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String Cheese Mozzarella Sticks

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11.33
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Golden and crispy with the perfect cheese pull, these String Cheese Mozzarella Sticks are the ultimate crowd-pleasing snack. 

An overhead picture of the finished Mozzarella Cheese Sticks on a counter.
Finished Mozzarella Cheese Sticks on a white platter with marinara sauce.

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

You can skip the freezer aisle and make these Mozzarella Sticks instead. They are way better than the store-bought ones, mainly because these mozzarella sticks are loaded with more cheese in every bite. 

This recipe is perfect to have on hand when the kids are home more often. It is a snack that makes everyone happy. Everyone loves the gooey, melty center, and I love that it doesn’t cost much to make a big batch. 

As a bonus, I’ve included two different methods for making these cheese sticks so you can choose which way works best for you. You can fry them up for that classic crispy bite or bake them for a lighter option. 

Ingredients & Estimated Cost:

Recipe Cost: $11.33
Per Serving: $1.41

Here is everything you need to make these cheese sticks, along with a few substitution recommendations.

  • String cheese sticks (16 – $6.72) – An excellent hack for a quick way to make mozzarella sticks.  Instead of using mozzarella string cheese, you can use cheddar or Colby cheese sticks. 
  • All-purpose flour (1/2 cup – $0.08) – Creates the first layer of breading. 
  • Eggs (2 – $0.30) – Binds the flour and breadcrumbs to the cheese sticks. 
  • Panko bread crumbs (2 cups – $1.87) – Adds the crunchy outer layer. Use regular breadcrumbs as an alternative.
  • Salt (1/2 teaspoon – $0.02) – Enhances the overall flavor of the cheese sticks. Garlic Salt or Seasoned Salt also works well. 
  • Ground black pepper (1/2 teaspoon – $0.05) – Adds a mild heat. You can also use white pepper or cayenne pepper.
  • Garlic powder (1/4 teaspoon – $0.03) – Adds a savory depth to the coating. Onion powder is a great alternative.
  • Dried oregano (1/4 teaspoon – $0.03) – Provides a herbal flavor that goes well with the marinara dipping sauce. Use Italian seasoning as a substitute. 
  • Vegetable oil (2 1/2 cups – $1.67) – Makes the coating crispy when frying the cheese sticks. Canola oil or avocado oil works too. 
  • Marinara sauce (1 cup – $0.56) – Classic sauce for dipping, but you can also dip into Ranch dressing or any of your favorite sauces. 
ingredients for string cheese mozzarella sticks with text overlay

The recipe cost is calculated based on the amounts needed and will vary due to fluctuating grocery costs. The pricing for this recipe was updated in September 2025.

How To Make Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

Coat the cheese sticks in the three coatings, freeze, bake, or fry, and serve. Let me show you how.

  1. Slice the cheesesticks and prepare the flour and egg dipping bowls.
  2. Mix the remaining coating ingredients to make the breadcrumb mixture.
  3. Coat a piece of cheese in the flour and then the eggs.
    a collage of how to make cheese sticks showing making the bread mixture and coating the cheese sticks in flour and eggs.
  4. Coat the cheese sticks in the Panko bread mixture.
  5. Place the mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet and freeze for two hours.
  6. Bake or fry the mozzarella sticks.
  7. Serve with marinara sauce.
How to make Sting Cheese Mozzarella Sticks

Essential Recipe Tip

Do not skip freezing the cheese sticks before frying or baking. This step ensures that the cheese sticks will not burst open when frying or baking. 

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Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks on a white plate with dipping sauce in the background.

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Recipe Cost 11.33
Serving Cost 1.88
Author Jess Jankowski
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Crispy outside and melty inside these String Cheese Mozzarella Sticks are a favorite shomemade snack that beats store-bought every time.
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 44 minutes


Equipment

  • baking sheet
  • parchment paper
  • 3 pie dishes OR 3 shallow bowls
  • food processor
  • measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • wire rack
  • large pot
  • tongs
  • instant-read thermometer

Ingredients
 

CHEESE:

  • 16 string cheese sticks

COATING 1:

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

COATING 2:

  • 2 large eggs

COATING 3:

  • 2 cups panko bread crumbs
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

OIL FOR FRYING:

  • 2 ½ cups peanut or vegetable oil

FOR SERVING:

  • 1 cup marinara sauce warmed
  • 1 Tablespoon minced parsley for garnishing optional

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

PREP THE CHEESE:

  • Slice each string cheese stick in half crosswise so you have 32 pieces of cheese total.

