Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with marinara sauce are perfect for a party or game day. Gooey and melty on the inside and golden and crunchy on the outside, they’re absolutely addicting!

Homemade mozzarella cheese sticks are one of the easiest appetizers you can make, but they do involve a few tricks for best results.

For convenience, I use string cheese you can find individually packaged in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores and usually cut them half. You can also use fresh mozzarella and cut it up into 1/2-inch thick and 4-inch long if you prefer.

After dredging the cheese in flour, dip in eggs, and roll in breadcrumbs, I do another round of coating for maximum coverage.

If you want to store the homemade mozzarella cheese sticks for future use, freeze them first on the baking sheet until firm before transferring to resealable bags to prevent them from sticking together.

Breaded Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce Recipe
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with marinara sauce are perfect for a party or game day.  Gooey and melty on the inside and golden and crunchy on the outside, they're absolutely addicting!



Ingredients

• 12 pieces mozzarella sticks
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup flour
• 2 cups breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• oil

For Marinara Sauce

• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Remove mozzarella sticks from packaging and cut each horizontally into half.
2. In a shallow bowl, place flour.
3. In another shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.
4. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
5. Dredge mozzarella sticks in flour, dip in egg mixture and then roll in breadcrumbs mixture.  
6. Dredge again in flour, dip in egg mixtures, and then roll in breadcrumbs to fully coat.
7. Arrange breaded mozzarella sticks in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze for about 30 to 40 minutes or until firm.
8. In a deep, thick-bottomed pan over medium heat, heat about 2-inch deep of oil to 350 F. 
9. Add mozzarella sticks in batches and cook, turning once or twice, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until golden and crisp. 
10. With a slotted spoon, remove from pan and drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Serve hot with marinara sauce.

For Marinara Sauce

1. In a blender or food processor, pulse tomatoes until crushed.
2. In a pan over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook until aromatic. 
3. Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil. 
4. Add Italian seasoning and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
5. Lower heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Recipe Adapted : Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce @ onionringsandthings