Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, homemade mozzarella sticks are a delicious treat that you can easily make in your own kitchen. Perfect as a snack, appetizer, or party food, these cheesy delights are sure to impress family and friends. With a few simple ingredients and steps, you'll have a batch of irresistible mozzarella sticks ready in no time!
Prepare the Cheese. Unwrap the mozzarella string cheese sticks and cut each stick in half, creating 24 pieces. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent the cheese from melting too quickly during frying.
Set Up Breading Stations. In one bowl, place the flour. In a second bowl, whisk together the eggs and water. In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Bread the Cheese Sticks. Remove the cheese sticks from the freezer. Dip each stick first in the flour, shaking off any excess, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring an even coating. For an extra-crispy crust, repeat the egg and breadcrumb steps.
Fry the Cheese Sticks. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C). Carefully add a few mozzarella sticks to the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry for 1-2 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Serve the mozzarella sticks hot with marinara sauce for dipping.
For extra crunch, double bread the cheese sticks by repeating the egg and breadcrumb steps. Ensuring the cheese sticks are well frozen helps maintain their shape during frying. Experiment with different seasonings in the breadcrumb mixture, like paprika or cayenne pepper, for added flavor.