Mozzarella Cheese Sticks (VIDEO)

Homemade Mozzarella Cheese Sticks are irresistibly crispy on the outside with gooey, melty centers that pull apart with delicious strings of cheese. Take them for a dunk in Marinara Sauce or Ranch for the ultimate snack or easy party appetizer.

The key to making the best cheese sticks is in the breading. Watch the video tutorial below to see our method for the perfect balance of crunchy crust and cheesy filling!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

We love re-creating our favorite comfort foods from the freezer aisle, from Air Fryer French Fries to Popcorn Chicken. These homemade mozzarella cheese sticks are a healthier alternative to the store-bought version, made with better ingredients. They also taste way better, if you ask me! One bite of these fresh-from-the-fryer hot and cheesy mozzarella sticks, and you’ll tell the difference right away. 

The secret lies in double-dipping the cheese sticks in the egg wash and flour. Double dipping takes a few extra minutes, but the result is the best crunchy crust that holds in all that gooey, melty cheese. Watch our video tutorial below to see this easy technique in action.

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Video

Watch Natasha make these easy homemade mozzarella sticks with a crispy breading and ooey-gooey, cheesy filling. These are totally crave-worthy! Here’s why you’ll love them:

• Crispy and Cheesy – double-dipping creates the perfect balance of cheese to crust.
• Healthier – Most frozen cheese sticks come with highly processed soybean oil and other mystery ingredients. You can make your own with better ingredients.
• Easy to Make – These take just a few steps to make and you can even freeze them ahead, then fry them when the craving strikes!

Ingredients

It’s easy to make homemade mozzarella sticks with only a handful of pantry and refrigerator ingredients (see the detailed ingredient list in the print-friendly recipe card below).

• Mozzarella Cheese – One 16 oz block of low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese should yield about 20-24 cheese sticks.
• Flour – For best results use regular all-purpose flour for the breading.
• Garlic Salt – We use garlic salt in place of regular salt for extra flavor.
• Eggs – beaten to form an egg wash which holds the bread crumbs on the cheese sticks.
• Seasoned Breadcrumbs – You’ll love the added flavor of Italian seasoned bread crumbs. If you’re using plain breadcrumbs, mix in a teaspoon of Italian seasoning or dried basil and oregano.
• Oil – For frying, or use cooking spray if you’re baking your mozzarella sticks.

How to Make Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Ready to make your own ooey-gooey, melty cheese sticks with the crispiest breading? Here’s how to prepare them for frying:

1. Set up the Breading Station – Take out three bowls. Whisk the flour together with garlic salt in the first bowl, beat the eggs together in the second, and add your breadcrumbs to the third. 
2. Cut the Cheese (hee hee) – Use a sharp knife to cut the block of mozzarella into sticks just under ½” thick by 3” long. You’ll end up with about 20-24 cheese sticks.
3. Coat in Breading – Dip each cheese stick first in the flour, then into the egg, then repeat in flour and egg wash. This double-dip method is the secret to well-breaded cheese sticks. Lastly, roll the sticks in the breadcrumbs to get them evenly coated on all sides.
4. Freeze – Transfer the breaded cheese sticks to a baking sheet or platter. Once all the sticks are coated, cover them with plastic wrap and freeze for 45 minutes.

How to Fry Cheese Sticks

After your cheese sticks have chilled, it’s time to fry them. Deep frying requires some close attention (don’t leave the hot oil unattended), but it’s actually pretty simple:

1. Heat the Oil – In a deep pan, heat 2 cups of oil over medium heat until the temperature reaches 350ºF on a thermometer. An easy way to test the temperature is to sprinkle a pinch of breadcrumbs into the oil. If the crumbs sizzle, the oil is at the right temperature for frying.
2. Fry – Take your cheese sticks out of the freezer. Working in small batches, drop the cheese sticks into the hot oil. Fry for about 60-90 seconds, turning the sticks halfway through. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked mozzarella sticks once the outside is crisped and golden, and as soon as you spot any cheese start to leak out.
3. Drain and Cool – Place the fried mozzarella sticks on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

Pro Tip: The oil tends to cool off a bit while the cheese sticks are cooking. Make sure to reheat the oil to 350ºF in between batches, otherwise, the cheese inside will melt faster than the outside can crisp up, causing the cheese to ooze out. A clip-on oil thermometer will help monitor the oil temperature.

Tips for the Best Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Here are some final tips for making your own mozzarella sticks:

• Deep frying yields the best results – Frying in oil produces a crunchy exterior.
• Use the right oil – Use an oil with a high smoke point so your cheese sticks don’t burn. Extra light olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, and peanut oil are great options.
• Fry in batches – 3-4 at a time so the oil won’t cool off too quickly.
• Cut even-sized sticks – keep them just under 1/2″ thick so that they heat through evenly.

Common Questions

Serve With

We love serving these crispy homemade cheese sticks as an easy appetizer or game-day food. Here are some of our favorite dipping sauces for mozzarella sticks:

• Buttermilk Ranch
• Marinara Sauce
• Red Pizza Sauce
• Fry Sauce (from our Burger Recipe)
• Avocado Ranch

Can I Make Cheese Sticks Without Deep Frying?

While frying will give you the best results, you can still make deliciously gooey cheese sticks using any of the methods below:

• Baked Cheese Sticks: Arrange the frozen cheese sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet, about one inch apart. Spray all over with cooking spray. With the rack in the top third, bake at 475°F for 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway. Bake until melted cheese begins to peek through the crust.
• Convection Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F, and follow the same instructions as the conventional oven, baking for 4-6 minutes instead.
• Air Fryer Cheese Sticks: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F, then air fry the cheese sticks for 4-5 minutes, turning halfway. Work in batches if needed to ensure that the hot air can circulate.

Make-Ahead

Homemade mozzarella cheese sticks freeze really well so you can cook up a batch when the craving hits.

• To Freeze: Arrange on a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 2 hours, until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe zip-top bag, squeeze out the excess air, and freeze for up to 3 months. You can cook them straight from frozen.
• Reheating: To get the insides of your cooked mozzarella sticks gooey again, microwave them for 15-20 seconds, just until the cheese starts to peek through the crust.

If you’re looking for a fun appetizer or satisfying snack, we hope you’ll give these homemade mozzarella sticks a try!

More Easy Snack Recipes

Need more tasty homemade snacks and appetizer ideas? If you loved these cheese sticks, wait until you try these crowd favorites:

• Buffalo Wings
• Guacamole
• Grape Jelly Meatballs
• Bruschetta
• Spring Rolls
• Coconut Shrimp