Meaningful Eats
Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks (FRY OR AIR-FRY!)
6 servings
These gluten-free mozzarella sticks are the ultimate party appetizer! Melty, gooey cheese in the center, perfectly crispy on the outside!
Ingredients
- 16 ounce block whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup gluten-free all purpose flour any kind brand will work
- 3 large eggs
- 10-14 ounces gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
- Oil of choice for frying I use vegetable oil
Instructions
TO FRY:
- Cut the block of mozzarella in half lengthwise. Then cut those halves into sticks that are about ½-inch thick.
- Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Set up 3 bowls for a dipping station. - Gluten-free all purpose flour- Eggs whisked together until smooth with a pinch of salt - Gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
- Dip each cheese stick in the gluten-free flour, followed by the egg and finally the gluten-free panko. Place each coated stick on the baking sheet.
- Freeze the mozzarella sticks, on the baking sheet, for at least for two hours.
- In a heavy bottomed 8-inch saucepan, heat the oil of choice to 365F. You want there to be a few inches of oil in the pan.
- Fry the mozzarella sticks in batches (about 4-5 at a time) for about 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Flipping once halfway through.
- Let the cheese sticks drain briefly on a paper towel, then serve immediately with marinara sauce. Enjoy!
TO AIR-FRY:
- Set your air fryer to 390°F. Spray the air fryer basket and the mozzarella sticks with a nonstick cooking spray. Air fry the mozzarella sticks (in batches if desired or necessary, as space permits) for 6 to 8 minutes until the exterior is golden and crispy.
Notes
RECIPE NOTES
- You can use pre-sliced cheese sticks to save time, but I've found that slicing a block of mozzarella fresh yields meltier cheese sticks.
- This is a great make-ahead appetizer, since you can freeze the sticks before frying for up to a week or more!
- I've tried making these mozzarella sticks with many kinds of gluten-free breadcrumbs, but Ian's gluten-free panko breadcrumbs always work best to create a crispy crust!
- Feel free to add more seasoning to the breadcrumbs, if you'd like. You could add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, or black pepper for extra flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 1723kcal | Carbohydrates: 305g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 586mg | Sodium: 1321mg | Potassium: 182mg | Fiber: 22g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 713IU | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 7mg