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Home » Recipes

Gluten-free Mozzarella Sticks

Published: Jul 7, 2020 · Modified: Jul 26, 2022 by Sara Vaughn · Leave a Comment

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These gluten-free mozzarella sticks have a delicious crispy golden breading on the outside and cheesy goodness on the inside.

Have you ever noticed that restaurants don't tend to sell gluten-free mozzarella sticks? I don't see why, well, okay, I do. They would need to get gluten-free mozzarella sticks in bulk and a dedicated fryer which most places don't have. That's okay, though, because I'll keep making them at home. You can too; I promise they are really easy to do.

Gluten-free mozzarella sticks on a plate next to a small bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.
Jump to:
  • Are mozzarella sticks gluten-free?
  • Ingredients.
  • Mozzarella stick ingredient FAQ
  • Steps.
  • What is the best way to cook mozzarella sticks?
  • Tips and tricks.
  • Make ahead.
  • Storing leftovers.
  • Reheating.
  • Serving.
  • More gluten-free snacks to try.
  • 📖 Recipe

Are mozzarella sticks gluten-free?

Typically, no mozzarella sticks sold in restaurants and even in the freezer section at the store are not gluten-free. Most are coated in wheat bread crumbs. There are now a few companies that have started selling gluten-free mozzarella sticks, like Feel Good Foods.

I prefer to make my own gluten-free mozzarella sticks because they are actually really easy to do, and I can make a bunch and keep them in the freezer for whenever the mood strikes and someone in the house want them.

Ingredients.

These are the simple ingredients needed to make a batch of homemade gluten-free mozzarella sticks.

  • Mozzarella Cheese - You can cut a block of mozzarella cheese or use pieces of string cheese.
  • Eggs
  • 1:1 Gluten-free Flour - I use the King Arthur blend.
  • Gluten-free Bread Crumbs - I like to make my own gluten-free bread crumbs because they seem to be harder to find around me.
  • Spices - We are keeping it simple with a blend of salt, pepper, garlic, and parsley.

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Mozzarella stick ingredient FAQ

Is mozzarella cheese gluten-free?

Yes, mozzarella is gluten-free. Cheese that is not always gluten-free includes blue cheese, American cheese, shredded cheese, and dairy-free cheese. Always check the package to see if it is gluten-free before consuming it.

What is the best cheese for mozzarella sticks?

Mozzarella sticks are always made with mozzarella cheese. You could try and make mozzarella with another cheese like cheddar, but it likely won't have the same consistency as traditional mozzarella sticks.

Steps.

Making gluten-free mozzarella sticks are only a few simple steps away.

Step 1: Slice the mozzarella cheese into equal pieces.

Step 2: Prep your gluten-free breading bowls. One with gluten-free flour, one with whisked eggs, and the last one with gluten-free bread crumbs and spices.

Gluten-free breading bowls set up for making mozzarella sticks.

Step 3. Coat the pieces of mozzarella cheese with the gluten-free breading.

  1. Dip the cheese into the flour.
  2. Then dip it into the egg.
  3. Dip the cheese back into the flour and then back into the egg wash.
  4. Once you've double-dipped the cheese in the flour and egg wash, then dip it into the gluten-free bread crumbs.
Step photos for showing how to bread gluten-free mozzarella sticks.

Step 4. Freeze the breaded cheese.

  • Place the breaded pieces of mozzarella cheese onto a baking sheet and place them into the freezer for about 2 hours until the cheese is slightly frozen.
Gluten-free mozzarella sticks breaded and on a baking tray to be cooked.

Step 5: Cook the gluten-free cheese sticks until they are golden on the outside and cheesy on the inside.

What is the best way to cook mozzarella sticks?

You can cook these gluten-free mozzarella sticks a few ways; all of them work great, just depending on your preference.

  • Pan Fry - You can pan-fry your mozzarella sticks.
  • Oven Bake - Baking mozzarella sticks in the oven is less messy than pan frying them. I've found they don't get as crispy when they are baked in the oven, but they are still delicious.
  • Air Fryer - Making these gluten-free mozzarella sticks in the air fryer has actually been my favorite way to make them. They get really crispy, and I don't have to worry about the oil getting so hot that the cheese is melting all over the place.

Tips and tricks.

  • Use string cheese sticks - Really, this is the super simple solution because they are already in shape without cutting a bunch of pieces. I just usually cut them in half to make them shorter and easier to work with.
  • Double or triple coat. - This isn't 100% necessary, but trust me, it does help keep the coating on the outside and the cheese on the inside while cooking them.
  • Keep hands separate when breading. - Keeping one hand in the wet and using the other for the dry breading will keep your hands from becoming coated.
  • Freeze - Do you have to freeze mozzarella sticks before cooking them? This might sound odd, but trust me. Freezing the mozzarella sticks before freezing them lets the gluten-free breading get crispy, and the cheese gets gooey without the cheese ending up oozing all over the place.
  • Watch the oil temperature if you are frying them - If you want that gentle cheese pull and perfect cheese texture, don't let your oil get overheated. I like to keep mine about 325-350 degrees. If the oil gets too hot, the breading will cook, but you'll be left with a typical string cheese texture inside, or the cheese will get overly heated and melt into the oil.
A gluten-free mozzarella stick is being pulled apart, showing off the melted cheese inside.

Make ahead.

Can you make mozzarella sticks ahead of time?

Absolutely! I make batches all the time to keep in the freezer, so I have them when the mood strikes someone in the house.

