How to Make Perfect Mozzarella Sticks at Home

Craving that irresistible cheesy, crunchy snack? Forget the frozen aisle! Homemade mozzarella sticks are surprisingly easy to make and deliver a taste far superior to anything store-bought. This recipe will guide you through creating perfectly crispy, golden mozzarella sticks that are ready for frying, baking, or air frying – and even freezer-friendly for future cravings. Plus, we’ve included a helpful how-to video to ensure your success!

Why This is the Best Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

If you’re someone who believes in the magic of homemade food, especially when it comes to fried delights like donut holes or funnel cake, then you’ll understand the appeal of making mozzarella sticks from scratch. There’s simply no comparison to that fresh, golden-brown crispiness, the warm, gooey cheese pull, and the satisfaction of dipping it into your favorite marinara sauce (or ranch dressing, if you’re feeling adventurous!).

This mozzarella sticks recipe is designed for simplicity and speed, ensuring you achieve consistently stellar, cheese-pull-worthy results. Whether you’re a frying novice or a seasoned pro, the accompanying video is packed with essential tips for frying success.

Key Reasons to Choose This Recipe:

Unmatched Crispiness: Our breading technique guarantees incredibly crispy, golden mozzarella sticks every time.
Superior Flavor: We use block mozzarella cheese for the richest flavor and the ultimate cheese pull experience.
Make-Ahead Convenience: Enjoy them fresh or freeze them for a quick snack whenever cravings strike.
Versatile Cooking Methods: Learn How To Make Mozzarella Sticks through frying, air frying, and baking, catering to your preferences and equipment.

Ingredients for Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

Creating these gooey delights requires just a handful of readily available ingredients:

Panko Bread Crumbs: This is the secret to achieving that signature crispy exterior. Panko crumbs are coarser than regular breadcrumbs, providing a superior texture and crunch. For optimal coating, lightly crush the panko with a rolling pin before seasoning.
Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs like basil, oregano, and marjoram (typically salt-free), Italian seasoning adds a delicious savory flavor to the coating without overpowering the classic mozzarella taste. If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, you can easily make your own blend.
Dried Parsley: Adds a touch of freshness and visual appeal to the breadcrumb mixture.
Garlic Powder: Enhances the savory flavor profile of the coating, complementing the Italian seasoning and cheese.
Salt and Pepper: Essential flavor enhancers for any fried food, salt and pepper season the coating perfectly. Adding them separately allows for precise control over the saltiness.
All-Purpose Flour: The first step in our breading process, flour helps the egg mixture adhere to the mozzarella cheese. Standard all-purpose flour works perfectly.
Eggs: Whisked eggs are the second component of the dredge, acting as a binder to help the crispy panko coating stick to the cheese.
Block Mozzarella Cheese: For the best flavor and melt, we highly recommend using a block of whole milk mozzarella that you cut into sticks yourself. While string cheese can be used, whole milk mozzarella offers a richer taste and typically yields more sticks per pound. Avoid part-skim mozzarella for this recipe as it lacks flavor and doesn’t melt as well.
Vegetable Oil: Vegetable oil is our preferred choice for frying due to its neutral flavor and high smoke point. Canola, corn, or peanut oil are also suitable alternatives. If baking or air frying, cooking spray will be used instead.

EXPERT TIP: Ensure every part of the mozzarella stick is completely covered in breading. Any gaps in the coating will allow the cheese to escape during cooking, leading to meltdowns and less-than-perfect sticks!

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Mozzarella Sticks

Frying at home is easier than you might think, and you don’t need any fancy equipment. This method, using a pot for frying, works wonderfully for everything from donuts to fried pickles. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be making perfect mozzarella sticks in no time!

