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Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

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If you are looking to learn how to make homemade mozzarella sticks, you’ve come to the right place. Though traditional mozzarella cheese can be used, it is easiest to make with perfectly portioned sticks of string cheese.

This piping hot appetizer can be ready to enjoy in just 10 minutes!Deep fried mozzarella sticks being stretched
You know what I absolutely crave when it is hot and muggy outside, and my house feels like a sauna? Deep fried food! Well, not typically, but Tuesday I was absolutely ravenous for some good ol’ deep fried Wisconsin cheese! 

Cheese is to Wisconsin what corruption is to Illinois… we couldn’t function without it.  It’s practically our state vitamin.

Beer Battered Deep Fried Cheese CurdsHeck, Wisconsin’s deep fried cheese curds look like over-sized vitamins, and they sure make me feel a lot better! If you like Mozzarella sticks, you HAVE to check out my Beer Battered Deep Fried Cheese Curds recipe too!

What Are Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella sticks are a popular deep fried appetizer consisting of long slices of mozzarella cheese which are coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown and melted inside. Mozzarella sticks are most commonly served with marinara sauce for dipping.

Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

Making homemade mozzarella sticks with string cheese is not a difficult proposition, particularly if you take advantage of the fact that string cheese is already in perfectly portioned sticks ready to fry!  All you need to do is bread them and dunk them in oil! You can even make Doritos Mozzarella Sticks if you are feeling crazy!

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Yes, you can make homemade mozzarella sticks without frying, by baking them in the oven. However, I find baked mozzarella sticks have a higher risk of error since you can’t monitor their cooking as closely. You are more likely to end up with melted white blobs than stretchy homemade cheese sticks! 

Not to mention, baked mozzarella sticks aren’t all that healthy either. You are still chowing down on big sticks of breaded cheese. Might as well fry them in oil, get better flavor, and have a better chance of them cooking to perfection.

If you still wish to attempt baked mozzarella sticks I recommend freezing the cheese prior to breading and baking them in a 450-degree oven until golden brown and the cheese threatens to ooze out. Freezing the cheese buys you a little more time before you have a melted disaster. 

How to Make Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

If you don’t have a deep fryer, and I don’t, I recommend using a cast iron fryer.  It has deep walls which is perfect for containing and oil threatening to splatter over, and the heavy nature of cast iron is perfect for maintaining a steady temperature.  All of my deep frying is done exclusively in this.

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Use your digital thermometer to monitor the frying oil temperature. The oil temperature will drop after adding the initial batch of mozzarella sticks, so I typically increase the heat of my burner after I start frying, or raise my initial frying temperature a little over 365 to compensate for the impending drop.

It is also a good idea to do a test batch with a single stick to get an idea of how quickly your mozzarella sticks will cook. If you see the cheese oozing out, they are overcooking and should be removed immediately.

How to Make Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

What Goes Well With Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella sticks are a classic bar appetizer, making them well suited to pair with other bar food and game-day fare. When creating your own menu, think of an appetizer sampler you would order at a sports bar. Items such as chicken wings, homemade French fries, and fried green tomatoes would all go together nicely. You could even serve your mozzarella sticks as an appetizer for a nice juicy homemade burger!

Deep fried mozzarella sticks being stretched
Print Recipe
4.34 from 15 votes

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

Making homemade mozzarella sticks with string cheese is easy because the cheese is already perfect portioned! Just bread and deep fry to perfection!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time1 min
Total Time11 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 400
Author: Fox Valley Foodie

Ingredients

  • 16 oz String Cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups Italian breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp Milk
  • Oil for frying
  • Marinara for dipping

Instructions

  • Fill skillet with a couple inches of oil and heat to 365 degrees.
  • Whisk together milk and egg in a bowl.
  • Add breadcrumbs to a separate bowl.
  • Dip string cheese in egg, then breadcrumbs, then egg again and breadcrumbs again.
  • Deep fry in batches until crust is golden brown, about 1 minute.
  • Remove from fryer and let drain on a paper towel, then serve with marinara sauce.

Notes

The cheese will melt fast so don't worry about the short fry time. If you over fry it the cheese will be too melted and unruly.
Tip: To prevent the breadcrumbs from getting clumpy in the bowl I don't add the full amount right away. I keep adding fresh crumbs as I'm breading the sticks.
 
IF YOU LIKED THIS RECIPE you will love my Easy Cheese-Stuffed Breadsticks too!
*Calories listed are a vague estimate and accuracy should not be assumed.

