Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with marinara sauce are perfect for a party or game day. Gooey and melty on the inside and golden and crunchy on the outside, they’re absolutely addictive!
Last Halloween, I decided to give out individually-packaged string cheese instead of the traditional Twix or KitKat as treats for the tricksters passing by on Ghoul’s night. But instead of an excited “woohoo, I got cheese” and the quick wave of thanks I expected, the goblin-masked and Ninja turtle-dressed little boogers wouldn’t budge from our doorstep, steadfastly standing there with hands still outstretched and a “that’s it?” look on their faces.
After a while of this, I eventually caved in and reluctantly parted ways with the Dove chocolates I was hiding for/from myself. The well-intentioned mozzarella cheese sticks ended up in the dim recess of the freezer, forgotten until yesterday when I gave them new life as homemade mozzarella sticks with a marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredient notes
- For convenience, I use string cheese you can find individually packaged in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores. You can also use fresh mozzarella and cut it up into 1/2-inch thick and 4-inch long if you prefer.
- The cheese is dredged in flour, dipped in eggs, and rolled in regular breadcrumbs. You can substitute Panko breadcrumbs for more crunch.
- I like to season the breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to boost flavor.
- Use oil with a neutral taste and high smoke points, such as canola, safflower, avocado, or grapeseed, for deep-frying.
Helpful tips
- Arrange the breaded cheese sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 to 40 minutes to keep cheese from bursting and melting out of the bread coating during frying.
- Ensure the oil is at 350 F to 375 F. Too hot, and the breading will brown before the cheese inside is soft and melted. Too low, the cheese will melt and leak out before the outside is sufficiently browned. At optimal temperature, the breaded mozzarella should take about 1 to 2 minutes to turn golden and crispy on the outside and gooey and melty on the inside.
Want to skip the deep-frying? Cook them in the oven or air fryer!
Oven or Air Fryer directions
- Oven– Prepare the cheese sticks and freeze them according to the recipe. Arrange them in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray to help them brown. Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for about 8 to 10 minutes or until golden and crispy.
- Air fryer– Prepare the cheese sticks and freeze them according to the recipe. Arrange them in a single layer in a lightly greased air fryer basket and spray them with a non-stick cooking spray. Cook in a preheated 390 F air fryer for about 5 to 8 minutes or until golden and crispy.
How to freeze
You can make these homemade mozzarella cheese sticks ahead of time and freeze them uncooked for future use. Following the steps below ensures they don’t stick together when frozen.
- Arrange the breaded cheese sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm.
- When frozen, transfer to resealable bags. Release the air in the bag before sealing.
- Freeze for up to 6 months. No need to thaw; you can cook them frozen.
Serving suggestions
You can make the homemade marinara sauce I included in the recipe card below or use your favorite brand. You can also serve them with carrot and celery sticks to complement the gooey, creamy cheese with fresh veggie flavor and texture.
Ingredients
- 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 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
- Remove mozzarella sticks from the packaging. Cut them into half, if you like.
- In a shallow bowl, place flour.
- In another shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.
- In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Dredge mozzarella sticks in flour, dip in egg mixture and then roll in breadcrumbs mixture.
- Dredge again in flour, dip in egg mixtures, and then roll in breadcrumbs to fully coat.
- Arrange breaded mozzarella sticks in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze for about 30 to 40 minutes or until firm.
- In a deep, thick-bottomed pan over medium heat, heat about 2-inch deep of oil to 350 F.
- Add mozzarella sticks in batches and cook, turning once or twice, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until golden and crisp.
- With a slotted spoon, remove from pan and drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Serve hot with marinara sauce.
For Marinara Sauce
- In a blender or food processor, pulse tomatoes until blended
- In a pan over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook until aromatic.
- Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil.
- Add Italian seasoning and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Lower heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- Arrange the breaded cheese sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 to 40 minutes to keep cheese from bursting and melting out of the bread coating during frying.
- Ensure the oil is at 350 F to 375 F. Too hot, and the breading will brown before the cheese inside is soft and melted. Too low, the cheese will melt and leak out before the outside is sufficiently browned. At optimal temperature, the breaded mozzarella should take about 1 to 2 minutes to turn golden and crispy on the outside and gooey and melty on the inside.
Video
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Lynnette Brinkman says
Excited to make this this weekend thank you for providing the path to delishousness !!!
Karen says
Easily adaptable for gluten and dairy free diets. Easy to make, came out perfectly, and delicious!
Amari says
It Was Delicious So Much Flavor Cheesy And Delicious The Marinara Sause Was Tangy And Delicious 10 Out Of 1o
Vahini Manohar says
Wow! Really tempting to eat. The bite contains the crispy with Marinara Sauce Ymmmm…