Who doesn’t love Mozzarella Sticks?! Well, now you have delicious homemade Keto Mozzarella Sticks which are also gluten-free, that you can make at a moment’s notice that everyone will love!
When I would see mozzarella sticks on the menu at a restaurant they were always a go-to choice for me. I mean you can’t go wrong with breaded gooey cheese dipped in marinara right?
If you have missed them as much as I have, you are going to love our low carb homemade mozzarella sticks. One of the best things about them is that you can make a big batch, keep them in the freezer and pop them into the oven when you are in the mood for a snack.
What Are Mozzarella Sticks?
Mozzarella sticks are an all-time classic deep-fried appetizer. They are long slices of mozzarella cheese that are coated in seasoned bread crumbs, then fried until golden brown and the cheese is melted inside. Dipping them in marinara sauce is the perfect addition.
They became popular in the 1970s and 1980s in sports bars, bowling alleys and other hang out spots. When people realized how delicious fried cheese was, the recipe spread around the country and became a classic appetizer that is beloved by so many.
Are Cheese Sticks and Mozzarella Sticks the Same?
You may have heard of mozzarella sticks being called cheese sticks and vice versa. The truth is there is no real difference between them and they are the same thing and can be used universally.
They both are blocks of cheese, covered in egg and some kind of breading and then either fried or baked. And they both are delicious!!
Are Mozzarella Sticks Italian?
You might think that mozzarella sticks originate from Italy because it’s mozzarella cheese dipped into a marinara sauce, but that’s not true. They are actually believed to date back to a recipe from France. Apparently, the original recipe wouldn’t really look like mozzarella sticks like we are used to, but the ingredients and instructions are linked.
Can I Eat Mozzarella Sticks on Keto?
Normally eating mozzarella sticks would be a big no-no, but thankfully with this low carb version, you can now have one of your favorite foods back in your life.
Diary is perfectly acceptable on the keto diet, try to choose organic grass-fed milk and cheese products when possible. While on keto avoid cheese and dairy that is marked “low-fat” or “fat-free” due to the fact that they are processed and when sticking to keto your body needs fat from the cheese or milk.
Because these homemade low carb cheese sticks are dipped in egg and then coated in almond flour and coconut flour makes them completely keto-friendly.
How Many Carbs in Mozzarella Sticks?
One of the best things about these low carb mozzarella sticks is that they are only 1.4 NET Carbs per stick!
Now keep in mind, that doesn’t include any dipping sauces. So if you are going to dip your cheese sticks into marinara, then make sure to add in your macros accordingly.
What Ingredients are in Keto Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella Cheese – Obviously the most important ingredient. You can’t have mozzarella sticks without the mozzarella cheese. I use a regular block of whole milk mozzarella and cut it into sticks. But you can also use string cheese if you have that on hand as it makes it slightly easier.
Almond Flour – Rather than using breadcrumbs almond flour makes a good replacement.
Coconut Flour – I just added a very small amount of coconut flour to the mixture, and I liked the consistency with both flours.
Eggs – Using eggs is super important because it’s what will make the flour mixture into actually stick to the cheese.
Heavy Cream – This isn’t an absolutely necessary ingredient, but I chose to mix it with the eggs to make it a little more creamy.
Parmesan Cheese – Adding some grated parmesan cheese to the flours not only makes the batter thicker but normal Italian style breadcrumbs always have some grated cheese in it. So why not add some to ours?
Italian Seasoning – This is what gives your mozzarella sticks that classic pizzeria flavor that we all know and love.
Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder – I like to add these spices just to give it some extra flavor. You don’t need a lot, but just a little to spice it up a bit more.
What is the Best Cheese for Cheese Sticks?
So I chose to use a block of whole milk mozzarella and cut it into sticks. I like the way it came out, and it’s the way I used to make homemade mozzarella sticks in the past. But unless you buy the block on sale it is rather expensive.
But another option for making your keto mozzarella sticks to use string cheese. You can take advantage of the fact that it’s already perfectly portioned sticks and all ready to be breaded and fried. At times it can also be better for melting and pulls apart perfectly!
No matter which cheese you chose to use, they will come out delicious. You can’t go wrong with cheese breaded and fried, it’s making me hungry as we speak!
