Keto Mozzarella Sticks

Name: Keto Mozzarella Sticks
Prep time: 3 h 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons coconut flour (I use this brand); 2 large eggs, whisked; 1 batch Savory Breading Mix (included below); 8 mozzarella string cheese sticks, halved crosswise; Cooking oil, such as avocado oil or tallow; Marinara Sauce and Ranch Dressing, for serving; ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese; ½ cup blanched almond flour (I use this brand); 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon sea salt

Jump to Recipe

These Keto Mozzarella Sticks are perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside, while being melty and delicious on the inside. The keto breading is seasoned with onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning, making it the perfect complement to the melty mozzarella cheese. I like to dip these in homemade marinara sauce and ranch dressing. They are the perfect kid-friendly low carb appetizer recipe.

a serving tray, lined with parchment paper, filled with low carb mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce

Table of Contents show

Ingredients in Keto Cheese Sticks

Ingredients for mozzarella cheese sticks - coconut flour, eggs, oil, keto breading

This Keto Mozzarella Stick recipe is from my book Craveable Keto. It is an easy to make, delicious, family friendly recipe. They taste just like the cheese sticks you would find in the appetizer section of the menu at your favorite restaurant, but in a gluten free version, without all the carbs.

Ingredient notes

Cheese sticks: For this keto cheese stick recipe, I used mozzarella string cheese. I have found that this is what works best. You want it to be a low moisture, part skim cheese or else the cheese will completely melt and lose its shape when frying. (Try these Fried Mozzarella Balls)
Coconut flour: coating the cheese sticks in coconut flour gives the egg wash something to adhere to.
Egg wash: the egg wash helps the breading stick to and evenly coat the cheese sticks.
Keto breading: I have included my savory keto breading recipe below, but for a nut free version, you can also use my Nut Free Keto Breading Recipe.
Spices: I add onion powder, garlic powder and dried Italian seasoning to my breading mixture, but if you like a milder flavor, you can omit the spices or reduce the amounts.

Step by Step Instructions

small bowl with a cheese stick being coated in coconut flour

How to make Keto Mozzarella Sticks

STEP 1: Set up three shallow bowls in a row. Put the coconut flour in the first bowl, the whisked eggs in the second bowl, and the breading mix in the third bowl. Dredge each cheese stick in the coconut flour

small bowl with a cheese stick being dipped into egg wash

STEP 2: Next, coat each cheese stick generally in the egg wash.

small bowl with a cheese stick being coated in low carb breading

STEP 3: Finish it off by coating it liberally in the breading mix. Repeat this three-step process with each cheese stick.

a parchment lined baking sheet, topped with rows of breaded mozzarella sticks waiting to be fried

STEP 4: Place the breaded cheese sticks on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Transfer to the freezer. Freeze the breaded cheese sticks for 3 hours, up to 24 hours for best results.

a cast iron pan with hot oil, frying cheese sticks

STEP 6: Heat 1 to 2 inches of oil in a large 4-inch-deep (or deeper) skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot and begins to bubble slightly, gently drop the cheese sticks into the oil. Fry until they are golden brown and crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove the cheese sticks from the oil and place them on paper towels to absorb the excess oil before serving.

a serving tray, lined with parchment paper, filled with low carb mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce and ranch dressing

Recipe Tips and Variations

Storage: Store these leftover gluten free mozzarella sticks in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. (These are my favorite storage and meal prep containers)
Reheating: You can reheat these by quickly frying them again, or by heating them up in the oven or air fryer. (This is the air fryer I have)
Make ahead: I love to keep a double or triple batch of these keto mozzarella sticks in the freezer so that I always have some on hand to fry up at a moments notice.
Dipping suggestions: I like to serve these with my Garlic Pesto Marinara Sauce, Dairy Free Ranch Dressing, Tomato Meat Sauce, Avocado Ranch Dressing, Tzatziki, or Creamy Chive Blue Cheese Dressing
Make them nut free: For a nut free version of these low carb mozzarella sticks, make them with my Nut Free Keto Breading Recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make air fryer mozzarella sticks?

To make these keto mozzarella sticks in the air fryer, simply follow steps 1 through 3 and then heat the air fryer to 357°F and cook for about 5 minutes, flipping halfway through.

What is the best cheese to use for homemade cheese sticks?

The best cheese for homemade mozzarella sticks is low moisture, part skim mozzarella string cheese.

How do you make gluten free mozzarella sticks?

To make gluten free cheese sticks, you can use either of the keto breading recipes included in this post.

Can these mozzarella sticks be made ahead of time?

Yes. These are an excellent make ahead option. Simply bread them and freeze them until you are ready to cook them.

a keto mozzarella stick being dipped into marinara sauce

More Keto Appetizer Recipes