Crispy Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
Golden, crispy mozzarella sticks with a gooey center, perfect for a quick and delicious snack or appetizer made with simple pantry staples.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese sticks (string cheese), full-fat
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (120g)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (180g)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano and basil combined
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups vegetable oil (480ml) for frying
Instructions
- Unwrap mozzarella sticks and cut each into halves or thirds depending on preferred size. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment and freeze for at least 1 hour.
- Set up breading stations: place 1 cup flour in the first bowl, 2 beaten eggs in the second, and in the third mix 2 cups Italian breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated Parmesan, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, 1 tsp mixed dried herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Dredge each frozen stick in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into the egg, letting any extra drip off. Roll thoroughly in breadcrumb mixture, pressing slightly to ensure good coverage.
- Repeat the egg and breadcrumb coating one more time for double breading.
- Place the double-coated sticks back on parchment and freeze for another 30 minutes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry sticks in batches for 1.5 to 2 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack.
- Serve warm with marinara or preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
Freeze the cheese sticks twice—once before breading and once after double breading—to prevent cheese leakage during frying. Maintain oil temperature at 350°F (175°C) and avoid overcrowding the fryer. Use a wire rack to drain sticks to keep them crispy. For gluten-free, substitute flour and breadcrumbs with almond flour and gluten-free panko. For dairy-free, use vegan mozzarella and plant-based Parmesan alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 3 mozzarella s
- Calories: 300
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 15
Keywords: mozzarella sticks, crispy snack, homemade appetizer, fried cheese sticks, easy snack recipe, double breading, movie night snack