Olive Oil vs. Coconut Oil
Both options are keto-friendly and can be used. I tend to use olive oil as my first choice, but coconut oil works well too and has its own advantages.
Coconut oil is considered to be a good fat and is easily digested. I find that when using coconut oil it’s best to use refined coconut oil instead of extra virgin. The main reason is that refined doesn’t have a coconut flavor, it’s neutral which makes it great for cooking and baking.
Olive oil is a healthy oil and has many health benefits. But make sure you are buying the right kind of olive oil is very important.
Always be sure to get extra virgin olive oil, it’s considered to be healthier than other varieties of oil. Read the labels to make sure your extra virgin oil isn’t diluted with other refined oils, some brands try to pass off frauds.
Whichever one you choose, your Keto mozzarella cheese sticks will come out great!
How to Make Homemade Keto Mozzarella Sticks
Making your own homemade low carb mozzarella sticks are a lot easier than you would think. Just follow these instructions to get them to come out perfectly:
Start by cutting your mozzarella into sticks. In an 8oz block of whole milk mozzarella, you should get 12 sticks.
In a small bowl whisk 2 eggs and 2 tbsp of heavy cream together.
Set the cheese sticks and egg aside and now let’s make our breading.
The Breading
In a bowl combine the almond flour, coconut flour, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir all the ingredients well.
Take one cheese stick and dip into the egg mixture.
Transfer to flour mixture and coat well.
Redip into the egg mixture, and then coat again with the almond flour.
Place onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and put into the freezer for at least an hour.
Frying Them
- In a frying pan or small saucepan add your oil and turn heat onto medium-high.
- Once the oil has been heated, add in your cheese sticks. I would only put in 3-5 at a time, you don’t want to overcrowd them. If the mozzarella stick is completely immersed in the oil then it should take about 2-3 minutes. If the mozzarella stick isn’t totally immersed in the oil, then after about 1 ½ minute flip the sticks over and cook for another 1 ½ minute.
- Transfer to a plate and finish cooking the rest of the cheese sticks.
Tips for Making the Best Mozzarella Sticks
- Double breading the mozzarella sticks is a key step to making great mozzarella sticks.
- Freezing them before frying them will prevent the cheese from melting through. Freeze for at least an hour, but you can keep them in there longer if you want.
- Getting the right temperature. You don’t want it too high otherwise the outside will burn without the inside melting. It depends on your stove, but I keep mine on medium high heat.
- You can make them ahead of time and keep them in the freezer until ready to cook. The nice thing is you can put them directly from the freezer into the frying pan or into the oven.
Different Variations of Mozzarella Sticks
There are a few ways you can change up this recipe:
- Use string cheese instead of a whole block of mozzarella.
- If you have a nut allergy then replace the almond flour with only coconut flour.
- They can be baked, air-fried, or pan-fried.
Do I Have to Fry Them?
There are a few different ways to cook your homemade mozzarella sticks. Personally, my favorite way is to pan-fry them in olive oil or coconut oil, I just really love certain things fried but sometimes I don’t like doing the actual frying, so when that’s the case I know I have other options.
Just remember though that an important step is to freeze the mozzarella sticks them before cooking them.
Baking – Bake them at 400 degrees for only about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them, because they might need to be turned in order to get them browned on all sides. Keep in mind though that they may not get as brown and crispy as they would if they were fried.
Air Fryer – Place the mozzarella sticks at the bottom of the air fryer basket. Air fry on 400 degrees for about 5 minutes or so. If they aren’t crispy enough, set the timer for another 5 minutes.
Pan Frying – Turn the stovetop burner onto about medium-high heat. Wait until the oil is hot then add your cheese sticks. Fry for about 1-2 minutes on each side. Be careful not to keep them in the pan too long, otherwise, the cheese will start to ooze out. If your oil is too hot, then the outside will get too crispy without the cheese melting on the inside.
Other Diets This Recipe is Good for
So we all know that regular breadcrumbs and even gluten-free breadcrumbs are a big no-no while eating low carb and on keto. But that’s ok because my almond and coconut flour coating is not only low carb but is great for those with allergies.