If you cooked this up at home and enjoyed it, please let me know in the comments below! It is a nice reminder of why I write these recipes.

If you enjoyed reading my homemade mozzarella sticks recipe then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still use my recipe it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today.

Comments

    • Yes, there are recipes for baked mozzarella sticks. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-6 minutes. Though, if I am eating a big stick of cheese I figure in for a penny, in for a pound! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Made these tonight as an appetizer to an Italian dinner. Wow, they’re amazing. I cut the string cheese sticks in half before breading them. Didn’t change the recipe at all, but it made it easier to dip without double dipping in some marinara sauce. My family loved this recipe! Will make again for sure!

    Reply

    • Yes, that would work well. Freezing would also help prevent the cheese from overcooking too quickly.

      Reply

    • Yes, you can freeze them. I suspect they would last quite a while in the freezer if stored properly.

      Reply

  9. I made these the exact way it says and it’s **** terrible. The bread crumbs won’t even stick to the cheese stick even if we manage by some miracle to get it to stay it cooks the crumbs off! And we end up with a melted cheese blob!

    Reply

    • I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you. Breading and deep frying can certainly be a challenge for many people. Dipping deep fried food in an egg wash then breadcrumbs is a tried and true practice that has been around forever. I recommend giving it a little practice and you’ll get it. It sounds like your breadcrumbs may have gotten soggy, I’ve found they don’t coat as well if they aren’t dry. Also be sure you are letting the egg wash drip off so globs of it don’t come off in the breadcrumbs.

      Reply

  12. I used buttermilk instead of regular milk. And I added a little extra seasoning to the breadcrumbs. I think cheese is messy no matter how you fry it. Just keep your eye on it. Mine took less than a minute in the fryer. They tasted great

    Reply

  16. Love Mozzarella sticks, but any other cheese you’d recommend. I love the texture of Mozzarella, but I find the flavor a little boring. Like something strong and punchy!

    Reply

    • Any of your favorite cheeses will work just fine. Provolone or brick cheese would be two mild alternatives that have a bit more flavor. They also melt nicely.

      Reply

    • It depends on how much string cheese is in your 16 oz package. If your package has 12 sticks of cheese, it will make 12 mozzarella sticks.

      Reply

    • I dipped my cheese sticks in egg and then bread crumbs 2x and the crust came out perfect. Love how easy this is! Once you freeze them, are you supposed to fry them again to reheat or bake them?

      Reply

  19. My daughter Jaycie and I made this. It was terrible. IDK what happend. THIS WAS GROSS! Do you know why? Plz answer. Thx.

    Reply

    • You’ll have to give us more information before we can tell you what you did wrong. Can you please clarify exactly what issues you experienced?

      Reply

        • Ok that is an easy one. It just needed to be cooked less. If the oil temperature is too high, or it is left in the oil too long, it will become too melty and fall apart. Basically, like the recipe notes explained, if you over fry it the cheese will be too melted and unruly.

          Reply

  20. My names is Samantha,I just wanted to right to your company and make a suggestion. I was wondering what u would think about doing a deep fried pepperjack cheese stick. I was at home making homemade onion rings, and then I had some pepperjack cheese in my fridge so I grabbed it out of fridge and thought I wonder what this would taste like if I do poured in batter and deep fried it. I did it and it was so good, had that kick to it. So if I were u I’d give it a try.

    Reply

  22. I tried trying so far at low to med temp, but they basically melted in the frying pan. I didn’t have any issue with soggy bread crumbs and have experience with egg washing several dishes.

    I’m now going to try baking at the recommended 350*F and will report back.

    It’ll be nice to have an easy peasy way to make delicious mozzarella sticks.

    Reply

    • I don’t use an air fryer and have never used one, so I am not sure. I am sure there are probably air fryer recipes for mozzarella sticks if you google them.

      Reply

  27. I just tried this recipe as a last minute Superbowl recipe, It was Great! I dredged in flour first and then chilled outside in the snow for an hour before frying. The breading stayed on and they fried to a golden brown quickly. Everyone loved them!

    Reply

  29. Just freeze for 30 minutes after breading. Cook in 1/2 inch preheated oil on medium in a frying pan and they can be turned 3 times till done on each side. Much more control over temp and appearance

    Reply

  30. I played a riff off of your recipe. I crushed up the Flaming Hot Cheeto Puffs instead of bread crumbs.

    Reply

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