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.
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 1/2 inch wide pieces. The length is personal preference, but we prefer around 3 inches.
- Prep the breading components. In one bowl, place the cornstarch or flour, in the next 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
Table of contents
❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
- Amazingly delicious. Breaded, fried cheese. What’s not to like?
- They’re easy to make. Really! Deep frying can be intimidating, but use a thermometer and you’ll do just fine.
- Freezer-friendly. 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.
🧂 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this yummy fried appetizer:
- mozzarella block or string cheese
- cornstarch or flour
- eggs
- milk
- flour
- panko breadcrumbs
- Italian seasoning
- salt
- marinara sauce or ranch (or both!)
🥣 Equipment
- Deep skillet, Dutch Oven, or Deep Fryer
- Tongs or Strainer
🍴Instructions
Step One: Cut the Mozzarella
Cut the mozzarella block into 1/2 inch wide pieces. The length is personal preference, but we prefer around 3 inches long
Step Two: Prep the breading components
In one bowl, mix together the cornstarch or flour, eggs, and milk. In the next bowl, mix together panko breadcrumbs, flour, Italian seasoning, and salt. A cute little assembly line!
Step three: 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.
Step Four: 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.
Step Five: Fry
Preheat the oil in a large pot to 375°F. Use a candy thermometer to make sure the temperature is correct. Put the mozzarella sticks in the hot oil and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are golden brown. 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! If you’re already using it for something else, just do a small batch of mozzarella sticks straight from the freezer. Perfection.
🔍 FAQs
Nope. Although… we 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?
We 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 we think it helps the breading stick and keeps the cheese from oozing out. Give it a try!
👩🏻🍳 Expert tips
- Your oil temperature is so, so important. Use a candy thermometer if you don’t have a deep fryer to set the temperature. 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.
- 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.
- Don’t forget the dipping sauce! We love ranch and marinara, but you could also do a BBQ sauce or honey mustard. So good!
📘 More deep fryer Recipes
🍽 Serve it with
Football watching? Fun weekend gathering? Yay! Try these recipes too:
- Sweet fall sangria with apple cider and pears
- Pasta salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, and the best homemade dressing
- Simple grilled food like hot dogs and hamburgers
- Nachos prepped in a cast iron skillet
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.