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Mozzarella Sticks
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks are crispy, cheesy, gooey, and are a super fun party appetizer! Prep them in advance and freeze until ready to fry.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 16 ounce block of Mozzarella cheese the rectangle block, not the shreddable
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 large eggs
- 3 cups plain breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1.5 teaspoon onion powder
- Canola oil for frying
- Marinara sauce for serving/dipping
- Fresh minced parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Slice the block of Mozzarella cheese into ½-inch thick sticks, about 3-inch tall. They will be more rectangular in shape than square (see photos in the post). You should get about 20-22 pieces.
- Create a coating station with a bowl for the eggs and a bowl for the breadcrumbs. Whisk the eggs with a tablespoon of water and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir the ¼ teaspoon salt, black pepper, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder into the breadcrumbs.
- Dip a stick of cheese into the egg and let the excess drip off into the bowl. Coat it in the breadcrumbs, shake off the excess and set on a tray. Repeat with the remaining cheese sticks.
- Repeat the process for a second coating - first egg, then breadcrumbs. Two coats is good, but if you can do three, even better. You want to get a sufficient thickness of the breadcrumb shell so the cheese won’t leak out during frying.
- Place the tray of breaded cheese sticks into the freezer for at least two hours. After this you can either prepare to fry them, or place into a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
- Frying: Heat 2-3 inches of canola oil to 365-370 degrees in a deep fryer or dutch oven.
- Fry the frozen mozzarella sticks in batches for 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Don’t overcrowd the pan - They should have plenty of room around them as they cook.
- Drain on paper towels for a few minutes, then serve hot with marinara or your dipping sauce of choice.
Notes
Storage - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating - For best results, reheat the leftovers in the oven at 350° F until warmed.
Freezing - You can store them in the freezer, after breading and before frying, for up to 3 months then fry from frozen.
Nutrition
Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 21gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 854mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 502IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 400mgIron: 3mg