Description
Crispy, cheesy homemade mozzarella sticks coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs, perfect for frying or air frying. This recipe provides a delicious appetizer or snack that can be made ahead and frozen for convenience.
Ingredients
Scale
Breading
- 1 ½ cups plain Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
Batter & Cheese
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 lb whole milk mozzarella block (or 15 whole milk string cheese sticks)
Frying
- Vegetable oil for frying
Serving
- Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the Panko Mixture: Place panko crumbs into a Ziploc bag and crush finely with a rolling pin or mallet. Transfer crushed panko to a shallow dish and mix in Italian seasoning, dried parsley, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until well combined.
- Prepare the Egg Wash: In a separate shallow bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk or fork until scrambled and smooth.
- Prepare the Flour: Pour all-purpose flour into another shallow bowl, ready for dredging.
- Cut the Cheese: If using a mozzarella block, slice it widthwise into 15 sticks about the size of string cheese sticks.
- Coat the Cheese Sticks: Working one at a time, dredge each cheese stick in flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip into the beaten eggs, letting excess egg drip off. Finally, coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko mixture, pressing gently to ensure even coating.
- Freeze Coated Sticks: Place the coated sticks on a wire rack set over a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze the sticks for at least 1 hour to firm up. For longer storage, after freezing one hour, transfer mozzarella sticks to an airtight container and return to the freezer.
- Fry the Sticks: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot for frying to about 350°F (175°C). Fry mozzarella sticks in batches for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Do not overcrowd the pan. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve: Serve immediately with marinara sauce for dipping, enjoying the melty, crispy mozzarella sticks.
Notes
- This recipe yields 15 mozzarella sticks, perfect for snacking or sharing.
- Freezing the coated sticks before frying helps prevent cheese from oozing out while cooking.
- You can also bake or air fry these sticks for a healthier alternative to deep frying.
- Use whole milk mozzarella for the best melting and flavor.
- Serve with warm marinara sauce for classic pairing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mozzarella stick
- Calories: 138 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 281 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg
