Cheesy Mozzarella Sticks (Printable Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese

01 - One pound of mozzarella sticks

→ Dry Items

02 - One cup Italian spiced breadcrumbs
03 - Half a teaspoon black pepper
04 - One teaspoon salt
05 - One teaspoon dried oregano
06 - One cup plain flour
07 - One teaspoon onion powder
08 - One teaspoon garlic powder

→ Wet Stuff

09 - Two big eggs

→ Extras

10 - Vegetable oil to fry
11 - Marinara sauce for dipping

# How to Make It:

01 - Cut mozzarella block into sticks about 3 to 4 inches long and half an inch thick or just take sticks out of package. Lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
02 - Put the cheese sticks in the freezer for about half an hour to firm up before coating.
03 - Set up three shallow dishes: flour in one, beaten eggs in the next, and a mix of Italian seasoned crumbs with garlic, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper in the last.
04 - Dredge each chilled stick first in flour, then dip in egg, and finally cover with breadcrumb mix. For crunchier sticks, do this twice.
05 - Heat vegetable oil in a pan or pot on medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 Celsius).
06 - Fry the breaded sticks a few at a time. Cook each side 1 to 2 minutes until they’re nicely browned and crisp.
07 - Lift the fried sticks from oil with a slotted spoon and set them on paper towels to soak up extra oil.
08 - Bring the sticks out warm with marinara sauce for dipping. You can sprinkle some extra oregano or parsley on top if you like.

# Additional Tips:

01 - Keep oil at 350 degrees so cheese doesn’t melt too soon. For a lighter option, bake instead of fry. You can freeze breaded sticks ahead and fry them later when you want.