Gluten-Free – For starters, it’s completely gluten-free. When you’re at a restaurant or even looking for frozen mozzarella sticks in the grocery store, it’s a huge challenge to find them gluten-free. But this recipe is perfect for anyone who can’t eat gluten.
Making them Nut-Free – Seeing that this recipe is made with mostly almond flour it doesn’t make them nut-free. But if you have a nut allergy then simply omit the almond flour and just use coconut flour. Now the problem is solved and you will have gluten-free and nut-free homemade mozzarella sticks.
What Can I Serve with Mozzarella Sticks?
These keto mozzarella sticks are so good on their own, but they make a great appetizer at your next dinner party. Seeing that this is football season, this recipe is perfect for game day!
If you are looking for some other good game day recipes to make with your homemade mozzarella sticks, try some of these:
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Low Carb Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
- Mango Salsa
- Keto Deviled Eggs
- Grilled Stuffed Peppers
- Keto Tzatziki Sauce
- Homemade Salsa
- Low Carb Tortilla Chips
How to Store Low Carb Mozzarella Sticks
Let’s be honest, mozzarella sticks are the best when eaten right away. They don’t really store too well. But if you really want to save some leftovers, put them in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. They will only last a couple of days, but I doubt you will be able to resist that long anyway!
Can I Make Them Ahead and Freeze Them?
Yes!! Actually, the best thing about this recipe is that you can make them ahead of time and then freeze them.
Double coat each cheese stick then place them in the freezer. Pull them out whenever ready to cook. They can stay in a freezer bag for a couple of weeks.
How to Reheat Cheese Sticks
If you end up having leftovers, when ready to reheat, place them in the oven at 350 degrees. It should only take a few minutes to reheat.
Low Carb Appetizer Recipes:
If you’re in the mood for some other Keto-friendly Appetizers, check out our:
All of them are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will have your friends raving!
Keto Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Recipe – Cheesy and Gooey
- Total Time: 75 minutes
- Yield: 12 Sticks (1 per Serving) 1x
Description
Delicious homemade Gluten-Free Keto Mozzarella Sticks that you can make at a moment’s notice that everyone will love!
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese – cut into 12 sticks
Instructions
- Cut your 8 oz mozzarella block into 12 sticks.
- In a small bowl, whisk 2 eggs with 2 tbsp heavy cream.
- In another bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir all the ingredients together.
- Dredge the mozzarella sticks into the egg mixture, then coat in the flour mixture.
- Apply another coat of egg mixture, then flour mixture. Coating each stick 2 times is key.
- Place mozzarella sticks onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least an hour.
- In a frying pan or a small saucepan add oil and turn onto medium-high heat. Add mozzarella sticks in batches of 3-5 sticks at a time. Cook for about 2-3 minutes turning over once or twice until they are golden brown.
Notes
1.4 NET CARBS PER MOZZARELLA STICK
You can use string cheese instead of a block of mozzarella
Ways to cook them include pan-frying, baking, and air frying
Double breading the mozzarella sticks is key, don’t skip this step
Freezing them before frying them is also very important, it will help prevent the cheese from melting through
If frying, don’t get the oil too high otherwise they will burn without the cheese melting inside.
Mozzarella sticks can be made ahead of time and frozen, make sure to freeze before cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes + 1 hour freeze time
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Catherine
Wednesday 30th of August 2023
If you bake the cheese sticks, what temperature do you set oven and how long do you bake them?
Leigh Oskwarek
Thursday 31st of August 2023
Catherine, We fry them, but you can bake them if you prefer. I would try a high temperature in the oven, like about 400 degrees. Try them for about 6-10 minutes, checking them every 2 minutes or so. It will depend on how hot your oven is. The main thing is to take them out before all of the cheese oozes out.
Chandra
Friday 22nd of January 2021
Make sure to freeze before cooking? Did you mean make sure to thaw before cooking?
Leigh Oskwarek
Friday 22nd of January 2021
Hi Chandra, Yes, you should freeze the mozzarella sticks before cooking them and that way they will hold together better when they are put into the hot oil. That way the breading on the outside cooks well before the cheese would have time to melt. Just like if you were to buy frozen mozzarella sticks in the store. You would take them from the freezer and immediately cook them.