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?

platter of deep fried mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce.

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!

ingredients on tile counter.

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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

If you’d like to double or triple this recipe, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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

mozzarella sticks cut up on tray with knife nearby.

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!

three bowls of cornstarch, eggs, and breading.

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.

three images showing mozzarella stick being dipped in the three different bowls of coating.

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.

breaded mozzarella sticks on baking sheet for freezing.

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.

skillet with oil and bubbling sticks.

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:

Questions and Troubleshooting

Do I need a deep fryer to make deep-fried mozzarella sticks?

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!

finished fried mozzarella sticks on plate.

More Deep Fryer Recipes

Printable Recipe

Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks

A restaurant favorite that's easy enough to make at home. Crispy outside with melty cheese, you'll love how fresh and tasty these are when you make them at home.
Print Recipe
mozzarella sticks being pulled apart.
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:5 minutes
Chilling time:1 hour
Total Time:1 hour 25 minutes

Equipment

  • Deep skillet, Dutch Oven, or Deep Fryer
  • Tongs or Strainer
  • Candy thermometer

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

Be sure to check the oil temperature.  If it’s not hot enough, the mozzarella sticks won’t brown or be crispy enough. 
These cook very quickly, so have a paper-towel-lined plate ready. to go.  It’s also helpful to have any dipping sauces and serving plates ready.

Nutrition

Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 959mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 617IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 436mg | Iron: 3mg
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 408kcal
Author: Katie
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By Katie Shaw

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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.

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