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An easy recipe for gluten-free mozzarella sticks. These crisp and crunchy fried mozzarella cheese sticks are a favorite gluten-free appetizer. These gluten-free mozzarella sticks can be fried, air-fried, or baked. The recipe also includes a how-to video!
Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
Making homemade gluten-free mozzarella sticks is easier than you think! It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this popular appetizer recipe gluten-free.
I have included instructions not only for the traditional frying method, but also how to air-fry or bake the mozzarella sticks. You can see just how easy it is to make these gluten-free mozzarella sticks in the detailed recipe step photos or the recipe video.
Ingredients In Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
- Mozzarella String Cheese Sticks: I used mozzarella string cheese sticks. You can also cut your own sticks from a mozzarella cheese block. For the dairy-free option use Miyokos Cashew Milk Mozzarella and slice into small pieces
- Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs: The gluten-free bread crumbs are what gives the mozzarella sticks a crispy crust. Gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs has more texture than regular gluten-free breadcrumb, so it is the best choice for getting the crispiest crust. I used 4C gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: This brings extra cheese flavor and crispiness to the mozzarella sticks. For the dairy-free option use Follow Your Heart dairy-free grated Parmesan.
- Italian Seasoning and Garlic Powder: These enhance the flavor of the cheese.
- Gluten-Free Flour and Corn Starch: They help the eggs cling to the cheese sticks.
- Eggs: They help the breading stick to the string cheese sticks.
How To Make Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
To Bread:
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Place the gluten-free crumbs in a plastic storage bag. Crush the gluten-free breadcrumbs using a rolling pin until you have fine crumbs. (photo 1)
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Add the crushed gluten-free breadcrumbs into a shallow dish. Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and grated Parmesan cheese and stir to fully combine the ingredients. (photo 2)
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Whisk the eggs together in a shallow dish.
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Add the gluten-free all-purpose flour and cornstarch to a shallow bowl and stir to fully combine.
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Cut the mozzarella cheese sticks in half.
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Dip and roll the mozzarella cheese sticks, one at a time, in the gluten-free flour mixture. Shake off any of the excess gluten-free flour mixture. (photo 3)
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Then dip the mozzarella cheese sticks in the whisked egg and let any excess drip off.
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Then dip the mozzarella cheese sticks in gluten-free breadcrumb crumb mixture, making sure the entire cheese stick is coated with the breadcrumb mixture.
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Repeat the 3 steps (dip in gluten-free flour mixture, whisked egg, and gluten-free breadcrumb mixture) to make a second coating.
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Place the breaded mozzarella cheese sticks on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper and transfer to the freezer to chill for at least one hour. (photo 4)
To Fry
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About 5 minutes before the mozzarella cheese sticks are finished chilling, fill a medium-sized saucepan 3-inch deep with vegetable oil, about 3 cups.
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Heat the oil over medium heat until you reach a temperature of 350°F.
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Fry the breaded mozzarella sticks, 2 at a time, until golden brown (about 1 minute). Place the fried mozzarella sticks on a paper towel-lined plate to cool. (photos 5 & 6)
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Enjoy the gluten-free mozzarella while warm dipped in warmed gluten-free marinara sauce.
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Store leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate.
Can You Air-Fry Or Bake The Mozzarella Sticks?
Yes, the gluten-free mozzarella sticks can be made in the air-fryer or baked in the oven. The instructions of air-frying or baking the mozzarella sticks are in the recipe card notes at the bottom of the page.
Is Mozzarella String Cheese Gluten-Free?
Mozzarella cheese is naturally gluten-free, so Mozzarella string cheese is also gluten-free. I used the Great Value brand string cheese (Walmart’s Brand). Please always check your labels.
Tips For Making The Best Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
- Gluten-Free Panko breadcrumbs make the crispiest crust. I buy the 4C gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs at Walmart.
- Do not skip the freezer step or your cheese could ooze out during the frying step.
- I like peanut oil for frying. Canola or corn oil will work as well.
- Use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of the oil.
- I do not recommend skipping doing the second breading step. Coating the cheese stick a second time really makes for the crispiest mozzarella stick.
- Make sure to coat the cheese sticks very well. The breading is what keeps the cheese from oozing out during the frying process.
Ingredients Substitutions For Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
I have tested this gluten-free mozzarella recipe with dairy-free ingredient substitutions. For the dairy-free option use Miyokos Cashew Milk Mozzarella and slice into small pieces and used Follow Your Heart dairy-free grated Parmesan for the breading mixture.
Easy Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
If you have been craving mozzarella sticks you are going to love how easy this gluten-free appetizer recipe is to make. You can even make these up a head of time and take out and fry when you are ready to eat them. These gluten-free mozzarella sticks are perfect for your next party or for game day!
More Gluten-Free Appetizer Recipes To Try!
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Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
An easy recipe for gluten-free mozzarella sticks. These crisp and crunchy fried mozzarella cheese sticks are a favorite gluten-free appetizer. These gluten-free mozzarella sticks can be fried, air-fried, or baked. The recipe also includes a how-to video!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups plain gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs or plain gluten-free bredcrumbs, I used 4C gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs.
- 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, For dairy-free use Follow Your Heart dairy-free grated Parmesan cheese.
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1/4 cup corn starch
- 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks , I used Great Value (Walmart's brand). For dairy-free use Miyokos Cashew Milk Mozzarella and slice into small pieces.
- Vegetable oil for frying, I like peanut oil for frying. Canola or corn oil will work as well.
Instructions
To Bread
- Place the gluten-free crumbs in a plastic storage bag. Crush the gluten-free breadcrumbs using a rolling pin until you have fine crumbs.
- Add the crushed gluten-free breadcrumbs into a shallow dish. Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and grated Parmesan cheese and stir to fully combine the ingredients.
- Whisk the eggs together in a shallow dish.
- Add the gluten-free all-purpose flour and cornstarch to a shallow bowl and stir to fully combine.
- Cut the mozzarella cheese sticks in half.
- Dip and roll the mozzarella cheese sticks, one at a time, in the gluten-free flour mixture. Shake off any of the excess gluten-free flour mixture.
- Then dip the mozzarella cheese sticks in the whisked egg and let any excess drip off.
- The, dip the mozzarella cheese sticks in the gluten-free breadcrumb crumb mixture, making sure the entire cheese stick is coated with the breadcrumb.
- Repeat the 3 steps (dip in gluten-free flour mixture, whisked egg, and gluten-free breadcrumb mixture) to make a second coating.
- Place the breaded mozzarella cheese sticks on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper and transfer to the freezer to chill for at least one hour.
To Fry
- About 5 minutes before the mozzarella sticks are finished chilling, fill a medium-sized saucepan 3-inch deep with vegetable oil, about 3 cups.
- Heat the oil over medium heat until you reach a temperature of 350F.
- Fry the breaded mozzarella sticks, 2 at a time, until golden brown (about 1 minute). Place the fried mozzarella sticks on a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
- Enjoy the gluten-free mozzarella sticks while warm dipped in warmed gluten-free marinara sauce.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate.
Video
Notes
- Instructions for baking: Preheat oven to 415°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with gluten-free cooking spray. Place the breaded cheese sticks on the prepared baking sheet at least an 1-inch apart. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until they are beginning to turn light golden brown.
- Instructions for air fryer: Heat the air fryer to 390°F. Spray the basket of your air fryer with gluten-free cooking spray. Place the breaded cheese sticks in the fryer and spray them lightly with the gluten-free cooking spray. Cook for 6-8 minutes, tossing halfway through, until they are crispy and light golden brown.
- For the dairy-free option: Use Miyokos Cashew Milk Mozzarella and slice into small pieces and use Follow Your Heart dairy-free grated Parmesan.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave for 10 seconds. Please watch the stick because all microwaves are different.
- Mama says, "Make sure to always check your labels!"
Nutrition
Serving: 3sticksCalories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 16gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 658mgPotassium: 71mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 238IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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it says 1.5 cups of bread crumbs but then that you used 4 cups. Which one is accurate?
Thanks.
Hi Carey, 4C is the brand of gluten-free breadcrumbs we used in this recipe! Sorry for the confusion– use 1.5 cups!
Great recipe, thanks!
These turned out AMAZING! Pretty easy to prepare and I could not tell at all that they were GF! Thank you for perfecting recipes for the GF community!