Description
Crispy and gooey homemade mozzarella sticks coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and fried to golden perfection. This easy appetizer recipe is perfect for parties or a delicious snack, served hot with marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese
- 1 pound mozzarella cheese
Breading
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Frying
- Oil for frying (enough to deep fry)
Instructions
- Preheat oil: Preheat a pot or deep fryer with oil to 350°F to ensure the mozzarella sticks fry evenly and get crispy.
- Cut cheese: Cut the mozzarella cheese into sticks, approximately 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long to create perfect finger-sized sticks.
- Prepare breadcrumb mixture: In a shallow dish, combine the breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper for flavorful breading.
- Prepare flour: Place the all-purpose flour in another shallow dish to coat the cheese sticks before dipping in egg.
- Whisk eggs: Whisk the eggs in a third shallow dish to help the breadcrumbs adhere to the cheese sticks.
- Dredge cheese sticks: Dip each mozzarella stick first into the flour, then into the whisked eggs, and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture, covering all surfaces.
- Double coat (optional): For a thicker, crunchier crust, repeat the flour, egg, and breadcrumb coating steps once more.
- Freeze sticks: Place the coated mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes to prevent cheese from melting too fast during frying.
- Heat oil: Ensure the oil temperature is maintained at 350°F before frying for best results.
- Fry mozzarella sticks: Fry the sticks in batches for 1-2 minutes until golden brown and crispy, being careful not to overcrowd the pot.
- Drain excess oil: Remove the fried mozzarella sticks with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
- Serve: Serve the mozzarella sticks hot with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Enjoy: Enjoy your homemade, crispy mozzarella sticks!
Notes
- Freezing the sticks before frying is essential to prevent the cheese from leaking during frying.
- Do not overheat the oil to avoid burning the breading before the cheese melts.
- For extra flavor, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika to the breadcrumb mixture.
- If preferred, bake mozzarella sticks at 400°F for 8-10 minutes as a healthier alternative.
- Use low-moisture mozzarella for best results to avoid excess water content.
