Description
These homemade breaded mozzarella sticks are irresistibly crunchy on the outside and deliciously gooey on the inside. Served with a fresh marinara sauce, they’re the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer—perfect for parties, game days, or anytime you need a cheesy snack fix.
Ingredients
For the Mozzarella Sticks
- 12 pieces mozzarella sticks
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup flour
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Oil, for frying
For the Marinara Sauce
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Mozzarella: Remove the mozzarella sticks from their packaging. Optional: Cut them in half if you prefer smaller pieces.
- Set Up the Breading Station: In three separate shallow bowls, place the flour; whisk together eggs and milk in the second; and combine breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in the third.
- Bread the Mozzarella Sticks: Dredge each mozzarella stick in flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture. For extra crunch, repeat the process—dredge again in flour, dip in egg, then roll in breadcrumbs until fully coated.
- Freeze the Coated Sticks: Arrange the breaded mozzarella sticks in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze for 30–40 minutes, or until firm. This helps prevent cheese from leaking during frying.
- Fry the Mozzarella Sticks: Heat about 2 inches of oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan to 350°F (175°C). Fry the mozzarella sticks in batches, turning once or twice, for 1–2 minutes or until golden and crisp.
- Drain and Serve: Use a slotted spoon to remove the mozzarella sticks from the oil and drain them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Serve hot with marinara sauce.
- Prepare the Marinara Sauce: In a blender or food processor, pulse together the tomatoes until blended. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add minced garlic, and sauté until aromatic. Stir in the blended tomatoes, bring to a boil, then add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld together. Serve warm.
Notes
- Freezing the breaded sticks before frying helps prevent cheese from leaking out during cooking.
- Maintain the oil temperature at 350°F to 375°F for optimal crispiness and melty cheese inside. Too hot or too cold oil may cause the breading to overbrown or the cheese to leak.
- Bread the mozzarella sticks twice for an extra-crunchy coating.
- Nutritional info is calculated based on four pieces per serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 pieces
- Calories: 440 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
