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This gluten-free mozzarella sticks recipe will be your favorite for fun family dinners, salty snack cravings, and game day appetizers!
I grew up in a family where certain “junk” food had a hallowed place in our routines and daily lives. Brownies for Sunday morning breakfast, coke floats and popcorn for movies, and then frozen appetizers while we watched TGIF shows on the living room floor. Because of that, I’m extremely picky about some things… And that’s exactly how this gluten-free mozzarella stick recipe came about!
Switching to a gluten-free lifestyle, then needing to live a keto lifestyle for a while sent my comforting cravings into a tizzy. I tested every type of flour, every gluten-free breadcrumb, and every cooking method. After all my experimentation, I can proudly say that this unexpected breading combination is the absolute BEST. The breading stays on well, it only takes 5 minutes to cook, and it gets so beautifully crispy, it makes me want to cry. Skip Sonic and the freezer aisle, you’ve got a new favorite cheese stick recipe right here!
Why you will love this cheese stick recipe:
- It’s simple and flexible. You only need a handful of ingredients, and the seasonings can easily be adjusted or substituted based on your personal preference. If you don’t have an air fryer, all you need is a skillet on the stove!
- It’s gluten-free and low-carb. So many gluten-free flours fail to crisp up as much as I like, but the pork panko fixes this issue entirely! The panko is also low-carb & keto friendly, making these great for those watching their carbs!
- It’s meal prep friendly! Because these need to set in the freezer for the breading to stick and the cheese to hold up, these are perfect for adding to your meal prep day. Bread 2-3 batches, store in the freezer, then have ready-to-cook gluten-free mozzarella sticks any time you have a craving!
Gluten Free Cheese Sticks Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you will need for the crunchiest gluten-free cheese sticks ever. Scroll to the printable recipe at the bottom of the page for exact measurements.
- Mozzarella sticks – For the stretchiest pull, you want those one-ounce string cheese mozzarella sticks that tend to be pre-packaged. You could also cut up a block of cheese into the correct size, but they come out gooey more than stretchy. Both delicious, it just depends on your preference!
- Eggs, Almond Flour, and Pork Rind Panko – This combination creates the crispy breading. If you have gluten-free panko breadcrumbs and do not care for these to be low-carb, you can use those in place of the crushed pork rinds.
- Garlic Salt, Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder, Parsley – This all purpose blend just adds a little flavor without overpowering the cheese. Feel free to replace this with ranch, taco seasoning, or your favorite mix.
- Cooking oil – This helps prevent the cheese sticks from getting stuck to the air fryer and promotes more browning for a crispy crust.
- Optional: Marinara sauce for dipping
How to Make Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
- Prep your breading ingredients in three separate bowls.
- Bowl 1: Add the almond flour, garlic powder and garlic salt, stir well.
- Bowl 2: Crack the eggs in the second bowl, beat well.
- Bowl 3: Add the pork panko, parsley and Italian seasoning, stir well.
- Slice your cheese sticks in half (they cook more evenly when they are 2-3 inches long). Roll the halved string cheese in the almond flour mixture, then the egg, and finally the pork rind panko.
- Place each breaded cheesestick on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Freeze at least 2 hours. This helps ensure that the cheese won’t melt before the breading cooks enough to keep it enclosed.
- Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F. Add the frozen cheesesticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Cook 5 minutes.
What to Serve with Cheese Sticks
We love this cheesy, crunchy snack with a side of marinara or yummy Avocado Crema for a zesty twist. It also goes great as a side with hot dogs, turkey burgers, or air fry salmon bites! These Keto Fries make another excellent snack to enjoy on a keto junk food night.
Storage Instructions
These cheese sticks are best served fresh, right out of the air fryer! If you have leftovers, though, you can allow those to cool before storing in an airtight container in the fridge. These should last 3-4 days and can be reheated in the oven (350 degrees, 5-10 minutes) or air fryer (325 for 2-3 minutes).
Mozzarella Sticks FAQs
You certainly can. In fact, mozzarella sticks happen to be one of the easiest appetizers to make keto. Simply switch regular flour and breadcrumbs with keto-friendly substitutes like almond flour and pork rind panko.
Definitely! Instead of using an air fryer you can cook these in oil like you might get at a restaurant. Simply add enough oil to cover 2 inches of a small pot to medium heat. Cook 2-3 cheese sticks at a time, using tongs to rotate. Cook 3-4 minutes until the outside has browned. When cooked through, remove and rest on a paper towel lined plate.
Yes, you can cover the mozzarella sticks in the breading and freeze on a baking sheet for 2-3 hours, then store in a freezer-safe container up to 3 months. When ready to eat, cook from frozen following the air frying instructions. You may need to add an additional minute or so since they will be frozen through.
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Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 mozzarella sticks, sliced in half
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups pork rind panko
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Prep your three bowls as follows:Bowl 1: Add the almond flour, garlic powder and garlic salt, stir well.Bowl 2: Add the eggs, beat well.Bowl 3: Add the pork rind panko, parsley and Italian seasoning, stir well.
- Slice the cheese sticks in half.
- To prepare the cheese sticks roll in the almond flour mixture, then the egg, and finally the pork rind panko. TIP: Use your fingers to press the mixture tightly to the cheese. Make sure each cheese stick is covered completely. You can dip it in the egg and back into the pork rind panko mixture if you need to cover them better.
- Place each breaded cheesestick on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Freeze at least 2 hours.
- Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F. Add the frozen cheesesticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Cook 5 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
