Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe (2024)

Fried Cheese Sticks are one of Little Buddy’s most favorite things in the whole wide world. When he was a just a toddler and we’d go out to supper at a restaurant, I could always depend on him wanting to have fried cheese sticks with his meal. Hold the french fries or any other sides, just the fried cheese sticks would do. I’d cut them into tiny bites for him, because that’s what Mama’s do, but I couldn’t cut them fast enough for him!

Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe (1)

And then, I decided I needed to be making this favorite treat for him at home occasionally instead of them always being a special thing he ordered when we would eat out. We all fell in love with them! There’s just something about cooking a favorite dish at home, isn’t there? With a light batter surrounding the cheese, they are quickly fried in a peanut or vegetable oil, whichever you prefer.

Luckily, they only take a few minutes to make a big batch. But, I will warn you, they disappear faster than you’d ever imagine!

Served with a bowl of quick marinara sauce or even pizza sauce and they are gone in minutes!

Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe (2)

I like to take the mozzarella sticks and cut them in half or even thirds for making my fried cheese recipe. Then, I prepare a bowl of buttermilk, another of flour, and then a final bowl of Italian seasoned Panko crumbs. I dip the cheese sticks into the buttermilk, then into the flour, then back into the buttermilk and then finally into the crumbs. I allow them to rest for a few minutes while the oil comes up to temperature and then I fry them in batches. Generally, they are in the skillet less than a couple of minutes and I remove them the second they turn golden brown. I allow them to drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and then serve them warm with a bowl of marinara sauce. YUM!

I’ve also frozen my fried cheese sticks. Once I’ve let the fried cheese stick drain on the paper towels, I let them cool there completely. Then, I place the baking sheet into the freezer for about 30 minutes to flash freeze them and then place them into a zip top freezer bag. Then, anytime we need them, I toss a few onto a baking sheet and reheat. Perfect for a quick afternoon snack when my son’s friends drop by.

Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe (3)

Here’s my Fried Cheese Sticks recipe. I hope you love them as much as we do!

Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe (4)

PinPrintSave

Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe

Fried Cheese Sticks make a favorite appetizer or snack. These homemade fried cheese sticks will quickly become a family favorite.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 24 mozzarella sticks, cut in half or thirds
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups panko
  • 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
  • peanut or vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Prepare three separate bowls for dredging your mozzarella sticks. One bowl of buttermilk, egg, and cayenne pepper, lightly whisked together. Second bowl of all-purpose flour. Third bowl of Panko crumbs and Italian Seasoning mixture.

  • Dip cheese sticks into buttermilk mixture, then into all-purpose flour, then back into the buttermilk mixture and then finally into the Panko crumbs. Set aside on a sheet pan until all cheese sticks are prepared and the oil is ready for frying.

  • Pour oil into 12-inch skillet to about 2 inches deep over medium heat. Once oil begins to shimmer and reaches about 350 degrees F, it is ready to add the cheese sticks in batches. Fry a few cheese sticks at a time, removing with tongs as soon as they become brown. Watch carefully as they will overcook quickly.

  • Remove to a kitchen sheet pan lined with paper towels to drain. Then, serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 865mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Join today & start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes.

Save recipe

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Categorized as:30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Appetizers, By Cooking Style, Cooking, Game Day Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, Recipes, Simple Recipes, Skillet Recipes, Southern Favorites

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Read more about Robyn

Best Swedish Meatballs Recipe

30 mins

Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe

1 hr

How to Make Guacamole

5 mins

Perfect Queso Dip Recipe

5 mins

Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do I have to freeze cheese sticks before frying? ›

Do you have to freeze mozzarella sticks before frying? Yes, freezing the mozzarella sticks before frying them is essential. If they aren't completely frozen, the cheese will ooze out of the flour and panko coating before it's gotten the chance to crisp up.

How hot does oil need to be to fry mozzarella sticks? ›

Heat the oil to 365 degrees F in a heavy saucepan. One at a time, coat each mozzarella stick in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then in the garlic-spiked bread crumbs. Drop the sticks into the hot oil and fry for about 30 seconds, or until golden-brown.

