Gluten-free mozzarella sticks are breaded in a garlicky gluten-free breadcrumb mixture and then baked instead of fried, either in the oven or air fryer, creating a delicious healthy baked gluten-free version of an old snack favorite. We call this recipe a game-changer friends!
Table of Contents
Easy Gluten-Free Cheese Sticks:
Oh lawdy lawdy do I have a game changer for you today! I can't even. I just can't. I can't even talk about anything else except this recipe, so here goes....
So once upon a time, there lived a girl who had one big craving for mozzarella sticks.
Prob was, was that she couldn't eat restaurant or grocery store types (#GlutenFreeProblems).
Whomp whomp. That is, until she tried making them herself!
So she tried making her own... she was moving right along.... until that ingredient called 'bread crumbs' became an issue.
The texture and consistency just wasn't right.
So she changed the recipe over and over again, and good mighty... the final recipe was delicious.
She loved that garlicky hint that the seasoned breadcrumbs gave off in every bite...but she longed for more.
So she added some marinara sauce as a finish.... and her work was complete... a complete game-changer was made.
The end. Story complete.
Mozzarella Ingredient List:
- 6 mozzarella sticks, cut in half and frozen
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ¾ cup gluten-free flour
- ¾ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- gluten-free marinara sauce for dipping (optional)
Ingredient Suggestions:
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My biggest suggestion here is for the breadcrumbs. Not all gluten-free breadcrumbs are created equal. I repeat - NOT equal!
I would HIGHLY recommend either making a batch of your own homemade (I will add, very easy to make) breadcrumbs that will give you way more bang for your buck and taste waaaaay better, OR.... purchase store-bought gluten-free breadcrumbs with the Italian Seasoning option.
No matter if you go with the first homemade or the second store-purchased option, you will still benefit from adding in the addition Italian seasoning that the recipe calls for.
You won't regret it!
Easy Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400*F or preheat your air fryer to 360*F. Place the beaten eggs in one mixing bowl, the breadcrumbs in a second mixing bowl, and the flour, italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt, mixed well, into another.
- Remove the cheese sticks from the freezer. One at a time, dip each mozzarella stick into the bowl with the flour, then into the bowl with the egg, then back for a second round in the flour bowl, and then the egg bowl, making sure to coat all sides with each dip. Lastly, dip the mozzarella stick into the bowl with the breadcrumbs, pressing the breadcrumbs gently into the sides of the stick to make the crumbs stick.
- Place each breaded cheese stick back into the freezer for 30 minutes. To cook in the oven: Spread the re-frozen mozzarella sticks out evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 4-6 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and browning around the edges. You may want to flip your sticks halfway through the baking process. To cook in the Air Fryer: Spread the re-frozen mozzarella sticks out evenly in the bottom of the air fryer basket and fry for 4-5 minutes, flipping once in the middle of cooking.
- Allow ample time to cool down before inhaling them all. Enjoy them with dipped in marinara sauce!
Recipe Pairings:
I mean - besides the marinara sauce to dip these treasures in???
Yeah, okay - try one of these suggestions:
Roasted Sriracha Cream Broccoli
Recipe Pro Tips:
It is best that you cook or air fry these mozzarella sticks when they are extremely cold and frozen so that when they are in the hot oven or air fryer, they don't turn into a puddle of warm delicious cheese, but instead retaining that awesome cheese stick form!
What Air Fryer To Use?
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I absolutely love my air fryer. No, I’m not getting paid to say this. I highly recommend you check out OMORC’s selection of air fryers.
I have the OMORC 6 Quart Air Fryer. You will find now a newer version of this Air Fryer.
It’s big enough to definitely feed a family of 4+. Some air fryers are so small that you can barely make enough of something to fill a coffee cup up with.
I love that the parts that need to be washed are dishwasher safe, so clean up is so incredibly easy! It’s a HUGE perk of this thing.
It’s got a pretty simple yet convenient touchscreen that allows you to not only easily set your temperature and time, but there are other functions like the “keep warm” button that can come in really handy
I also have the Ninja Foodi Grill.
It indoor grills, roasts, bakes, dehydrates, and AIR FRIES!
Before you ask - but can it really do all those things well - let me tell you the honest truth... it sure does!
I have tried all of its functions besides dehydrate (but can't wait to play around with the dehydrator function!) and they all work extremely well.
This small appliance combo is great for smaller kitchens with not alot of counter space that needs the ability to have multiple small appliances all in one machine!
Other Popular Gluten-Free Appetizers:
Gluten-Free Fried Green Tomatoes
Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
Gluten-free mozzarella sticks are breaded in a garlicky gluten-free breadcrumb mixture and then baked instead of fried, either in the oven or air fryer, creating a delicious healthy baked gluten-free version of an old snack favorite.
Ingredients
- 6 mozzarella sticks, cut in half and frozen
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ¾ cup gluten-free flour
- 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- gluten-free marinara sauce for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400*F or preheat your air fryer to 360*F. Place the beaten eggs in one mixing bowl, the breadcrumbs in a second mixing bowl, and the flour, italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt, mixed well, into another.
- Remove the cheese sticks from the freezer. One at a time, dip each mozzarella stick into the bowl with the flour, then into the bowl with the egg, then back for a second round in the flour bowl, and then the egg bowl, making sure to coat all sides with each dip. Lastly, dip the mozzarella stick into the bowl with the breadcrumbs, pressing the breadcrumbs gently into the sides of the stick to make the crumbs stick.
- Place each breaded cheese stick back into the freezer for 30 minutes. To cook in the oven: Spread the mozzarella sticks out evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 4-6 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and browning around the edges. You may want to flip your sticks halfway through the baking process. To cook in the Air Fryer: Spread the mozzarella sticks out evenly in the bottom of the air fryer basket and fry for 4-5 minutes, flipping once in the middle of cooking.
- Allow ample time to cool down before inhaling them all. Enjoy them with dipped in marinara sauce!
Notes
It is best that you cook or air fry these mozzarella sticks when they are extremely cold and frozen so that when they are in the hot oven or air fryer, they don't turn into a puddle of warm delicious cheese, but instead retaining that awesome cheese stick form!
If you make my Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks, let me know in the comments! Enjoy enjoy enjoy!
Also- be sure to follow me on Instagram and hashtag #BlessHerHeartYall or tag @BlessHerHeartYall – I love seeing and hearing the delicious things you make!
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This post was first published on September 4, 2015 and last updated on June 5, 2020.
My husband will be going crazy for these...fantastic!
My family went too crazy with these! They didn't leave any for me! Hope your Hubs like them as much as my fam did!! 🙂