Golden and crispy with the perfect cheese pull, these String Cheese Mozzarella Sticks are the ultimate crowd-pleasing snack.
Table of Contents
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:
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.
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.
- Slice the cheesesticks and prepare the flour and egg dipping bowls.
- Mix the remaining coating ingredients to make the breadcrumb mixture.
- Coat a piece of cheese in the flour and then the eggs.
- Coat the cheese sticks in the Panko bread mixture.
- Place the mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet and freeze for two hours.
- Bake or fry the mozzarella sticks.
- Serve with marinara sauce.
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.
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Recipe Cost 11.33 Serving Cost 1.88Equipment
- 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
Nutrition
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Recipe FAQs
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.
Follow my tip for freezing the cheese sticks before baking or frying. This helps keep the cheese from leaking out.
Absolutely. After freezing the cheese sticks for two hours, place them in an airtight container and freeze until you are ready to cook them.
Amanda says
I’m so glad I tried this Homemade Mozzarella Sticks. It’s now in my top five recipes.