Crispy Baked Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

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Finding crowd-pleasing party snacks that don’t require hours in the kitchen can feel like an impossible task. Between juggling last-minute RSVPs, cleaning the house, and making sure you’ve got enough drinks on hand, the last thing you need is a complicated appetizer that keeps you tied to the stove all afternoon.

That’s why these baked mozzarella sticks have become my reliable go-to: they’re easy to prepare ahead of time, crispy without the mess of deep frying, and always disappear within minutes of hitting the table. Plus, they’re much easier on your wallet than the restaurant version.

What Kind of Mozzarella Should I Use?

For mozzarella sticks, part-skim string cheese is your best friend – it’s already perfectly portioned and melts just right without getting too runny. While you might be tempted to use fresh mozzarella, stick with string cheese here since it holds its shape better when heated and has the perfect moisture content for this recipe. Regular block mozzarella can work too, but you’ll need to cut it into even sticks, and it might not give you that satisfying stringy pull that makes mozzarella sticks so fun to eat. Just make sure your string cheese is cold when you start breading – this helps prevent premature melting during the cooking process.

Options for Substitutions

Looking to make these crispy mozzarella sticks but need to switch things up? Here are some helpful swaps:

• Mozzarella string cheese: While string cheese works best for this recipe because of its shape and texture, you can cut regular mozzarella into sticks. Just make sure it’s low-moisture mozzarella – fresh mozzarella contains too much water and will melt too quickly.
• Whole wheat breadcrumbs: Regular breadcrumbs work fine here. You can also use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed. Just remember to add extra Italian seasoning if your breadcrumbs are plain.
• Panko crumbs: If you don’t have panko, you can use all regular breadcrumbs instead. The texture will be slightly less crunchy, but still good!
• Egg white: You can use two whole eggs instead of one egg plus one white. Or try a plant-based egg substitute if you need an egg-free version.
• Olive oil spray: Any cooking spray works here, or you can brush on a light coating of regular olive oil.
• Italian herbs mix: Out of Italian seasoning? Mix equal parts dried basil, oregano, and thyme as a quick substitute.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making homemade mozzarella sticks is preventing the cheese from oozing out during baking – this common problem can be avoided by freezing the breaded cheese sticks for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before baking. Another crucial mistake is not double-coating your mozzarella sticks; for the best crispy exterior, dip each stick in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, and repeat the egg and breadcrumb layers once more. To ensure even browning and crispiness, don’t forget to spray both sides of the breaded sticks with olive oil before baking, and flip them halfway through cooking time. For the perfect texture, avoid overcrowding the baking sheet – leave enough space between each stick to allow hot air to circulate, resulting in that golden-brown crust we all love.

What to Serve With Mozzarella Sticks?

While marinara sauce is the classic dipping companion for mozzarella sticks, there are lots of fun ways to turn these cheesy bites into a complete meal! For a casual game day spread, I like to serve them alongside other finger foods like chicken wings, celery and carrot sticks, or a bowl of ranch dip. If you’re making these for dinner, they work great as a side dish with a big Italian salad loaded with fresh veggies and a light vinaigrette dressing. You can also pair them with a bowl of tomato soup or minestrone for a cozy comfort food combo that feels like something you’d get at your favorite restaurant.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These baked mozzarella sticks are best enjoyed right after they’re made, while the cheese is still warm and stretchy. If you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 days, though they won’t be quite as crispy as when fresh.

Make Ahead: You can prep these ahead of time! Bread the cheese sticks and place them on a baking sheet in the freezer until solid (about 2 hours). Then transfer them to a freezer bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months. This is super handy when you want a quick snack!

Heat Up: To enjoy frozen mozzarella sticks, just pop them straight from the freezer into a preheated oven at 375°F for about 8-10 minutes. No need to thaw! If reheating refrigerated ones, warm them in the oven for 5-6 minutes until the cheese starts to melt. I don’t recommend using the microwave as it makes them soggy.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	6-8 minutes
Total Time	2 hours 21 minutes – 2 hours 28 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 50-60 g
• Fat: 30-40 g
• Carbohydrates: 80-90 g

Ingredients

• 12 pieces part-skim mozzarella string cheese
• 3 tablespoons plain flour
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg white
• 2/3 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs with italian spices
• 1/3 cup whole wheat panko crumbs
• 1 teaspoon italian herbs mix
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Olive oil spray (or use an olive oil mister)
• Marinara sauce (or ranch dressing for dipping)

Step 1: Prepare and Freeze the Cheese

Begin by slicing each piece of cheese in half crosswise to create 24 shorter pieces.

Arrange these cheese pieces in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate.

Place the cheese into the freezer and allow it to freeze until completely solid, which should take about 1 hour.

Step 2: Set Up the Breading Stations

Once the cheese is fully chilled, prepare your breading stations.

Place the flour in a shallow bowl, such as a pie dish.

In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together the egg, egg white, and 1 tablespoon of water until well combined.

In a third shallow bowl, mix the whole wheat bread crumbs, panko, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Arrange these bowls in a line starting with flour, followed by the egg mixture, and ending with the breadcrumb mixture.

Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, ready to place the breaded cheese sticks.

Step 3: Bread the Cheese Sticks

Working with 2 to 3 cheese sticks at a time, dredge the frozen cheese sticks in the flour, ensuring to shake off any excess.

Next, dip each stick into the egg mixture and then place them in the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture.

Lightly pat the crumbs onto the cheese to ensure they adhere.

It’s important not to work with too many sticks at a time to prevent the egg from freezing onto the cheese.

Place each breaded cheese stick on the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat this process until all cheese sticks are breaded.

Step 4: Freeze the Breaded Cheese Sticks

Place the breaded cheese sticks back into the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.

This step is crucial to prevent the cheese from melting before the crumbs become golden during baking.

Step 5: Bake the Cheese Sticks

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven.

Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat it with olive oil spray.

Arrange the frozen cheese sticks on the sheet, leaving about 3/4 inch of space between each stick.

Lightly coat the tops of the sticks with oil.

Bake the cheese sticks in the lower third of the oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until they are heated through and the crumbs turn golden.

Step 6: Serve

Allow the cheese sticks to stand for 3 minutes after baking to cool slightly.

Serve warm with heated marinara sauce for dipping.

Enjoy your homemade cheese sticks!