Mozzarella Cheese Sticks may take a little bit of time, and can be messy, but believe me, these cheese sticks will rival any you’ve eaten at a restaurant. The breaded crust is seasoned to perfection, and then you bite into the melted ooey-gooey cheesy yumminess. Ahhhh. Your taste buds will be in heaven. So good!
(Post modified with new photos on 3/29/24.)
I like to make these cheese sticks ahead of time to put in my freezer so I have them when family come to visit. It’s always nice to have a yummy appetizer to serve with a meal, and our daughters and grandkids love them. Who doesn’t love cheese sticks?!!
When shopping for cheese sticks, I recommend purchasing good quality cheese. I like Sargento brand or even a specialty cheese such as a smoked variety. However, do not buy reduced fat for this recipe, as it will not melt well.
When I make this recipe, I like to have someone help me, if possible, whether a daughter, husband, or grandchild. Having the extra hand to work through the breading steps is incredibly helpful! So, I encourage you to have a friend or family member help you, too. It makes the process go more quickly, and is less messy. Cooking is always more fun when you have a helper by your side, don’t you think?
Sometimes, having a helper isn’t always possible. If that’s the case, try to have your coating area well planned out, and use spoons whenever possible, rather than getting your fingers so messy. The job will still be messy, but maybe not quite as much.
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Ingredients for Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
- large eggs (2 of them)
- water
- Italian-style bread crumbs
- all-purpose flour
- cornstarch
- garlic salt
- seasoned salt
- peanut oil for frying
- mozzarella cheese sticks (Do not buy reduced fat for this recipe.)
Instructions for Making This Recipe
Gather the ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. Having a well laid out working space is key for this recipe.
Prepare the Breading Stations
In a medium bowl, combine large eggs and water, whisking until frothy.
On a large plate or bowl, pour out the Italian-style bread crumbs. On a second plate, mix together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, garlic salt, and seasoned salt.
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
Steps for Breading the Cheese Sticks
1 – Coat cheese sticks in flour mixture.
2 – Dip cheese sticks in egg mixture to cover.
3 – Coat cheese sticks a second time in flour mixture, making sure cheese is covered completely.
4 – Dip once more in egg mixture.
5 – Coat in bread crumbs, covering completely, and pressing in with fingers. (At this time, your fingers may get really messy. That’s okay. Just rinse them off and continue on.)
6 – Set breaded cheese sticks on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all cheese sticks.
Once you have all the cheese sticks coated, place the baking sheet with cheese sticks in freezer for about 20 minutes. I have found that the cheese sticks fry a bit better when the coating is solid.
After twenty minutes, you may opt to place the cheese sticks in a freezer bag for using later. The cheese sticks will keep in your freezer for 2-3 months.
Having an Extra Hand is Helpful
Working through these steps is where my granddaughter was a big help. She was in charge of coating the cheese sticks in the bread crumbs. So, I did steps 1-4, using one hand for the flour, and one for the egg wash.
Then I’d place the gooey cheese sticks on the plate of bread crumbs for her to cover. She used a spoon and managed to get through the process with very little mess.
Fry the Cheese Sticks
When you’re ready to cook the cheese sticks, heat a Dutch oven with enough peanut oil to fill 5-6 inches deep. Deep fry cheese sticks 3-4 at a time, cooking for 30-40 seconds until deep golden brown at 350-365° degrees. (Remove if cheese starts to splatter in oil.) Be sure to bring oil back to desired temperature between batches.
You may keep the cheese sticks warm at a low temperature in your oven until ready to serve. Serve warm with your favorite Mariana Sauce. This recipe makes 12 sticks.
Wine Recommendation: Kendall-Jackson Vitner’s Reserve Chardonnay 2018
See More Appetizers Here. View more Fried Foods Here.
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups Italian-style bread crumbs
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 quart peanut oil for frying
- 16 oz Mozzarella cheese sticks 12 sticks
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. Having a well laid out working space is key for this recipe.
Prepare the Breading Stations
- In medium bowl, combine eggs and water, whisking until frothy.
- On a large plate or bowl, pour out the bread crumbs. On a second plate, mix together flour, cornstarch, garlic salt, and seasoned salt.
- Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Prepare cheese sticks in the following 5 steps:
Steps for Breading the Cheese Sticks
- Coat cheese sticks in flour mixture.
- Dip in egg mixture to cover.
- Coat again in flour mixture, making sure cheese is covered completely.
- Dip a second time in egg mixture.
- Coat in bread crumbs, covering completely, and pressing in with fingers. (At this time, your fingers may get really messy. That's okay. Just rinse them off and continue on.)
- Set breaded cheese sticks on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all cheese sticks.
- Place baking sheet in freezer for 20 minutes.
Frying the Cheese Sticks
- Add oil to Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat until temperature reaches 350-365℉.
- Deep fry cheese sticks 2-3 at a time, cooking for 30-40 seconds until deep golden brown. (Remove if cheese starts to splatter in oil.) Be sure to bring oil back to desired temperature between batches.
- You may place the cheese sticks in a warm oven until ready to serve. Serve warm with your favorite Mariana Sauce. Makes 12 sticks.
Notes