  • Just freeze these gluten-free mozzarella sticks for two hours to flash freeze them, and then transfer them to a ziplock back and freeze them for up to two months.
  • When you are ready to cook them, remove how many you want and cook them as if they were fresh.

Storing leftovers.

You can keep leftover mozzarella sticks in a container in the fridge for up to five days, or you can freeze them for up to two months.

Reheating.

Here are the best ways to reheat these gluten-free mozzarella sticks.

  • You can place the mozzarella sticks into a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes until they are warm.
  • You can also place them into an air fryer at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until they are crispy and the cheese is warm.

Serving.

I like to serve these gluten-free mozzarella sticks with a bowl of simple marinara sauce to dip them into. You can eat them plain or dip them into your favorite sauce either by themselves or alongside some of your other favorite gluten-free snacks.

More gluten-free snacks to try.

If you love these gluten-free mozzarella sticks, give some of these other delicious gluten-free appetizers and snacks a try next.

  • Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers (gluten-free)
  • Gluten-free Potato Latkes
  • Gluten-free Green Onion Chip Dip
  • Gluten-free Naan Bread Recipe
A gluten-free mozzarella stick is being dunked into a small bowl of marinara sauce.

📖 Recipe

Up close look at a gluten-free mozzarella stick being pulled apart showing off the melted cheese.

Gluten-free Mozzarella Sticks

Sara Vaughn
These gluten-free mozzarella sticks have a delicious crispy golden breading on the outside and cheesy goodness on the inside.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Freezing 2 hrs
Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Mozzarella Sticks
Calories 381 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Block Mozzarella Cheese Or string cheese pieces.
  • ½ Cup 1:1 Gluten-free Flour
  • 1 ½ Cups Gluten-free Breadcrumbs
  • 2 Large Eggs beaten
  • ½ Teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon Pepper
  • ½ Teaspoon Parsley
  • ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Instructions
 

Cut the mozzarella cheese.

  • Cut the block of mozzarella cheese into small sticks or unwrap the string cheese and cut them in half.
    1 Block Mozzarella Cheese

Make the gluten-free breading station.

  • In a small bowl, place the gluten-free flour.
    ½ Cup 1:1 Gluten-free Flour
  • In another small bowl, place the eggs, whisking them till mixed.
    2 Large Eggs
  • In a third bowl, combine the bread crumbs and the remaining spices.
    1 ½ Cups Gluten-free Breadcrumbs, ½ Teaspoon Salt, ¼ Teaspoon Pepper, ½ Teaspoon Parsley, ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Bread the mozzarella cheese.

  • Dip the pieces of mozzarella cheese into the flour.
  • Then dip the cheese into the egg wash.
  • Place the piece of cheese back into the flour and then back into the egg to get a double coat on the cheese.
  • After the double dip into the egg, coat the piece of cheese with the gluten-free bread crumbs.
  • Place the breaded mozzarella stick onto a baking sheet.
  • Repeat with the remaining pieces of cheese.

Freeze the mozzarella sticks.

  • Place the baking tray of breaded mozzarella into the freezer for about two hours.

Cook the gluten-free mozzarella sticks.

    Pan Fry

    • Warm a skillet with oil about two inches deep over medium heat. You want to warm the oil till it reaches 325-350 degrees.
    • Once your oil is hot, remove the cheese sticks from the freezer.
    • Carefully fry the cheese sticks a few at a time, turning as needed until the coating is nice and crispy, and the cheese feels soft to the touch.
    • Allow them to drain some paper towels slightly to remove any excess oil.

    Conventional Oven

    • Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
    • Bake the mozzarella sticks for about 15-18 minutes until the breading is set, and the cheese is soft.

    Ary Fryer

    • Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
    • Place the gluten-free mozzarella sticks into the airy fryer in a single layer.
    • Lightly spray them with oil.
    • Airy fry the mozzarella sticks for 8 minutes.
    • Rotate the mozzarella sticks and then fry for another 8 minutes.

    Serving

    • Serve with warm marinara for that real restaurant feeling and enjoy them!

    Notes

    Tips and tricks for the best mozzarella sticks.
    • Use string cheese sticks - Really, this is the super simple solution because they are already in shape without cutting a bunch of pieces. I just usually cut them in half to make them shorter and easier to work with.
    • Double or triple coat. - This isn't 100% necessary, but trust me, it does help keep the coating on the outside and the cheese on the inside while cooking them.
    • Keep hands separate when breading. - Keeping one hand in the wet and using the other for the dry breading will keep your hands from becoming coated.
    • Freeze - Do you have to freeze mozzarella sticks before cooking them? This might sound odd, but trust me. Freezing the mozzarella sticks before freezing them lets the gluten-free breading get crispy, and the cheese gets gooey without the cheese ending up oozing all over the place.
    • Watch the oil temperature if you are frying them - If you want that gentle cheese pull and perfect cheese texture, don't let your oil get overheated. I like to keep mine about 325-350 degrees. If the oil gets too hot, the breading will cook, but you'll be left with a typical string cheese texture inside, or the cheese will get overly heated and melt into the oil.
    Keyword gluten free appetizerss, gluten free breadding, gluten free mozzarella cheese, gluten free mozzarella sticks, gluten free party food, gluten free snacks

    If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #grainfreetable or @grainfreetable on Instagram. I’d love to see what you come up with!

    Check these out next!

    • Gluten-free Garlic Bread
    • Gluten-free Vanilla Cake
    • Easy Gluten-free French Bread
    • Super Soft Gluten-free Brioche Bread

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