Get ready for Keto Mozzarella Sticks, a lip-smacking, keto-friendly appetizer that won't derail your keto journey. These golden and crispy sticks reveal a molten, melted mozzarella center that's pure decadence. Let's dive into this delightful recipe!
Jump to:
- Preparation and cooking overview
- Chef's note
- 🧀 Ingredients for this keto mozzarella sticks recipe
- Ingredient substitutions
- Additional ingredients
- Cooking tools required
- Tool substitutes list
- How to make Keto Mozzarella Sticks: step-by-step guide
- Cooking methods
- Preparation steps
- Cooking instructions
- What to serve with mozzarella sticks?
- How to make it healthier?
- Time-saving tips
- Storage and reheating instructions
- Recipe wrap-up and conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
- 📖 Recipe
Preparation and cooking overview
Prepare these Keto Mozzarella Sticks effortlessly! Cut mozzarella cheese lengthwise, dip in egg wash, and roll in coconut flour. Repeat the egg wash and coat generously with pork rind crumbs, almond flour, and seasonings. Freeze for 2 hours, then deep-fry the frozen cheese stick for a cheesy, golden-brown treat!
Chef's note
For an exciting twist, add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to the coating mixture for a smoky and spicy flavor. And if you're feeling adventurous, why not add some finely chopped herbs or spices to the coating mixture for an extra burst of flavor? The possibilities are endless!
🧀 Ingredients for this keto mozzarella sticks recipe
Let's make these delicious mozzarella sticks with the following ingredients:
Ingredient substitutions
No worries if you're missing an ingredient or not a fan of some items in the recipe! We've got fantastic keto-friendly ingredient substitutions!
Additional ingredients
Increase the flavor profile of these keto mozzarella cheese sticks with the following optional ingredients:
Cooking tools required
To make this Keto Cheese Sticks recipe, you will need the following tools:
Tool substitutes list
How to make Keto Mozzarella Sticks: step-by-step guide
Cooking methods
Preparation steps
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Crush pork rinds to make crumbs.
- Chop parsley and basil.
Cooking instructions
Preparing the keto cheese sticks
- Cut the string cheese in half crosswise.
- Prepare three bowls: one with whisked eggs and cream, one with coconut flour, and one with the remaining ingredients of pork rinds, almond flour, and seasonings. (Ensure you double bread the cheese sticks to prevent them from bursting in the hot oil.)
- Dunk each piece of cheese in the egg wash, then coat it with coconut flour. Dunk it back in the egg wash, then coat it with the pork rind crumb mixture.
- Place the coated cheese sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze the coated cheese sticks for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, until they are firm.
Frying the keto cheese sticks
- When you're ready to fry, heat avocado oil in a 10" or larger cast iron skillet.
- Ensure there's enough oil to be about 2 inches deep in the skillet. Before frying the cheese sticks, the oil should reach 375°F (190°C).
- Once the oil is at the proper temperature, add the cheese sticks in small batches to avoid reducing the oil's temperature too quickly. Maintain the oil temperature between 350°F - 375°F (175°C - 190°C) throughout the frying process.
- Fry the cheese sticks for about 3 minutes, ensuring all sides are crispy and golden brown. Work quickly to prevent the cheese inside from overheating and possibly leaking out.
- Once fried, transfer the cheese sticks to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess grease.
- Allow the oil temperature to return to 375°F (190°C) before frying the next batch.
- Optionally, garnish the cheese sticks with basil or parsley. Serve with marinara, ranch, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Chef's pro tip
Avoid frying the cheese sticks at a lower temperature to ensure restaurant-style mozzarella sticks. When the oil isn't hot enough, the cheese inside may melt and burst out. To prevent this, ensure the oil reaches the recommended temperature of 375°F (190°C) before adding the cheese sticks. Use a kitchen thermometer to monitor the oil's temperature accurately.
What to serve with mozzarella sticks?
These perfect appetizers are incredibly versatile, and you can serve them alongside a variety of foods. Here are a few mouthwatering suggestions to elevate your experience:
How to make it healthier?
Time-saving tips
Storage and reheating instructions
Storage tips
Reheating best practices
Recipe wrap-up and conclusion
Our Keto Mozzarella Sticks are a delightful low-carb alternative to the classic appetizer. They offer the same satisfaction as traditional mozzarella sticks without compromising your ketogenic lifestyle. By following simple instructions, you can easily prepare them at home.
Looking for some delicious keto-friendly appetizers? We got some super cool recipes for you to try out:
Click HERE for other Keto recipes for snacks and appetizers you should check out.
Frequently asked questions
📖 Recipe
Keto Cheese Sticks
Ingredients
- 6 mozzarella sticks cut in half crosswise
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ⅓ cup pork rind crumbs
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Avocado oil for frying about ½ cup
- Parsley and basil for garnish optional
- Marinara sauce or ranch for dipping optional
Instructions
Preparing the keto cheese sticks
- Cut the string cheese in half crosswise.
- Prepare three bowls: one with whisked eggs and cream, one with coconut flour, and one with the remaining ingredients of pork rinds, almond flour, and seasonings. (Ensure you double bread the cheese sticks to prevent them from bursting in the hot oil.)
- Dunk each piece of cheese in the egg wash, then coat it with coconut flour. Dunk it back in the egg wash, then coat it with the pork rind crumb mixture.
- Place the coated cheese sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze the coated cheese sticks for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, until they are firm.
Frying the keto cheese sticks
- When you're ready to fry, heat avocado oil in a 10" or larger cast iron skillet.
- Ensure there's enough oil to be about 2 inches deep in the skillet. Before frying the cheese sticks, the oil should reach 375°F (190°C).
- Once the oil is at the proper temperature, add the cheese sticks in small batches to avoid reducing the oil's temperature too quickly. Maintain the oil temperature between 350°F - 375°F throughout the frying process.
- Fry the cheese sticks for about 3 minutes, ensuring all sides are crispy and golden brown. Work quickly to prevent the cheese inside from overheating and possibly leaking out.
- Once fried, transfer the cheese sticks to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess grease.
- Allow the oil temperature to return to 375°F (190°C) before frying the next batch.
- Optionally, garnish the cheese sticks with basil or parsley. Serve with marinara, ranch, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Kristin says
Hi! I hate to be "that person," but I am not a fan of coconut flour. Before I make these, any thoughts about whether they'd work with almond flour? And, if you haven't tried with almond flour, do you get any hint of coconut with these when made as-is?
Thanks so much!
Cast Iron Keto says
Hey Kristin! So, we don't like coconut flour either but it works perfectly in this recipe with the flour combo of almond flour and pork rind dust. With all three, you really can't notice the coconut flour taste or texture. We haven't tried it with just almond flour but if we were going to try to nix the coconut we'd swap in extra pork rinds. If you try that, let us know how it turns out!