Prepare the Cheese: If using a block of mozzarella, cut it lengthwise into sticks, about ½ inch thick and 3 inches long. If using string cheese, you can use them as is or cut them in half for shorter sticks.
Set Up the Breading Station: Prepare three shallow dishes. In the first, place the all-purpose flour. In the second, whisk the eggs. In the third, combine the crushed panko bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Bread the Mozzarella Sticks: Dip each mozzarella stick into the flour, ensuring it’s lightly coated, and shake off any excess. Next, dip it into the beaten egg, letting any excess drip off. Finally, dredge it in the panko mixture, pressing gently to ensure the entire stick is fully coated.
Chill the Breaded Sticks: Place a cooling rack on a baking sheet. Arrange the breaded mozzarella sticks on the rack in a single layer. Freeze for at least 1 hour. This crucial step helps the coating set and prevents the cheese from melting out too quickly during cooking. For longer chilling, after the initial hour, transfer the sticks to an airtight container and return to the freezer.
Fry to Golden Perfection: While the sticks are chilling, pour vegetable oil into a medium-sized saucepan to a depth of about 3 inches. Attach a thermometer to the side of the pan, ensuring it’s submerged in the oil but not touching the bottom. Heat the oil over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C). Carefully fry the mozzarella sticks, 2-3 at a time, for about 1 minute, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Ensure the oil temperature returns to 350°F (175°C) before frying the next batch.
Serve and Enjoy: Serve the mozzarella sticks immediately while they are hot and gooey, with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

EXPERT TIP: A kitchen thermometer is essential for monitoring oil temperature. Maintaining the correct temperature is key to preventing greasy mozzarella sticks and ensuring they cook properly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mozzarella Sticks

Can I cook mozzarella sticks in an air fryer?

Absolutely! Air frying is a fantastic alternative to deep frying and yields wonderfully crispy results with less oil. See the recipe notes below for detailed air fryer instructions.

Why did my cheese melt out of the sticks?

Cheese escape is a common mozzarella stick mishap! The most frequent causes are cooking at too high a temperature or for too long. However, insufficient chilling time or incomplete breading can also lead to cheese leakage. Ensure you freeze the sticks for at least an hour and that the breading fully covers each stick to prevent cheese from escaping.

Can I use string cheese to make homemade mozzarella sticks?

Yes, you can use string cheese. However, we recommend using a block of whole milk mozzarella for a richer flavor and better texture. Plus, a block of mozzarella typically yields more sticks, making it a more economical choice.

Golden brown, perfectly breaded, and gloriously deep-fried – mozzarella sticks are undeniably one of the most satisfying ways to enjoy cheese!

Enjoy making and devouring these homemade mozzarella sticks!

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

Crispy, cheesy, and utterly irresistible, these Homemade Mozzarella Sticks are guaranteed to disappear fast. Make a batch to enjoy immediately or freeze for a quick and satisfying snack anytime. This recipe includes instructions for frying, baking, and air frying. Be sure to watch the how-to video for visual guidance!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 28 minutes
Servings: 15 mozzarella sticks

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups plain Panko bread crumbs (106g)
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon table salt
2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour (63g)
1 lb whole milk mozzarella block or 15 whole milk string cheese
Vegetable oil, for frying
Marinara sauce, for dipping

Equipment:

Shallow dishes
Rolling pin or mallet
Whisk
Baking sheet
Wire cooling rack
Medium saucepan
Thermometer
Slotted spoon
Paper towels

Instructions:

Crush panko crumbs in a Ziploc bag using a rolling pin or mallet until finely crushed.
In a shallow dish, combine crushed panko, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, pepper, and salt.
In a separate shallow bowl, whisk eggs until scrambled.
Pour flour into another shallow bowl.
If using block mozzarella, cut into 15 sticks.
Dip each mozzarella stick in flour, then egg, then panko mixture, ensuring full coverage.
Place breaded sticks on a wire rack on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour.

To Fry:

While sticks chill, heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan to 350°F (175°C).
Fry sticks, 2 at a time, for about 1 minute until golden brown.
Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Serve warm with marinara sauce.

Recipe Notes:

Baking Instructions: Preheat oven to 415°F (210°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Arrange sticks on the sheet, and bake for 10-15 minutes, until lightly golden. Serve warm with marinara sauce.

Air Fryer Instructions: Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Add sticks, spray lightly with cooking spray, and air fry for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy. Serve warm with marinara sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.