Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks
These deep-fried mozzarella sticks will be a hit with a crunchy exterior and gooey, melty cheese inside. I’ll show you a simple way to coat the mozzarella sticks and a trick to keep them firm in the freezer.
This is one of our favorite deep-fryer recipes for having people over. You’ll love it for football games, parties or paired with other appetizers for a cozy night at home. It’s breaded, fried cheese. What’s not to like?
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
You don’t need an air fryer to make these or anything deep-fried. A cast iron skillet or Dutch oven works just fine. However, I do recommend having a thermometer to make sure the oil is hot enough. These are easy to make, really!
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Equipment
- Deep skillet, Dutch Oven, or Deep Fryer
- Tongs or Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 pound mozzarella block
- ½ cup cornstarch or flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- marinara sauce for serving
- oil for frying peanut or vegetable
How to Make Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks
Cut the mozzarella
Cut the mozzarella block into ½-inch wide pieces. The length is personal preference, but we prefer around 3 inches long
Prep the breading components
Use three separate bowls. In the first, place the cornstarch or flour, in the second the beaten eggs and milk, and in the last the panko, flour, Italian seasoning, and salt. A cute little assembly line!
Dip
Dip the mozzarella in flour or cornstarch. Then, dip it in the liquids. Finally, coat it in flour and breadcrumbs. If necessary, press the cheese sticks into the breadcrumbs so they stick. Work in small batches.
Freeze
Put the breaded sticks on a plate or baking sheet and freeze them for an hour. This will help the breading stick and keep the cheese firm when they fry.
Fry
Preheat the oil in a large pot to 375°F. Your oil temperature is so, so important. Use a candy thermometer to make sure the temperature is correct. Remember that adding frozen cheese sticks will cause the oil temperature to plummet, so you need to give it time to come back up between batches.
Put the mozzarella sticks in the hot oil and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are golden brown. Don’t overcrowd the pan. You want plenty of room for the cheese sticks to float around and get nice and crispy on all sides.
When in doubt, give them another minute. You want the cheese to be nice and melty on the inside without being overcooked on the outside. Remove them from the oil and put them on some paper towels. Serve them with ranch or marinara sauce right away!
Storage Instructions
Once you’ve cooked them, they don’t reheat all that well, although they are okay reheated in the air fryer.
But if you freeze them before frying, they store great! You can make a big batch and pop them in the freezer. When you’re ready for a special treat, fry them straight from frozen. Delicious.
What to Serve with Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks
Football watching? Fun weekend gathering? Yay! Try these recipes too:
- These go great with an apple pear sangria.
- A lighter pasta salad with cucumbers and tomatoes helps balance these out.
- Simple grilled food like hot dogs and hamburgers
- A party wouldn’t be complete without nachos.
Questions and Troubleshooting
Nope. Although… I love having one (it’s safer and maintains temperature better). As you can see, I do these right in a skillet.
What kind of cheese should I use?
I prefer mozzarella blocks for this recipe (easier to cut than to do so much peeling!), but string cheese works too, and you’ll get a classic round look.
Do I need to freeze them before frying?
It’s not required, but I think it helps the breading stick and keeps the cheese from oozing out. Give it a try!
More Deep Fryer Recipes
Printable Recipe
Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks
Equipment
- Deep skillet, Dutch Oven, or Deep Fryer
- Tongs or Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 pound mozzarella block
- ½ cup cornstarch or flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- marinara sauce for serving
- oil for frying peanut or vegetable
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Instructions
- Cut the mozzarella. Cut the mozzarella block into ½ inch wide pieces. The length is personal preference, but we prefer around 3 inches.
- Prep the breading components. Use three separate bowls. In the first, place the cornstarch or flour, in the second the beaten eggs and milk, and in the last the panko, flour, Italian seasoning, and salt.
- Dip. Dip the mozzarella first in the flour or cornstarch, then the liquids, then the flour and breadcrumbs. If necessary, press the cheese sticks into the breadcrumbs to get them to stick. Work in small batches.
- Freeze. Place the breaded sticks on a plate or baking sheet and let them chill in the freezer for an hour. This will help the breading stick and keep the cheese firm as they fry.
- Fry. Preheat the oil to 375℉, checking the temperature with a candy thermometer. Fry the mozzarella sticks for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve. Remove to a paper towel and serve immediately with ranch or marinara sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
By Katie Shaw
Katie shares simple, reliable recipes from her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens.
