Satisfy Mozzarella Stick Cravings With This Baked Recipe

By Lizzie Fuhr
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Forget the fryer, and opt for baked mozzarella sticks. This recipe takes less than 20 minutes from prep to plate, and the final result comes out of the oven with a perfect gooey center. Add a little fresh tomato sauce to the side, and you've cooked up a festive party appetizer at a fraction of the calories.

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Cook Time20 minutes
Yield8 servings
Calories260

From Food Network

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup Italian style dry bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon salt-free Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 cup nonfat milk
  • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 16 (1-ounce) sticks low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese, halved crosswise

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat two large baking sheets with cooking spray.

  2. Combine panko, bread crumbs, and Italian seasoning in a food processor and process until finely ground. Transfer mixture to a shallow dish.

  3. In a separate shallow dish, whisk together milk and 2 tablespoons of the flour. Place remaining 1/2 cup of flour in a large freezer bag.

  4. Add cheese sticks to the bag with the flour and shake to coat. Working in batches, dip the flour-coated cheese sticks into the milk mixture and then into the panko mixture. Arrange cheese, in a single layer, on prepared baking sheets. Spray the surface with cooking spray. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.

  5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until crust is golden brown and cheese is soft. Be sure to watch the oven to make sure they keep their stick shape!