

Do not skip freezing the coated sticks since this step helps keep the cheese from melting too quickly.
Fry in small batches to keep the oil temperature steady for even cooking.
Use a thermometer to maintain oil between 350 and 375 degrees for best results.
A double coating helps the cheese stay inside and not melt out while frying.
You can freeze the coated sticks long term and fry straight from frozen for an easy make ahead snack.
Unwrap your cheese sticks while still connected, and the wrappers will all come off at once.
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.
Flavor the panko mixture with garlic powder, pepper, paprika, or Italian seasoning.
This recipe tastes best served fresh.
Air fryer directions. Prepare the Mozzarella Sticks as directed in the recipe. 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.

Make ahead of time. 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.

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.

Nutrition