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The secret to insanely crispy, gooey mozzarella sticks? Use the right cheese, double bread for extra crunch, and freeze them before fryingโthese three simple steps make all the difference!
Mozzarella Sticks Too Good to Share
- That Crunch, Though! A crispy, golden shell with perfectly melty cheese insideโjust like your favorite restaurant, but better.
- Easy to Make Ahead: Prep a batch, freeze them, and fry whenever the craving hits. So easy!
- Party Favorite (or Late-Night Snack!): Perfect for game day, get-togethers, or a โjust becauseโ treat. Donโt forget the marinara and ranch for dipping!
Ingredients Needed
Ingredient Tips
- Use Firm Mozzarella: Opt for a block of whole milk mozzarella, not fresh mozzarella or string cheese, for the best ooey gooey melt.
- Choose the Right Breadcrumbs: Finer Italian breadcrumbs create a crispier shell that holds the cheese in better than Panko.
- Pick the Right Oil: Use a high smoke point oil like vegetable, canola, sunflower, peanut, or avocado for the crispiest results.
How to Make Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
Making mozzarella sticks at home is actually really easy! With a simple breading process and a quick fry, youโll have perfectly crispy, cheesy bites. They taste even better than restaurant versions!
- Cut into Sticks: Slice the block of mozzarella cheese into 16 sticks that are roughly the same size.
- Combine: In a small bowl or shallow dish big enough to hold one of the cheese sticks, combine the eggs and milk.
- Breading Mixture: In another small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and parmesan cheese.
- Dip: Working one at a time, Dip each cheese stick in the egg mixture
- Breading: Then roll the egg-washed cheesestick into the breadcrumbs.
- Dip Again: Repeat the process for each mozzarella stick. Dip again in the egg wash.
- Bread Again and Freeze: Dip again in the breadcrumbs before transferring to a sheet pan. Continue until all of the cheese sticks are double coated. Lay the double-breaded cheese sticks out on a parchment-lined baking sheet or freezer-safe plate and place them in the freezer for at least an hour.
- Fry: Fill a large skillet with 1โณ-2โณ of vegetable oil or use a deep fryer. Heat to 350ยบF-365ยบF over medium heat. Fry 3-4 mozzarella sticks at a time for 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Keep the oil at the right temperature for each batch. Serve immediately with marinara sauce if desired.
How to Keep Mozzarella Sticks from Bursting
**DONโT SKIP STEP 7! This step is crucial for keeping the cheese inside the mozzarella sticksโfreezing them helps prevent the cheese from melting too quickly and leaking out.
How to Store Leftover Mozzarella Sticks
One great thing about this recipe is that you can freeze leftovers! Itโs such a quick and easy snack!
- In the Freezer: For longer storage, freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Then, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months.
- In the Refrigerator: Store fried mozzarella sticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: To keep them crispy when reheating, bake them in the oven at 375ยฐF for about 10 minutes or air fry at 350ยฐF for 5-7 minutes. Avoid microwaving as it can make them soggy.
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Mozzarella Sticks
The secret to perfect mozzarella sticks is using the right mozzarella, double breading for a sturdy crust, and fully freezing them before frying.
Ingredients
- 1 pound block whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 2 large eggs
- ยผ cup milk
- 2 cups plain breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon onion powder
- ยฝ cup grated parmesan
- Vegetable oil for frying about 2 quarts
Instructions
- Slice the 1 pound block whole milk mozzarella cheese into 16 sticks that are roughly the same size.
- In a small bowl or shallow dish big enough to hold one of the cheese sticks, combine the 2 large eggs and ยผ cup milk.
- In another small bowl, combine 2 cups plain breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ยฝ teaspoon onion powder, and ยฝ cup grated parmesan.
- Dip each cheese stick in the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Repeat once more, dipping the cheese stick into the egg mixture again and back into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Lay the double-breaded cheese sticks out on a parchment-lined baking sheet or freezer-safe plate and place them in the freezer for at least an hour.
- When you are ready to cook the mozzarella sticks, use a deep fryer or a large, wide pot over medium heat. Heat the Vegetable oil for frying to 350-365 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once the oil is hot enough, cook 3-4 mozzarella sticks at a time for 1-2 minutes in the oil.
- Carefully remove the cooked mozzarella sticks from the oil and transfer them to a paper-towel lined plate to drain. Make sure the oil stays between 350-365 before starting the next batch of mozzarella sticks.
- Serve immediately with marinara sauce for dipping, if desired.
Notes
Originally Posted December 27, 2019
Updated March 21, 2025
*Air fryer instructions: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange the mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the air fryer, being careful not to overcrowd them. You may have to cook them in 2 batches. Lightly spray the mozzarella sticks with nonstick cooking spray, then air fry for 6-8 minutes, flipping them over halfway through and keeping an eye on them in case they start oozing.
*Oven instructions: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and place the frozen mozzarella sticks on it. Lightly spray the mozzarella sticks with nonstick cooking spray, then bake for 10-12 minutes, flipping them over halfway through.
Nutrition
Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 10gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 341mgPotassium: 74mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 260IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 209mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
I think this would be great in the air fryer too!