Description
Crispy golden homemade mozzarella sticks with a perfectly gooey cheese center, coated in seasoned Panko breadcrumbs and served with warm marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 premium low-moisture full-fat string cheese sticks
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tbsp water
- 1½ cups Panko breadcrumbs or Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 to 3 cups vegetable, canola, or peanut oil
- 1 cup warm homemade marinara sauce
Instructions
- Prepare three shallow bowls for the breading station.
- Add the flour to the first bowl.
- Whisk the eggs and water together in the second bowl.
- Combine breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and sea salt in the third bowl.
- Unwrap the cheese sticks and coat each one lightly in flour.
- Dip the floured cheese stick into the egg wash until fully coated.
- Roll the cheese stick in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to adhere.
- Dip the breaded cheese stick back into the egg wash.
- Coat it a second time in the breadcrumb mixture for a thick crust.
- Arrange the coated mozzarella sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least 2 hours until completely solid.
- Pour oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven until it reaches 2 inches deep.
- Heat the oil to exactly 190°C (375°F).
- Carefully fry 4 to 5 frozen mozzarella sticks at a time for 60 to 90 seconds.
- Remove the sticks immediately once golden brown using a slotted spoon.
- Drain briefly on a wire rack to remove excess oil.
- Serve hot with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
Freezing the breaded mozzarella sticks is essential to prevent the cheese from leaking during frying. Fry in small batches to maintain the oil temperature and ensure even crispiness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Deep Fried
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mozzarella stick
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 45mg