Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (106 g) plain Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon table salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 lb whole milk mozzarella block (or 15 string cheese sticks)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Place Panko breadcrumbs in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin until fine. Transfer to a shallow dish and mix with Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, pepper, and salt.
- In a second shallow dish, whisk the eggs until smooth. Place flour in a third dish.
- If using a mozzarella block, slice into 15 sticks.
- Coat each mozzarella stick in flour, dip into egg, then coat fully in the seasoned Panko mixture. Place on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
- Freeze sticks for at least 1 hour. For longer storage, transfer to an airtight container after the first hour and return to freezer.
- To Fry: Heat oil in a saucepan to 350°F (175°C). Fry 2 sticks at a time for about 1 minute, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- To Bake: Preheat oven to 415°F (210°C). Place sticks on a foil-lined, greased baking sheet. Bake 10–15 minutes until lightly golden.
- To Air Fry: Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Spray basket with cooking spray, add sticks, spray lightly, and cook 6–8 minutes, tossing halfway through.
- Serve warm with marinara sauce.
Notes
- Crushing the Panko helps it stick better and gives a finer crust.
- Freezing the sticks is essential to prevent cheese from oozing during cooking.
- Use whole milk mozzarella for optimal melt and flavor.
- Double breading (repeat egg and breadcrumb coating) creates an extra crispy shell.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mozzarella stick
- Calories: 138 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg
