Easy Baked Mozzarella Sticks (Gluten-Free)

I have always been a sucker for those fried mozzarella sticks that you can get in many restaurants. I mean what’s not to like? Melted mozzarella cheese, crispy fried seasoned bread crumbs! YUM! I have NEVER attempted to make them at home however.

For one thing, I don’t own a deep fryer and anytime I try to “deep-fry” something on the stove in a pan, it has not turned out well. But it never occurred to me that you could BAKE them and come up with virtually the same thing. That was intriguing, but what really clinched the deal was when I saw you could make them with regular string cheese!

Sometimes I simply can’t understand why these things don’t occur to me! There is hardly a day of the year that my refrigerator isn’t stocked with string cheese! It was staring me in the face all this time and I didn’t know it.

Check out another quick and easy way to make mozzarella sticks in the video at the end of the post.

All it took to make these gluten-free was swapping out the typical Italian bread crumbs or Japanese panko crumbs that most recipes call for with gluten-free bread crumbs. (It doesn’t quite yield the same crispiness, but it tastes delicious nonetheless!)

I know some of you are already doubting this could ever possibly work, because I felt the same way… until I tried it. There is one “secret” though that will make all the difference in your success: freeze the mozzarella string cheese before breading and baking it. Failing to do so may lead to a big cheesy mess in your oven!

Easy Baked Mozzarella Sticks (Gluten-Free)

Ingredients:

  • 12 mozzarella string cheeses
  • 1-2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tbsp dried parsley
  • cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400° F. Lightly spray your baking sheet with oil.

Cut cheese in half to give you 24 pieces. Place the cut mozzarella sticks in the freezer until frozen (about 30 mins).

In a small bowl, whisk the egg(s). Place the flour in another small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and dried parsley.

Make an assembly line of the three bowls: flour, egg mixture, and bread crumbs mixture.

Working one at a time, dip each cheese stick into the flour, then the egg mixture, and then the bread crumbs. Aim to completely coat each piece of cheese — pressing the breadcrumbs against the cheese can help them stick better.

Repeat this process with the remaining cheese pieces and place them on your baking sheet.

Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the oven for 4-5 minutes. Turn and bake for an additional 4-5 minutes, watching them closely so they don’t melt. Makes 24 pieces. Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce.

To increase the crispiness factor, you can re-dip the mozzarella sticks in the egg and then again in the breadcrumbs before baking. You can also brown the breadcrumbs in a skillet over medium heat before applying them to your cheese sticks.

If you’re having a party and want to make these ahead of time, place them on a tray with wax paper and freeze them until you are ready to bake.

mozzarella sticks

Easy Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Jill Nystul
Melted cheese, crispy seasoned bread crumbs… what's not to like about mozzarella sticks? These are easy to make in your oven at home, and they can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free breadcrumbs!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Freeze cheese 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Italian
Servings 24 pieces
Calories 64 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 12 string cheeses
  • 1-2 eggs beaten
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400° F. Lightly spray your baking sheet with oil.
  • Cut cheese in half to give you 24 pieces. Place cut cheese sticks in the freezer until cheese is frozen (about 30 mins).
  • In a small bowl, whisk the egg(s). Place the flour on another small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and dried parsley.
  • Make an assembly line of the three bowls: flour, egg mixture, and bread crumbs mixture.
  • Dip the string cheese, one at a time, in the flour, then in the egg mixture and then in the bread crumbs, making sure to completely coat each piece of string cheese.
  • Repeat this process with the remaining cheese and place them on your baking sheet.
  • Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the oven 4-5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4–5 minutes, watching them closely so they don’t melt.
  • Serve immediately with marinara sauce for dipping.

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 131mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.04gVitamin A: 22IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 0.2mg

Here’s another quick and easy way to make mozzarella sticks in your oven (or air fryer!):

YouTube video

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Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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