Onion-free Garlic-free

Baked Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara

Golden, crunchy mozzarella sticks with a gooey center, baked rather than fried and served with warm tomato marinara for dipping. A crowd-pleasing snack.

Prep
15 min
Cook
12 min
Total
27 min
Serves
6
Illustration of Baked Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara, drawn from its ingredients
Cook's note

Freezing the cheese is the secret to crunchy sticks that don’t burst. Double-coating makes a sturdier shell. Serve right away while the centers are stretchy.

Method

  1. Cut the string cheese sticks in half crosswise if you like shorter pieces. Freeze them on a plate for , until firm.

  2. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.

  3. Mix the panko, Parmesan, oregano, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Set up the flour in one dish and the beaten eggs in another.

  4. Roll each frozen stick in flour, then egg, then the panko mixture. Dip again in egg and panko for a thicker crust.

  5. Place on the baking sheet with space between them and spray generously with oil.

  6. Bake for , turning once, until the crust is golden. Do not overbake or the cheese will leak.

  7. Rest for , then serve hot with the warm marinara.

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Baked Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara
Step 1 of 7

Cut the string cheese sticks in half crosswise if you like shorter pieces. Freeze them on a plate for , until firm.

Step 2 of 7

Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.

Step 3 of 7

Mix the panko, Parmesan, oregano, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Set up the flour in one dish and the beaten eggs in another.

Step 4 of 7

Roll each frozen stick in flour, then egg, then the panko mixture. Dip again in egg and panko for a thicker crust.

Step 5 of 7

Place on the baking sheet with space between them and spray generously with oil.

Step 6 of 7

Bake for , turning once, until the crust is golden. Do not overbake or the cheese will leak.

Step 7 of 7

Rest for , then serve hot with the warm marinara.

All done

Dig in.

Nice work. Log it, and next time you'll see when you last made it.

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