Crispy Baked Mozzarella Sticks (Print Version)

Golden, crunchy mozzarella sticks with melty centers. Easy oven-baked version with less mess and maximum flavor.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese

01 - 14 oz low-moisture mozzarella cheese sticks (about 20 sticks)

→ Breading

02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/4 cup milk
04 - 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
06 - 1/2 cup fine dry Italian breadcrumbs
07 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ For Baking

12 - Olive oil spray

# Directions:

01 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Slice mozzarella cheese into stick shapes if not pre-cut.
03 - Arrange sticks in a single layer on the baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour until very firm.
04 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Place a wire rack on a second baking sheet and lightly coat with olive oil spray.
05 - Set up three shallow bowls: Bowl 1 with flour, Bowl 2 with whisked eggs and milk, Bowl 3 with panko, Italian breadcrumbs, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper mixed together.
06 - Working quickly with a few sticks at a time, coat each frozen mozzarella stick in flour and shake off excess. Dip in egg mixture, then roll in breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere. For extra crunch, repeat egg and breadcrumb coating once more.
07 - Arrange breaded sticks on the prepared rack, spacing them apart.
08 - Generously spray the tops with olive oil spray.
09 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway and spraying the other side, until golden and crisp. Watch closely to prevent cheese from oozing out.
10 - Let cool 2 minutes before serving with warm marinara sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crunch is absolutely restaurant quality but without the guilt of deep frying
  • They reheat beautifully so you can make a big batch for unexpected guests
  • The seasoned breading adds so much flavor you barely even need dipping sauce
02 -
  • Skip the freezing step and your cheese will explode out of the breading guaranteed
  • Working with cold cheese is essential so keep your frozen sticks in the freezer until the exact moment you start breading
  • Watch the oven like a hawk during that last minute because golden can turn to burned surprisingly fast
03 -
  • Add smoked paprika or red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture for a subtle heat that cuts through the rich cheese
  • The double coating technique is what separates homemade from restaurant quality so do not skip it

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