Easy Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

Finding a good recipe for gluten-free mozzarella sticks can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Between the weird textures and falling-apart breading that plague most attempts, it’s enough to make anyone miss the regular version from their local pizzeria. I’ve been there too, especially when trying to satisfy those late-night comfort food cravings without setting off my gluten sensitivity.

But these homemade gluten-free mozzarella sticks are exactly what we’ve been looking for: they’re crispy on the outside, perfectly melty on the inside, and best of all, they actually stay together when you bite into them. Plus, they’re simple enough to make that you can whip up a batch whenever the craving strikes.

gluten free mozzarella sticks

Why You’ll Love These Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks

  • Allergy-friendly comfort food – Finally, a gluten-free version of everyone’s favorite cheesy appetizer that tastes just like the restaurant version.
  • Simple ingredients – You only need 4 main ingredients plus oil to make these at home, and they’re all easy to find at your local grocery store.
  • Crispy exterior – The gluten-free panko coating creates that perfect golden-brown crunch you expect from mozzarella sticks, while keeping that stretchy cheese center.
  • Make-ahead friendly – You can prep these ahead of time and keep them frozen until you’re ready to fry, making them perfect for parties or game day snacking.

What Kind of Mozzarella Should I Use?

For mozzarella sticks, you’ll want to start with a block of low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella – not the fresh, water-packed kind you’d use for caprese salad. The low-moisture variety holds its shape better during frying and gives you that perfect stretchy cheese pull we all love. You can find this type of mozzarella in the dairy section, usually near the other block cheeses. When cutting your cheese sticks, make sure the cheese is cold (straight from the fridge works best) as this makes it easier to get clean cuts and helps prevent melting during the breading process. If you can only find pre-cut string cheese, that works too – just make sure it’s whole milk mozzarella for the best melty results.

gluten free mozzarella sticks

Options for Substitutions

Let’s talk about what you can swap in this recipe while keeping it gluten-free and tasty:

  • Mozzarella cheese: While whole milk mozzarella works best because of its melting properties, you could try using low-moisture part-skim mozzarella. Just know that the inside might not be quite as gooey. I wouldn’t recommend using other types of cheese as they won’t give you that classic stretchy texture.
  • Gluten-free flour: Any gluten-free all-purpose flour blend will work here. You can also use rice flour or chickpea flour as alternatives. If using chickpea flour, the coating might be slightly more dense.
  • Eggs: For a vegan version, you can use a mixture of 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed mixed with 9 tablespoons water (let it sit for 15 minutes to thicken). Just note that the coating might not stick quite as well.
  • Gluten-free panko: If you can’t find gluten-free panko, you can crush gluten-free corn flakes or rice cereal into crumbs. You might need to process them a bit finer to match the texture of panko.
  • Frying oil: Any neutral oil with a high smoke point works well – try canola, sunflower, or peanut oil. Avoid olive oil as it has a lower smoke point and stronger flavor.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Frying

The biggest challenge when making gluten-free mozzarella sticks is preventing them from exploding during frying – to avoid this messy situation, freeze your breaded cheese sticks for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before frying. Another common mistake is not getting your oil to the right temperature; too hot and the coating burns before the cheese melts, too cool and the cheese melts too quickly, causing leakage – aim for 350°F and use a thermometer to maintain this temperature throughout cooking. To ensure your coating stays put, use the three-step breading process (flour, egg, breadcrumbs) twice, and press the breadcrumbs firmly onto each stick. For the crispiest results, don’t overcrowd your frying pan – work in small batches and let the oil return to temperature between batches.

gluten free mozzarella sticks

What to Serve With Mozzarella Sticks?

These crispy mozzarella sticks are begging for some tasty dipping sauces to make them even better! Marinara sauce is the classic choice, but I also love serving them with ranch dressing or a spicy arrabiata sauce for extra kick. Since these are pretty rich, I like to balance things out with a fresh side salad tossed in light Italian dressing or some marinaded vegetables. For a fun appetizer spread, try serving these alongside some gluten-free chicken wings, celery and carrot sticks, or your favorite veggie crudités with extra dipping sauces.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Already cooked mozzarella sticks can hang out in your fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Just keep in mind they won’t be quite as crispy as when they’re fresh out of the fryer, but they’re still pretty good!

Freeze: Here’s a neat trick – you can freeze these before cooking! After breading, place them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 2 hours), then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to cook, just fry them straight from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the cooking time.

Warm Up: To bring back some of that crispiness, pop refrigerated mozzarella sticks in the oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes. You can also use an air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes – they’ll come out nice and toasty! Just keep an eye on them to prevent the cheese from oozing out too much.

Preparation Time 15-30 minutes
Cooking Time 10-15 minutes
Total Time 145-180 minutes
Level of Difficulty Medium

Estimated Nutrition

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

  • Calories: 2000-2300
  • Protein: 90-100 g
  • Fat: 130-150 g
  • Carbohydrates: 150-170 g

Ingredients

  • 1 block (16 ounces) whole milk mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour (any brand is fine)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 10 to 14 ounces gluten-free panko crumbs
  • Frying oil of choice (such as vegetable oil)

Step 1: Prepare the Mozzarella Sticks

Begin by cutting the block of mozzarella in half lengthwise.

Then, slice each half into sticks that are approximately ½-inch thick.

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for the next step.

Step 2: Set Up the Dipping Station

Prepare three separate bowls for the dipping process: one with gluten-free all-purpose flour, another with eggs whisked together until smooth with a pinch of salt, and the last one with gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.

Dip each mozzarella stick first into the gluten-free flour, then into the egg mixture, and finally coat with the gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.

Place each coated stick onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 3: Freeze the Coated Cheese Sticks

Place the baking sheet with the coated mozzarella sticks in the freezer.

Allow them to freeze for at least two hours, ensuring they are fully solid before cooking.

Step 4: Fry the Mozzarella Sticks

In a heavy-bottomed 8-inch saucepan, heat your oil of choice to 365°F.

You should have a few inches of oil in the pan for effective frying.

Fry the mozzarella sticks in batches (about 4-5 at a time) for approximately 2-3 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until they are golden brown.

Once cooked, let them drain on a paper towel briefly.

Step 5: Air Fry Option

If you prefer using an air fryer, set it to 390°F.

Spray the air fryer basket and the frozen mozzarella sticks with a nonstick cooking spray.

Air fry the sticks in batches if necessary, leaving enough space between them.

Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the exterior is golden and crispy.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Serve the hot mozzarella sticks immediately with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

Enjoy your crispy, cheesy snack!

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