Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella sticks are one of my all-time favorite appetizers to order at restaurants. I am addicted to cheese and more specifically, mozzarella!

This homemade mozzarella sticks recipe is so awesome and super easy to make. How can you not like a crispy outside with soft gooey melted cheese on the inside? They are so good, best appetizers ever!

If you love mozzarella sticks, give this recipe a try, I think you are going to love it! They are incredibly simple to make with just a handful of ingredients, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Gather the ingredients

In order to make these amazing homemade mozzarella sticks you need just a handful of easy to find ingredients:

• Mozzarella cheese – I like to use string cheese because it is a perfect size and you only need to cut them in half.
• Flour
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic powder
• Eggs
• Milk
• Bread crumbs – You can use traditional or Italian bread crumbs.
• Marinara/pizza sauce – This is purely optional for dipping purposes. Use this amazing pizza sauce, it is so good!
• Oil for frying – Canola, vegetable, peanut, coconut, lard, etc. are all decent choices.

Tools

• Fork/Whisk
• Bowls
• Pot
• Tongs
• Plate
• Paper Towels
• Candy Thermometer

Step 2: How to make homemade mozzarella sticks

First, take a small pot and pour in some oil (canola or vegetable, etc.), pour in enough oil so it is about an inch deep.

Then turn on the stove, medium heat, and bring the temp of the oil to be at 350 Degrees F. (177 Degrees C) Mix the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl with a fork or whisk, or sifter.

Take your chosen mozzarella cheese, I really like using string cheese, because it is pretty much already the same shape. Then cut those in half.

In a small bowl, mix together the eggs and milk.

Dip a piece of cheese in the egg wash, then dip it in the flour mixture until covered. Next dip it back in the egg wash and then in the bowl of bread crumbs.

Now, dip it back in the egg wash, and then finally in the bread crumbs one more time. Why so much dipping you might be thinking? Well, you need a thick coating of breadcrumbs so when it crisps up the melted cheese in the middle doesn’t blow out the sides and ooze out. Although, that still can happen.

Place the dipped mozzarella sticks on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, even a plate will work fine.

At this stage you can freeze these before frying and then fry them later. It also, helps prevent the cheese from oozing out. If you are planning on freezing them, no need to heat up the oil until you are ready to fry them.

Freezing isn’t mandatory, so if you are impatient like me go ahead and fry them now.

Step 3: Frying mozzarella sticks

Make sure your oil is at 350 F/176 C. Or if you froze the mozzarella sticks, heat the oil at this point. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature. It is important the oil isn’t hotter than that, because it will overly brown the breadcrumbs before the cheese can melt on the inside.

Drop the mozzarella sticks into the oil about three at time depending on the size of the pot. Don’t overcrowd them.

Fry them for 30 to 45 seconds, if you see melted cheese coming out, then they are definitely done. Other then that wait until they are golden brown. Use tongs or a spider ladle and remove the mozzarella sticks from the oil and place them on a plate with paper towel. Now serve them up with a side of marinara or pizza sauce if you like. Enjoy!

TIP: If the mozzarella sticks are browning too quickly you can reduce the heat to 325 F/162 C.

How long do mozzarella sticks last?

These will last 3 to 4 days if placed in an airtight container in the fridge. For long term storage, it is better to freeze them after prepping them, and then fry them when you want to eat them, so they are fresh.

Here are some other caramel related recipes you may like:

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Easy Breadsticks

Easy Homemade Sour Cream

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Garlic and Bacon

Homemade Caramel Apples

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Mozzarella Sticks

These yummy homemade mozzarella sticks are amazing. They are so easy to make with easy to find ingredients. I love appetizers and these are my favorite to order at restaurants, and even better making them at home.

Prep Time25 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

0 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: crispy, easy, gooey, soft

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 241kcal

Author: Matt Taylor

Equipment

• Fork/Whisk
• Bowls
• pot
• Tongs
• Plate
• Paper towels
• Candy Thermometer

Ingredients

• Mozzarella Cheese – I use string cheese about 6 or more of them (approx 168g)
• 1/4 cup of flour 30g
• 1/2 tsp of salt 2g
• 1/4 tsp of pepper 1g
• 1 tsp of garlic powder 5g
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp of milk 15ml
• 1 cup of bread crumbs Traditional or Italian (110g)
• Marinara sauce (for dipping – optional
• Oil for frying I use canola oil, but vegetable works well too

Instructions

• Add enough oil to a medium pot so it is about an inch to inch and a half deep. Set the heat to medium and bring the temp up to 350 F/176 C or a little bit less, but not hotter than that.
• Mix the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl with a fork or whisk, or sifter.
• Cut the cheese into about half-inch wide by 2 or 2 1/2 inches long pieces. Or to make it easy just use string cheese mozzarella and cut each stick in half.
• In a small bowl whisk together the eggs and the milk.
• Dip the cheese in the egg wash, then into the flour, then back in the egg wash, then in the bread crumbs, then in the egg wash one more time, and back into the bread crumbs. This creates a thicker outer coating which helps prevent cheese leakage when frying. Place the stick on a pan or plate lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
• At this point, you can freeze the mozzarella sticks for 30 minutes to an hour before dipping. If you plan on doing that, don't preheat the oil yet. Also, you can freeze them for long term storage, and only fry some when you want some. But freezing isn't necessary, although it helps a bit to prevent the cheese from oozing out. I get impatient so I don't always freeze them.
• If you froze them, now heat the oil to between 325 F and 350 F. (162 to 176 C) Gently drop 3 to 4 sticks in the oil and allow them to fry for 30 to 45 seconds, until nice and golden brown. Don't overcrowd them. Remove them with tongs or a spider ladle and place them on a wire rack or plate lined with a paper towel.
• Serve them as is or get a size of pizza sauce or marinara sauce to dip them in. Enjoy!

Video

How to Make Mozzarella Sticks - Homemade Cheese Sticks Recipe

Notes

Note: The nutritional facts are for 2 mozzarella sticks made from one stick of string cheese. 

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Nutrition

Calories: 241kcal

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