Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks (Deep Fried & Air Fryer Options)

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When you’re gluten free, finding easy gluten free appetizer recipes isn’t always easy. So, if you’re missing your favorite apps, why not try making a GF option at home? With this simple recipe for gluten free mozzarella sticks, you can learn how to make your own gooey cheese sticks without the gluten. And the best part is that you can make them in your air fryer or deep fry them right at home!

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Making your own mozzarella sticks at home is pretty easy. And whether you plan to deep fry them or use your air fryer, there are a few simple steps you’ll need to take before you can start cooking. Keep reading to get my simple gluten free mozzarella sticks recipe and some tips and tricks for getting cheese sticks with a melty inside and crispy outside.

And while this simple recipe is gluten free, there’s no reason you can’t make them the traditional way. If you want to make regular air fryer mozzarella sticks, just swap out the gluten free flour for all-purpose flour and the gluten free breadcrumbs for traditional panko breadcrumbs.

Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

My favorite way to prepare this easy appetizer recipe is in the air fryer. That’s brecause it still gives you a nice, crispy crust without the mess of oil! So, if you’re wondering how to air fry mozzarella sticks, read this simple tutorial for all the tips and tricks you’ll need for a delicious fried appetizer at home.

Whether you’re cooking your gluten-free mozzarella sticks in the air fryer or deep frying them, you’ll need to gather up the same ingredients. To make these fried cheese sticks at home, you’ll need:

• String cheese. The key to getting the right consistency for the inside of your cheese sticks is to use full-fat string cheese. Reduced fat cheese doesn’t melt the same, making it more rubbery when it’s cooked.
• Eggs and milk. To get your flour and breadcrumbs to stick to the string cheese, you’ll need a binding ingredient. I typically combine milk and egg to create a wash for the other ingredients to stick to. But if you’re hoping to make this recipe dairy-free, simply leave the milk out and use only eggs.
• Gluten free flour. This recipe uses two different coatings to keep the cheese from melting out of the cheese sticks as they cook. The first coating is flour. My favorite gluten free flour is Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten free baking flour. I use it for everything I make gluten free, whether I’m baking or not!
• Gluten free breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning. To give the mozzarella sticks crunch and flavor, combine your favorite gluten free breadcrumbs with some Italian seasoning. You can also used Italian breadcrumbs if you’re able to find them in your grocery store. I used 4C gluten free bread crumbs. They have a nice panko-like texture that’s perfect for adding crunch to your gluten free mozzarella sticks as you fry them in the air fryer.

In addition to your mozzarella sticks, you’ll also need one additional ingredient — oil. But the type of oil you use will depend on your method of cooking. If you’re using your air fryer to cook the cheese sticks, nonstick cooking spray is a good option. But if you plan on deep frying your mozzarella sticks, you’ll need a bottle of vegetable or canola oil to fry the sticks.

What String Cheese is Gluten Free?

If you’re wondering is string cheese gluten free — it is! Just take a look at the ingredients on most string cheese brands, and you’ll see that the majority of string cheese options are naturally gluten free.

The only issue you may run into is if the string cheese is manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat-containing ingredients. In that case, you run the risk of possible cross-contamination. That’s why it’s a good idea to check the label of your string cheese to make sure it does not contain wheat.

Luckily, there are a few string cheese brands that are labeled as gluten free, making them an easy choice for your gluten free mozzarella sticks! These string cheese brands are always gluten free:

• Frigo Cheese Heads
• Sargento
• Crystal Farms
• Kraft
• Great Value
• Organic Valley

How to Make Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

Once you have your ingredients gathered up, you can start prepping your mozzarella sticks. Follow these simple instructions to make this quick and easy gluten free appetizer for your next get-together.

Before you can start coating your mozzarella sticks in breading, you’ll need to take a few minutes to prepare all your ingredients. Start by whisking together the eggs and milk. Add some salt and pepper to the bowl to give your dredge a little more flavor.

Next, spread the gluten free flour out on a plate or in a shallow bowl. I like using a plate for this layer of the coating because it makes it easy to roll the cheese in the flour without it getting stuck on the sides of the bowl.

In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning. If you’re able to find Italian style gluten free breadcrumbs, you can cut down on your prep time and simply pour the seasoned breadcrumbs directly in the bowl.

Now that you have all your coating ingredients separated and ready to go, you can start dipping! Place one string cheese stick in the egg wash mixture and roll it around until it’s fully covered.

Once the cheese stick is covered in egg mixture, move it to the plate with the flour. Roll the cheese stick around in the flour until all sides are covered, including the ends of the stick. Then, dip the coated cheese stick back in the egg mixture.

Once the cheese stick is covered in egg wash, move it over the the bowl with the breadcrumbs. As you roll the stick in the breadcrumbs, lightly press the cheese into the gluten free breadcrumbs to help them stick. Continue rolling until all sides and ends are fully covered.

Transfer the coated cheese sticks to a lined baking sheet or plate. Once you have all your string cheese covered in breadcrumbs, place the pan in the freezer and freeze them for at least one hour. It’s important that you do not skip this step!

Giving the mozzarella sticks time to freeze will help keep the cheese from melting while the coating is cooking. If you don’t freeze the mozzarella sticks before you fry them, they will explode and make a cheesy mess!

How to Make Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer

You can prepare your gluten free mozzarella sticks in two different ways: in the air fryer or deep frying. Either way, you have to freeze the cheese sticks before they can be cooked. But once your cheese sticks are nice and frozen, you can take them out of the freezer and cook them.

If you’re going to be cooking your gluten free mozzarella sticks in the air fryer, start by preheating your air fryer to 375 degrees. While you’re waiting for your air fryer to preheat, spray all sides of the cheese sticks with nonstick cooking spray.

When the air fryer has heated, place the coated cheese sticks in the basket or tray of your air fryer and cook them for six minutes. Halfway through the cook time, carefully flip the mozzarella sticks for even cooking.

After the cook time is up, remove the basket from the air fryer and allow the sticks to rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving with marinara sauce for dipping.

How to Make Deep Fried Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

In addition to cooking your gluten free cheese sticks in the air fryer, you can also deep fry them in oil. Since this is the traditional way of preparing mozzarella sticks, it’s a great way to get that classic restaurant flavor at home.

To make your gluten free mozzarella sticks with oil, start by adding at least one inch of oil to a large pan. Cook the oil over medium heat until it’s hot. To test the temperature of the oil, try adding a small pinch of breadcrumbs to the pan. If they bubble and float to the top, the oil is hot enough. If not, allow the oil to heat for a little longer before cooking your cheese sticks.

When the oil is hot, carefully add your frozen cheese sticks to the pan, making sure not to overcrowd the pan as you’re cooking the appetizers. Cook the cheese sticks for 4 to 5 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese sticks begin to float on the top of the oil.

Transfer the cooked cheese sticks to a paper towel lined plate to help drain any excess oil, then serve them with some marinara sauce for dipping.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes:

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Easy 4-Ingredient Gluten Free Pickle Appetizers

Chip and Quacamole Bites

Charcuterie Mason Jar Appetizers

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