I’m sure if someone did a survey on the most requested restaurant appetizers by kids, the answer would be mozzarella sticks, hands down. (It just might be the most requested appetizer by the adults in our family, too.)
You can make these coveted treats in your very own kitchen, and even better, you can bake them instead of fry them.
The key to mozzarella sticks is to prep them the day before you bake them so that you can freeze them overnight. Otherwise, you’ll end up eating baked pools of soupy cheese. Not as appetizing–trust me, I speak from experience.
You probably already have most of the ingredients in your fridge already!
Baked Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
Mozzarella String Cheese Sticks (pack of 12)
1/2 c. flour
1 c. bread crumbs
2 1/2 t. dried oregano
1 egg
1-2 T. milk
2 T. butter
1 c. marinara sauce
Instructions
Unwrap cheese sticks and cut them in half. Freeze for about 30 minutes. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
In the mean time, pour flour into a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. In a third shallow bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and the oregano.
After you take the cheese sticks out of the freezer, coat each stick in flour, then dip it in the egg mixture, and finally dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture.
Place the mozzarella sticks on the cookie sheet.
Place the cookie sheet with the prepped mozzarella sticks in the freezer overnight.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400. Drizzle the mozzarella sticks with 2T. melted butter. Bake the mozzarella sticks, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes until they are heated throughout.
**Watch them closely. Pull them out of the oven before they melt and flatten. You want them to cook long enough to brown the breadcrumbs, but not long enough for the cheese to completely melt.**
No mozzarella stick is complete without marinara sauce. Would you eat fries without ketchup?
I didn’t think so….
So, go ahead and dunk those mozzarella sticks in your favorite red sauce. Just make sure to leave some for the kids!