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Your local chain restaurants and fast food joints have nothing on these Homemade Mozzarella Sticks. Gooey, melted mozzarella cheese is centered around a shell of perfectly fried, flavorful as can be breadcrumbs. Consider making a double batch, because these things fly off the serving platter!
It’s okay – we’ve all been there. That feeling when you’re about three drinks in at the bar and your eye sneaks over to the appetizer menu, and what do you see? Mozzarella sticks! When you get them, though, they always seem to be more breading than cheese. While not bad, they don’t ever quite hit the spot, no matter how many drinks in you are!
I don’t think there are a lot of things more satisfying than a good cheese pull, and these freshly fried mozzarella sticks always yield the best ones. Since there’s just enough breadcrumbs fried around the cheese to give it a good crunch, you get the perfect amount of cheese with each bite as well. The ratio here is perfect! Make these homemade mozzarella sticks for your next party! They are ALWAYS a crowd pleaser!
Ingredients for Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
- Flour – All-purpose flour will do the trick.
- Eggs – The darker gold the yolk is, the higher quality it is.
- Water
- Breadcrumbs – Use plain ones that have no additional flavor.
- Panko crumbs – Using both types of breadcrumbs helps create a great crunch!
- Italian seasoning – No mozzarella sticks are ever complete without this.
- Salt – Just a pinch!
- Garlic powder – If you really love garlic, you can toss a little extra in the mix.
- Pepper – Freshly cracked black pepper yields the best flavor.
- Mozzarella sticks – This is just plain old string cheese!
- Canola oil – Use this for frying the mozzarella sticks.
How to Make Homemade Mozzarella Sticks Step by Step
To view detailed instructions, remember to scroll to the bottom of the post for the recipe card.
- Create a mozzarella stick breading station. Place the flour in a bowl and set it aside. Whisk the eggs and water together in a small bowl. Set this next to the bowl of flour. Finally, mix the panko, bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in another small bowl and set this next to the bowl with the beaten eggs.
- Bread the cheese. Use tongs to place each mozzarella stick into the flour mixture, making sure to cover it completely, then dip it into the egg mixture, then completely cover it with the bread crumb mixture and set it onto a baking sheet.
- Do a second breading. When all of the mozzarella sticks have had one coat of breading we are going to give them a second coating. This time, flour is not needed. Using the tongs, place each mozzarella stick in the egg mixture and then coat completely with the bread crumb mixture (sides and ends as well). Again place these on the baking sheet.
- Freeze. Freeze the coated mozzarella sticks for at least 1 hour.
- Fry. Heat oil in a heavy skillet, or dutch oven, to a temperature of 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry mozzarella sticks for a minute or 2 per side, or until golden brown.
Variations and Tips for Mozzarella Sticks
- Work in batches. It’s important to work in batches because if you over crowd the pan, the temperature of the oil will decrease. You’ll end up with oily, under-cooked mozzarella sticks.
- Follow the instructions. The instructions require freezing so allot enough time for that and it’s a must especially since you don’t want a gooey cheesy mess in your frying oil!
- Change up the flavor. It’s easy to change up the flavor of the mozzarella sticks by adding a little seasoning to the breadcrumb coating. I like adding cayenne pepper to the mixture to give it a spicy kick. You can add lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, or even Cajun seasoning to it!
FAQs
Yes, if you don’t freeze the mozzarella sticks before deep frying they are likely to leak out of the breading before it has a chance to brown.
This is definitely preferable. It gives a thicker crust and a better casing for the mozzarella cheese (keeping it all inside).
Yes! That actually works really well. Just be sure to cut the cheese into uniform sized bricks.
After you’ve frozen them on a tray, just move them into freezer bags. Then you can just fry up the amount you want at one time.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Once cooled, if there are leftovers, place the mozzarella sticks in an airtight container (or sandwich bag) and keep them refrigerated for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 2 months.
To reheat, if you have an air fryer or toaster oven, this is the best way. Set the air fryer for 375 degrees and cook the mozzarella sticks for 4 minutes, turn them and cook for another 4 minutes. For the toaster oven, bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until hot and crispy.
Serving Suggestions
These cheese sticks are best served with warmed marinara sauce! It’s the traditional way, but you can always dip it in ranch or any other dipping sauce that you like. Alongside, you can make other finger foods like Sweet and Tangy Balls or Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs. My favorite is Pizza Rolls because pizza + cheese sticks sound like the best combo ever!
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (42 g) flour
- 3 eggs
- 2 tablespoons (2 Tablespoon) water
- 1 cup (108 g) plain breadcrumbs
- 1 cup (60 g) panko crumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 16 mozzarella sticks (string cheese), cut in half
- 1 cup (237 ml) canola oil
Instructions
- Place the flour in a bowl and set it aside.
- Whisk the eggs and water together in a small bowl. Set this next to the bowl of flour.
- Mix the panko, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in another small bowl and set this next to the bowl with the beaten eggs.
- Prepare a tray lined with parchment paper and set this next to the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture.
- Use tongs to place each mozzarella stick into the flour mixture (cover completely), then dip it into the egg mixture, then completely cover it with the breadcrumb mixture and set it onto the prepared tray.
- When all of the mozzarella sticks have had one coat of breading we are going to give them a second coating. This time, flour is not needed. So again using the tongs, place each mozzarella stick in the egg mixture and then coat completely with the breadcrumb mixture (sides and ends as well). Again place these on the tray.
- Freeze the coated mozzarella sticks for at least 1 hour.
- Heat the oil in a heavy skillet, or dutch oven, to a temperature of 325 °F (163 °C) – 350 °F (177 °C). (Pay attention to how quickly they are browning and adjust your temperature)
- Place a place lined with paper towels next to the deep frying station.
- Fry mozzarella sticks for a minute or two per side, or until golden brown. Do not crowd the pan as it will drop the temperature of the oil.
- Remove mozzarella sticks to the plate lined with paper towels.
- Serve with marinara sauce on the side if you like.
