Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Gooey cheese fried in a crisp breading. Delicious!
This easy appetizer recipe makes the perfect nibble for tailgate parties or any casual gathering. Whip up these restaurant-quality mozza sticks right in your own kitchen!
Every host or hostess needs an arsenal of simple appetizer recipes on hand to fit every occasion. When the party calls for hearty finger foods that can be gobbled up in a flash, this is the ideal recipe to turn to! Melting mozzarella cheese coated in a golden breading, fried to crispy perfection.
The real beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You can jazz it up any way you like. For kids, scale down on the seasonings a bit and serve it with pizza sauce or ranch dressing for dipping. For grown ups, you can add cayenne pepper, onion powder, extra garlic, or whatever spices suit your fancy. Serve with good quality marinara sauce to dip.
You can also use different types of cheese if you want to mix things up a bit. Mild to medium cheddars work well, or try goat cheese for a delicious treat. If you're in a rush, you can even pick up prepackaged cheese sticks and cut them in half or thirds.
If you have a deep-fryer, you can use it to fry the mozzarella sticks instead of a pan. Heat the oil and deep fry for 30-45 seconds, watching them carefully to make sure they don't burn. Serve your cheese sticks immediately, as the cheese will begin to cool and harden quickly.
Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
- 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese, cut into sticks roughly 3-4 inches long, and 1/2 inch wide
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 quart canola or vegetable oil for frying
- marinara or other sauce for dipping
Spoon flour into a shallow bowl. Set aside. In another shallow bowl, mix together bread crumbs, chili powder, and garlic salt. Beat eggs in a third bowl.
Prepare cheese sticks by first dredging them in the flour, one at a time, turning to coat evenly. Dip cheese sticks in egg mixture, and then coat with the bread crumb mixture. Dip again in the eggs, and once more in the bread crumbs. Set on waxed paper and continue until all of the cheese sticks are coated.
Heat oil in a frying pan or skillet to 365 degrees Fahrenheit. Using tongs, gently place cheese sticks into the hot oil and fry for about 30 seconds, or until golden brown. Do not overcook, as the breading will burn quite quickly. Remove mozzarella sticks from the oil and set on paper towels to drain.
Serve immediately with dipping sauce.
Makes about 20 fried mozzarella sticks. Recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make larger batches.