How do you know when cheese sticks are done? ›

For cheese sticks, all you really need to do is get the outside breading golden brown and crispy. The internal temperature isn't critical, because cheese is delightfully safe to eat raw.

Can you shallow fry cheese sticks? ›

Pour enough Vegetable oil, to shallow-fry into a frying pan to come 1cm of the way up the side. Heat over medium-high heat. Line a baking tray with paper towel. Working in batches, shallow-fry the sticks, turning, for 1 minute or until golden.

How long to freeze cheese sticks before frying? ›

Freeze the mozzarella sticks right on the tray in a single layer for at least two hours. This is absolutely essential and this step should not be skipped, otherwise the cheese will melt too quickly in the fryer, before the shell has a chance to set.

What oil to deep fry mozzarella sticks? ›

Whole milk mozzarella has a better flavor (don't use part-skim!), and it typically yields more sticks than your standard package of string cheese. Vegetable Oil. My preferred oil for frying is vegetable oil, but any neutral cooking oil (like canola, corn, or peanut oil) will work.

What is the best oil for frying cheese? ›

Peanut, canola, or vegetable oil are excellent choices, while oils with low smoking points like butter and olive oil should be reserved for pan frying or sautéing. Use enough oil that you can fully submerge the cheese. Keep an even temperature. For best results with fried cheese, heat your oil to 375°F.

How do you know when mozzarella sticks are done frying? ›

Deep fry cheese sticks, a few at a time, until the coating is golden brown and crisp and the cheese is soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Let sticks drain on paper towels; cool slightly and serve warm.

What is the white stuff on cheese stick? ›

They're most likely calcium lactate crystals, also known as “cheese crystals.” They are completely safe to eat, and usually signify that a cheese is flavorful and well-aged. Calcium lactate crystals form naturally during the aging process and are most commonly found in aged cheddars, including Smoked Medium Cheddar.

Can I eat a cheese stick that was left out overnight? ›

How long can cheese sit out before it becomes unsafe to eat? For the best taste and quality, cheese should not be left out for longer than two hours at room temperature. Hard cheeses can be left out longer without becoming unsafe, but the quality and taste may change.

How long is the average cheese stick? ›

In the United States, string cheese generally refers to snack-sized servings of low-moisture mozzarella. This form of string cheese is roughly cylindrical, about 6 inches (15 cm) long and less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. The cheese used is commonly a form of mozzarella, or a combination of mozzarella and cheddar.

How to fry cheese in a pan? ›

Lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet with extra-virgin olive oil, then place over medium-low heat. Spoon 2 tbsp. of cheese onto heated skillet for each 2''-3'' round. Allow cheese to melt and edges to turn golden brown.

What are the fried cheese on a stick called? ›

Mozzarella sticks are elongated pieces of battered or breaded mozzarella, usually served as hors d'oeuvre.

Can I shallow fry in a pan? ›

Shallow frying, which is also often referred to as pan frying, is a method in which you fill a shallow pan with oil, let it bubble and heat up, and place the food in the pan, making sure that the food sizzles as soon as it hits the pan.

Should I freeze my cheese before making mozzarella sticks? ›

You need to freeze the cheese before coating it it with the breadcrumbs, then freeze the assembled mozzarella sticks again before baking.

Do you fry mozzarella sticks frozen? ›

Preparation
  1. Prepare from FROZEN state.
  2. Appliances may vary, adjust accordingly.
  3. Preheat oil to 360°F.
  4. Deep fry 8 mozzarella sticks for 2 1/2 minutes.
  5. Drain on paper towel.
  6. Let stand 2 minutes.
  7. Promptly refrigerate any unused heated portion.
  8. FOR FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY, FOLLOW THESE COOKING INSTRUCTIONS.

Can you pan fry frozen cheese sticks? ›

Yes, frozen mozzarella sticks are specifically designed to be fried. They are coated in a breading that crisps up when fried, creating a deliciously golden and melty snack. Can I fry frozen mozzarella sticks without thawing them first? Yes, you can fry frozen mozzarella sticks without thawing them first.

Why freeze before fry? ›

Almost all raw materials need freezing before vacuum frying, to increase dehydration rate and keep chips quality.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 5757

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.