Description

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks are crispy, cheesy, and savory appetizers made by coating mozzarella cheese sticks in a seasoned panko breadcrumb mixture, then frying them to golden perfection. This recipe includes detailed steps for preparing the cheese sticks and tips for freezing and cooking, making them perfect for serving fresh or storing for later enjoyment.

Ingredients

Scale

Breadcrumb Coating

1 ½ cups plain Panko
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon table salt

Breading and Cheese

2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 lb whole milk mozzarella block (or 15 whole milk string cheese)

For Frying and Serving

Vegetable oil (for frying)
Marinara sauce (for serving)

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Instructions

Prepare Panko Crumbs: Place the panko crumbs in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin or mallet to crush them until finely ground.
Season Breadcrumbs: Pour the crushed panko into a shallow dish. Add Italian seasoning, dried parsley, garlic powder, black pepper, and table salt. Stir together thoroughly to combine all the seasonings evenly.
Beat Eggs: In a separate shallow bowl, crack the two large eggs and whisk them until fully scrambled and smooth.
Prepare Flour: Pour the all-purpose flour into another shallow bowl, which will be used for dusting the mozzarella sticks.
Cut Cheese: If using a mozzarella block, slice it widthwise into 15 sticks approximately the size of standard mozzarella sticks.
Coat Cheese Sticks: Working one stick at a time, first dip the mozzarella stick into the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the beaten eggs, allowing excess egg to drip off. Finally, roll the stick in the seasoned panko mixture, pressing the crumbs to cover the stick evenly on all sides.
Freeze Breaded Sticks: Place a wire cooking rack on a baking sheet and set the coated mozzarella sticks on the rack to prevent sticking. Freeze the sticks for at least one hour. For storage longer than one hour, transfer the cheese sticks to an airtight container and return to the freezer.
Fry the Mozzarella Sticks: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or frying pan to 350°F (175°C). Fry the frozen cheese sticks in batches for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown and cheese is melted. Remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Serve: Serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping.

Notes

For best results, use whole milk mozzarella for optimal meltiness and flavor.
Freezing the breaded sticks helps the coating adhere better and prevents cheese from oozing out during frying.
This recipe can be adapted for baking or air frying if preferred, but frying yields the crispiest texture.
Let mozzarella sticks cool slightly before dipping to avoid burning your mouth, but they are best enjoyed while still warm.
Make extra batches and store in the freezer for quick and easy appetizers anytime.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 mozzarella stick
Calories: 138 kcal
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 281 mg
Fat: 8 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 8 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 9 g
Cholesterol: 46 mg