Crispy Baked Mozzarella Sticks (Printable)

Golden crunchy coating meets gooey melted cheese in these oven-baked mozzarella sticks. A lighter take on the beloved appetizer.

# 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

# Steps:

01 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice mozzarella cheese into stick shapes if not pre-cut. Arrange sticks in a single layer on the baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour until very firm.
02 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Place a wire rack on a second baking sheet and lightly coat with olive oil spray.
03 - 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 combined.
04 - Working quickly with a few sticks at a time, coat each frozen mozzarella stick in flour (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.
05 - Arrange breaded sticks on the prepared rack, spacing them apart. Generously spray the tops with olive oil spray.
06 - Bake for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway and spraying the other side, until golden and crisp. Watch closely to prevent cheese from oozing out. Let cool 2 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that satisfying crunch without the mess and guilt of deep frying
  • They freeze beautifully so you can prep ahead for unexpected guests
  • The breadcrumb coating locks in all that melty cheese goodness
02 -
  • Skip the freezing step and you will end up with cheese everywhere except inside your sticks
  • Working quickly while breading keeps the cheese frozen enough to handle properly
  • That wire rack makes all the difference for even crisping on all sides
03 -
  • Add smoked paprika or red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture for a subtle heat that builds
  • Let them rest for exactly two minutes after baking so the cheese sets slightly for that perfect pull

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