If you are looking to learn how to make homemade mozzarella sticks, you've come to the right place. Although traditional mozzarella cheese can be used, it is easiest to make with perfectly portioned sticks of string cheese and is ready to be enjoyed in 10 minutes.
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.
Heck, Wisconsin's deep fried cheese curds look like over-sized vitamins, and they sure make me feel a lot better! If you like making your own homemade 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 or ranch dressing for dipping.
Can I make Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese?
Yes, 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 coat them in a breadcrumb mixture and dunk them in oil! You can even make Doritos Mozzarella Sticks if you are feeling crazy!
I use Italian breadcrumbs to make this an easy recipe, since they already contain seasoning. However, you can substitute regular bread crumbs if needed, and just add Italian seasoning to taste. You could even add black pepper and garlic powder to the bread crumb mixture.
Can I bake 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. Just make sure you use a rimmed baking sheet so the melting string cheese sticks don't drip to the bottom of the oven.
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.
Use your digital thermometer to monitor the frying oil temperature. The oil temperature will drop after adding the initial batch of breaded 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.
For best results, it is 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 gooey cheese oozing out, they are overcooking and should be removed immediately with a slotted spoon.
Once your delicious fried cheese sticks are done bathing in hot oil, place them on a paper towel-lined baking sheet to soak up the grease. Then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
More classic bar appetizers
- Chicken wings - can be baked in the oven!
- Homemade French fries - as good as your favorite restaurant!
- Fried green tomatoes - A southern classic!
- Burger Sliders - Perfect for a crowd!
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese
Equipment
- 1 Tall sided skillet
Ingredients
- 16 ounces string cheese
- 1 ½ cups Italian breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Oil for frying
- Marinara for dipping
Instructions
- Fill a tall-sided heavy skillet with a couple of inches of oil and heat to 365 degrees.
- Whisk together milk and egg in a bowl.
- Add breadcrumbs to a separate bowl.
- Dip mozzarella string cheese in the beaten eggs, then breadcrumbs, then add a second coating by dipping the cheese sticks in the egg mixture again and breadcrumbs again.
- Deep fry the coated mozzarella sticks in batches until the crust is golden brown, about 1 minute.
- Remove from fryer and let drain on paper towels, then serve with marinara sauce.
Notes
Nutritional Information
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.
This recipe was originally published on FoxValleyFoodie.com July 15, 2015.
Phylisse
I didn’t prep first all my sticks. My mistake. Engaged my teen to help. They fried so fast I couldn’t keep up. But recipe was spot on. It to self. Prep all cheese before frying. Thanks for the recipe.
Jessica William
Would this recipe also work with flour?
Jessica
Breading doesn’t stick to string cheese, especially if you “double-dip” in the egg mixture. I don’t know how people are having any success at all with this recipe.
Phylisse
You have to make sure the string cheese is cold and dry. All my breading stayed on. I used a pot with oil instead of a frying pan. Fried 4 at a time and it floated so the breading never touched the bottom. Worked perfectly. Best of luck if you try again. I’ll use this recipe again any time.
Christina
I haven't tried this recipe yet, but would it work the same if I used shredded mozzarella cheese instead of string cheese because I don't normally buy string cheese?? Please someone reply. Thanks!!
Fox Valley Foodie
No, it would fall apart.
Star
Did these in the deep fryer. Breading did not fall off. Cheese did not melt through breading. Came out crispy on the outside and stretchy on the inside. ..DELICIOUS! THANK YOU!
Karen
This was a delicious recipe. I do not buy packaged food so instead of using string cheese I used carrots, they look the same and they are very healthy. I did not have breadcrumbs so I used some toast and broke it up. Oil is bad for your liver. Instead I baked them in the oven. The reason I only gave this recipe four stars is because I did not like them very much. I gave them to my kids for dinner with salad. They filled my kids up so that was very joyous. I am making them again in two days because my kids ate them quicker than beets.
John Swepston
You followed no aspect of this recipe correctly. Always experiment but don't rate the recipe if you don't follow it.
Cheese-nonymous
Air fryers cook via convection baking, they don't actually "fry." So it would be the same thing as baking them in your standard convection oven. From experience, it just creates melted globs.
Heather McKinley
I froze the cheese sticks before coating then frying them. They were a huge hit. We loved the flavor these brought. I'm going to take a batch next time, prep then freeze them so we can just fry what we want later. Thank you.
andy
great recipie
Mylinda
Tried these tonight and the breading would fall off and the ones I tried cooking just disintegrated..
Jessica
I had the same problem. This recipe isn’t good. Doesn’t work.
Allan Robbins
I played a riff off of your recipe. I crushed up the Flaming Hot Cheeto Puffs instead of bread crumbs.
Soleil Foster
A bit salty with the bread crumbs but overall it was and the crust stayed
Shawn Felty
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
Sheila
Anyone tried in their air fryer yet, thoughts.
PatriotsFan
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!
Kelly
I'm trying this now but I'm freezing them before frying I'll let you know what happens lol
Tiffany
Did that work better? And wer they frozen when deep frying
Matt
Simple and delish !!! Family gobbled them up in a hurry! Great recipe!
Mark
Can you make these with an air fryer.
Fox Valley Foodie
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.
Judy
How would these do cooked in an air fryer??
tavo
you do this. Throw away the airfryer. then you follow this recipe.
kirstin TransGirl
Ppl like you make me sick they asked if it works in an air fryer dont sit and slam them for liking air fryers your opinion doesnt matter nor was it asked for so leave that shit at home they wanted a yes or no answer
(I cant answer as i dont own an air fryer)
Sana
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.
mechelle
you should freeze the for a few hours before frying. that’s what i do
Christina
I would season the batter (eggs & milk) .Maybe some garlic powder, onion powder, italian seasoning etc.
Dominic Graziano
The Italian bread crumbs are sufficient as too much Italian seasoning can create a slight bitter taste.