PREP COATING 1:

  • Pour flour into a pie dish or shallow bowl.

PREP COATING 2:

  • Add eggs to a second pie dish or shallow bowl and beat with a fork.

PREP COATING 3:

  • Add bread crumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder to a food processor and pulse mixture until finely ground.
  • Pour the bread crumbs mixture into a third pie dish or shallow bowl.

COAT THE CHEESE:

  • Add a piece of cheese to the flour and turn to coat. Then, add the cheese to the egg and turn to coat.
  • Next, add the cheese to the breadcrumbs and turn to coat. Finally, place the coated cheese stick to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cheese sticks.

FREEZE CHEESE STICKS:

  • Pop the cheese sticks into the freezer and freeze for 2 hours or overnight.

FRYING INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Line a baking sheet with 3 layers of paper towels and set aside.
  • Add oil to a large pot and heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 400 degrees F.
  • Add a few cheese sticks to the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Move the cheese sticks to the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
  • Repeat the frying with the remaining mozzarella cheese sticks. Garnish mozzarella sticks with minced parsley, optional. Serve with warmed marinara sauce.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Move the oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack right in the pan right on top of the foil. Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place the mozzarella cheese sticks right on top of the wire rack set inside a baking sheet. Spray the tops of the cheese sticks with nonstick cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
  • Bake for 7-8 minutes, or until the cheese sticks are golden brown. Cool for 3 minutes and then garnish with minced parsley, optional. Serve with warmed marinara sauce.

Video

Notes

This recipe makes 32 mozzarella cheese sticks, which is enough to serve 6-8 people. 
Storage Tips:
Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: It’s best to freeze the cheese sticks before frying or baking them. After they get their initial freeze, transfer the cheese sticks to a freezer-safe zipper bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 5.33cheese sticks | Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 874mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2mg
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A Mozzarella Cheese Stick being dipped into marinara sauce.

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Recipe FAQs

Can I use regular mozzarella instead of string cheese?

I do not recommend using fresh mozzarella as it has too much water and melts too quickly, so it does not work well with this recipe. However, you can use low-moisture cut into sticks.

How do I keep the cheese from leaking out while frying or baking?

Follow my tip for freezing the cheese sticks before baking or frying. This helps keep the cheese from leaking out.

Can I make mozzarella sticks ahead of time?

Absolutely. After freezing the cheese sticks for two hours, place them in an airtight container and freeze until you are ready to cook them.

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Comments

  1. Cynthia D says

    I think the price per serving is way off (a 16 pack of cheese sticks are almost $8 by me – and that’s the cheapest store brand!! And an egg is definitely not 10¢) but I’m looking forward to trying them anyway. They look really yummy!

    Reply

    • Jess Jankowski says

      Hi Cynthia, the recipes are priced using Walmart.com but will vary by area. Not sure where you are located but here, Kraft Cheese sticks are $4.53, and yes the price of eggs has gone up recently to about $0.17 per egg. Either way, these Mozzarella Cheese sticks are delicious and we think you will love them!

      Reply

  2. Gayle says

    I need to try these. Can these be made with a whole piece of cheese instead of cutting in half? My instinct says yes, but thought I would ask.

    Reply

  12. Michele Peterson says

    5 stars
    My grandkids loved these mozzarella cheese sticks. A delicious snack for our hungry crowd.

    Reply

  18. Kelly Anthony says

    5 stars
    Oh my word — my kids are constantly on the snack train too, and nothing satisfies a snack attack like these! WE LOVE CHEESESTICKS around these parts! So crispy and perfect. Thank you!

    Reply

  19. Jessica says

    5 stars
    I used mozzarella/cheddar cheese sticks and they were AWESOME! This is going on the regular rotation. Perfect for lunch, snacks and the kids dinner.

    Reply
5 from 17 votes

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