Cheese sticks are so quick and easy to make at home with a crunchy outer bread crumb coating and melted mozzarella in the middle. Fried until golden, this fun finger food is perfect for party snacking and tailgate treats.
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This homemade cheese sticks recipe is easy to make in 10 minutes using sticks of string cheese plus bread crumbs and seasoning.
Crispy and crunchy on the outside with melted ooey, gooey mozzarella cheese sticks in the middle, this fun finger food is the perfect party snack, tailgate treat, appetizer, or game-day starter.
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
This quick and easy Mozzarella cheese stick recipe makes a big batch of finger food, consisting of string cheese strips coated in seasoned bread crumbs and fried until golden brown.
While you can order them at the restaurant or buy them frozen from the grocery store, making them at home always tastes better and is simply the best cheese sticks snack.
You can bake them in the oven or serve them air fryer style (like my Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks), but I think making deep-fried mozzarella in oil is the most flavorful way to cook my sticks and takes the least amount of time.
The mozzarella stick breading uses both traditional bread crumbs as well as panko, so they’re doubly delicious with a crispy coating and crunch in every single bite.
Why we love this Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
- Quick and easy to make in minutes.
- Uses simple kitchen staple ingredients.
- Fun finger food with a stretchy mozzarella cheese filling.
- Pairs perfectly with my Slow Cooker Tomato Soup or your favorite dipping sauces.
- Pre-portioned sticks are ready to coat and fry.
- Great make ahead snack or side for group gatherings, tailgates, or parties.
Other Easy Snack Recipes
Mozzarella Sticks ingredients
- String cheese sticks
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Plain bread crumbs: You can use Italian bread crumbs and omit the Italian seasoning if you prefer.
- Plain panko bread crumbs
- Italian seasoning
- Onion powder
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Vegetable oil
Recommended tools for making Homemade Cheese Sticks
- Mixing bowl
- Pie plate or shallow bowl
- Whisk
- 3 to 4-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan
- Tongs
- Paper towels
Cheese Sticks Recipe substitutions
- Serve With Sauce: Serve these cheese sticks with marinara sauce, bolognese sauce, homemade BBQ sauce, homemade ranch, aioli, or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Choose Your Cheese: You can experiment with different types of cheese sticks. Try Mozzarella, Colby jack, cheddar cheese, or pepper jack cheese sticks.
- Season Your Sticks: Feel free to use herbs and spices that complement your chosen cheese. You can try cilantro, parsley, garlic powder, or a combination of your favorites.
- Other Oil Options: Instead of vegetable oil, you can fry your cheese in canola oil, peanut oil, or corn oil. I do not recommend using olive oil or coconut oil.
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Jump to RecipeHow to Make Cheese Sticks
- Make The Liquid Mixture: Beat the eggs and milk together until completely incorporated. Set it aside.
- Make The Flour Mixture: Combine the flour and cornstarch on a pie plate or shallow bowl. Set it aside.
- Combine The Crumb Coating: Combine the bread crumbs, panko bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika on a pie plate or shallow bowl. Set it aside.
- Coat The Cheese: Dredge the cheese sticks in the egg mixture, then the flour mixture. Dip them back in the egg mixture and then again in the bread mixture.
- Fry: Fry the coated cheese sticks in the heated oil.
Pro Tip: You will need to turn the cheese sticks, and it will only take 30 seconds to 1 minute to cook them. They should only be golden brown. - Serve: Place the cheese sticks on paper towels to drain the excess oil and eat while hot. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks tips
- It is very important to use a cooking thermometer for the oil. This will help you know when to adjust the stovetop temperature to keep the oil at 350°F.
- Be sure that you have enough oil so that it is at least 3 to 4 inches deep.
- Make sure the cheese is very well coated in the breadcrumbs. You want the oil to fry the breadcrumbs, not get to the cheese underneath.
- You can freeze the cheese sticks before frying to help them hold their shape while cooking and keep them from overheating and leaking.
- You can substitute garlic powder for the onion powder.
- If you want a spicy alternative, you can add sriracha or hot sauce to the egg mixture.
How to Serve Mozzarella Sticks
Serve mozzarella sticks warm on a platter with a variety of dipping sauces like marinara, ranch, or garlic aioli, and garnish with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan for added flavor. They make a perfect, shareable appetizer for gatherings or a fun snack for a cozy night in.
Storing Homemade Cheese Sticks
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the cooked and cooled cheese sticks in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Other Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Pull-Apart Pizza Bread
- Rotel Dip
- Crab Rangoon
- Crack Chicken Sliders
- Sloppy Joe Dip
- Pepperoni Rolls
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Easy Veggie Dip
Homemade Cheese Sticks
Serves — 24
Cheese sticks are so quick and easy to make at home with a crunchy outer bread crumb coating and melted mozzarella in the middle. Fried until golden, this fun finger food is perfect for party snacking and tailgate treats.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 string cheese sticks cut in half
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¾ cup plain bread crumbs
- ¾ cup plain panko bread crumbs
- 1½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 cups vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Add the eggs and milk to a small mixing bowl. Use a fork to beat the eggs and milk together until completely incorporated. Set it aside.
- Add the all-purpose flour and cornstarch to a pie plate or shallow bowl. Whisk to combine. Set it aside.
- Add the plain bread crumbs, panko bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika to a pie plate or shallow bowl. Whisk to combine. Set it aside.
- Add the vegetable oil to a 3 to 4-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat over medium-high heat to 350°F.
- While the oil is heating, dredge the halved cheese sticks in the egg mixture.
- Next, dredge in the flour mixture.
- Dip the cheese sticks back in the egg mixture before dredging in the bread mixture.
- Once the oil reaches 350°F, using tongs, carefully place 4-5 coated cheese sticks in the heated oil. You will need to turn the cheese sticks, and it will only take 30 seconds to 1 minute to cook the cheese sticks. They should only be golden brown. Adjust the stovetop temperature up or down to keep the oil at the right temperature.
- Place the cooked cheese sticks on paper towels to drain the excess oil. Eat while hot. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Jenn’s Notes
Servings: 24 – ½ cheese sticks
Storage:
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the cooked and cooled cheese sticks in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- It is very important to use a cooking thermometer for the oil. This will help you know when to adjust the stovetop temperature to keep the oil at 350°F.
- Be sure that you have enough oil so that it is at least 3 to 4 inches deep.
- Make sure the cheese is very well coated in the breadcrumbs. You want the oil to fry the breadcrumbs, not get to the cheese underneath.
- You can freeze the cheese sticks before frying to help them hold their shape while cooking and keep them from overheating and leaking.
- You can substitute garlic powder for the onion powder.
- If you want a spicy alternative, you can add sriracha or hot sauce to the egg mixture.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
can’t wait to try some of these recipes