Is there anything better than gooey, ooey-gooey melted cheese oozing out of a crispy, golden fried coating? I don’t think so! That irresistible combo of hot, melty cheese with a crunchy exterior is what makes mozzarella sticks one of the most crave-worthy appetizers around.
When you bite into these homemade fried mozzarella sticks, that glorious gloopy mozzarella just melts into stringy deliciousness inside the ultra-crispy, flavorful panko breadcrumb coating. It’s an explosion of textures and flavors in your mouth! The way the craggy, fried edge gives way to melted cheese nirvana is absolute perfection.
And while you can find mozzarella sticks on the menu at every restaurant, bar, and late-night fast food joint, nothing compares to frying up these golden beauties at home. Making them yourself means you can use high-quality fresh mozzarella for the OOEY-GOOEY stretchy factor. And you can season the crispy coating exactly to your taste.
Not only do these homemade mozzarella sticks taste approximately one thousand times better than any restaurant version, they’re actually so easy to DIY at home! With just a few simple ingredients like fresh mozzarella, breadcrumbs, flour, and eggs along with some hot oil for frying, these could be ready to dunk into marinara sauce in less than 30 minutes.
The whole family is guaranteed to gobble up every last fried, cheesy bite. As soon as that irresistible aroma of frying mozzarella wafts from the kitchen, kids and adults alike will come sniffing around begging for these crispy sticks of heaven. These will be the shining star at any party or game day event!
What type of mozzarella should be used?
A: For the oooey-gooey meltiness we want, use fresh mozzarella cheese sticks or good quality block mozzarella. Avoid preshredded mozzarella which won’t melt as smoothly.
How long does it take to make these?
From start to finish, these fried mozzarella sticks take about 30-45 minutes to prepare, coat, freeze, fry, and serve up hot and melty.
How do you get the breadcrumbs to stick?
Be sure to dip the mozzarella fully in flour first, then whisked egg, then press into breadcrumbs so they adhere completely before frying.
Can the cheese sticks be frozen after breading?
Yes! Freezing the breaded sticks before frying helps the coating set up nicely. Just fry straight from the freezer.
What oil is best for frying mozzarella sticks?
I like to use a neutral vegetable or canola oil with a high smoke point. Olive oil can sometimes impart too strong a flavor.
How do you keep the cheese from oozing out?
Use thicker cheese sticks and be sure to bread and freeze thoroughly before frying.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese sticks (or block mozzarella sliced into sticks)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 cup vegetable or canola oil for frying
- Marinara sauce, for serving
Instructions:
- The first step is slicing up fresh mozzarella cheese into long, thick sticks for frying. For best results, use a block of whole milk mozzarella cheese and carefully slice it into 1⁄2 inch thick sticks about 4 inches long. This shape exposes more of that gloriously gooey cheese to the crispy breadcrumb coating. Just be sure the mozzarella sticks are evenly sized so they cook up crispy golden.
- Pat those cheese sticks dry thoroughly before breading – extra moisture can make the coating turn out soggy. Set up your dipping station with separate bowls for flour, whisked eggs, and Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. Working one at a time, coat each cheese stick fully in flour, tapping off excess. Then dip into the egg wash, allowing excess to drip off. Finally gently press into the breadcrumbs until totally coated all over.
- Arrange the mozzarella sticks in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet or plate and pop them in the freezer for at least an hour before frying, and up to overnight. This helps that coating really adhere and firms up the cheese too.
- When ready to fry, heat at least 2 to 3 inches of oil to 350°F in a wide heavy-bottomed pot (a cast iron Dutch oven works great). The oil should bubble up instantly when you drop in a corner of breadcrumb coating to test it. Fry just 2 to 4 breaded mozzarella sticks at a time so the oil temp doesn’t drop dramatically.
- Fry for 1 to 2 minutes, flipping occasionally, until deeply golden brown all over. Remove mozzarella sticks from the oil with a slotted spoon and let any excess oil drain off on a paper towel lined plate before serving. Make sure to let the frying oil come fully back up to temperature between batches for best results.
- Dig into these hot-from-the-fryer beauties right away by dipping oozing ends directly into warm marinara sauce! The heavenly combo of crispy, toasty coating immediately giving way to gloriously gushing molten mozzarella is absolutely unbeatable.
Cooking tips:
- Make sure your oil is hot enough before frying at 350°F – this helps the breading crisp up immediately so the cheese doesn’t ooze out.
- Freeze the breaded sticks before frying for at least 30 minutes – or even overnight! The coating will hold onto the cheese better.
- Use fresh mozzarella blocks or sticks rather than preshredded cheese which won’t melt as smoothly.
- Dip in flour first before egg and breadcrumbs to really help the coating adhere.
- Fry in batches without overcrowding so oil temperature doesn’t drop too much.
- Serve right away with warm marinara sauce! The contrast of hot melty cheese and crisp breading can’t be beat.
