Melty cheese inside of a simple egg roll wrapper makes these fried mozzarella sticks a simple recipe when you want a delicious snack.
Fried cheese sticks are my favorite appetizer. When I was in high school, my best friend and I would rate restaurants based on their fried cheese sticks recipe. We loved the crisp outside with the cheesy goodness on the inside!
In the past, we’ve made a few different recipes ourselves for homemade mozzarella sticks. Some take more time than others, but this time I wanted something very simple. If you want a more traditional mozzarella stick, I suggest trying my recipe for mozzarella cakes but using string cheese instead. That’s the more conventional method of a recipe using a flour mixture, dredging in eggs, flour, and regular bread crumbs before deep frying.
We’ve also made a few recipes with egg roll wrappers in the past and I like how they get crispy when they are fried. We don’t own a deep fryer, but a cast-iron skillet with enough oil is the next best way to fry food as long as it fits.
By using prepackaged mozzarella cheese sticks or string cheese, you can have this great appetizer made in no time. The hardest part is getting the egg roll wrappers to seal up tight. If you use water and wet the ends, the paper will stick on itself creating the seal you need.
This is a great recipe when you want a delicious appetizer or finger foods for game days. You could make a larger batch to have enough to bring to a get-together with friends as well.
Fried Mozzarella Sticks FAQ
Not required with egg-roll wrappers; they hold shape well. Freeze only for make-ahead convenience.
We thought they were pretty good as-is. But if you want to add something, try putting some Italian seasoning, garlic powder, or black pepper on your sticks of string cheese before sealing the wrappers.
My favorite dipping sauce is homemade marinara sauce. Or we’ve used pizza sauce or straight tomato sauce. Any of those is a great choice to go with your breaded mozzarella sticks.
Usually, when this happens, the oil temperature isn’t high enough. For the best results, make sure to use a deep-fry thermometer and only put a few sticks in at a time so it doesn’t lower the heat of the oil too much.
No, since the egg roll wrappers contain wheat ,these are not gluten-free mozzarella sticks.
Wontons are smaller; spring-roll wrappers are too thin and can shatter/ooze. Large egg-roll wrappers are best.
Why Egg Roll Wrappers Beat Breadcrumbs
Egg roll wrappers make ultra-crisp, shatter-thin shells without the mess of flour-egg-breadcrumb dredging. Choose large 8×8-inch wrappers (not wonton or spring-roll sheets). Keep them covered with a damp paper towel while you work so they don’t dry out and crack. Seal edges with plain water—it’s the best edible “glue.”
Exact Oil Temp (and the 5-Second Test)
Aim for 350–375°F oil. No thermometer? Drop in a tiny scrap of wrapper—if it sizzles and turns golden in 5–7 seconds, you’re in the zone. Too fast = oil too hot (burns, bubbles), too slow = soggy sticks.
Air Fryer Directions
Spray the basket and the sticks lightly with oil. Air fry at 370°F for 5–6 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and blistered. If using thin wrappers, check at 4 minutes to prevent over-browning.
Baked Directions
Brush or spray the sticks with oil and bake at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, turning once. Tip: place on a wire rack set over a sheet pan so heat circulates and the bottoms don’t steam. (Baking can ooze if seals aren’t tight.)
Make-Ahead & Freezer Tips
Assemble sticks and freeze on a parchment-lined sheet until solid, then bag. Fry from frozen—add about 30 seconds total. This keeps weeknight snacks effortless and prevents wrapper sogginess.
Variations You’ll Love
- Garlic-Parmesan Toss: While hot, toss with grated Parmesan + garlic powder.
- Spicy: Add a thin jalapeño slice or dust with red pepper flakes before rolling.
- Herby: Mix Italian seasoning into your finishing salt or sprinkle it before serving.
- Dips Beyond Marinara: Try ranch, honey-mustard, buffalo, or sweet chili.
Troubleshooting (Quick Fixes)
- Cheese leaks: Seams not sealed or oil too cool—re-seal with water; let oil reheat between batches.
- Wrappers burn/blister hard: Oil too hot; lower the heat or shorten the time.
- Not crispy: Crowd-fried or under-drained. Fry in small batches and cool on a rack.
- Air fryer blowouts: Double-seal the tip and place seam-side down to start.
Equipment Notes
A cast-iron skillet holds steady heat for even browning. Use tongs (less splatter) and a wire rack for draining. A clip-on thermometer is your best friend for repeatable results.
Fried Mozzarella Sticks Step by Step
Ingredients
- 12 pieces mozzarella string cheese
- 12 egg roll wrappers
- 1 tsp water
- Oil for frying (such as canola oil or vegetable oil)
Preparation
Heat 1/2 inch of frying oil in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium heat until it gets to about 375 degrees F.
Place a piece of string cheese near a corner of an egg roll wrapper.
Start to roll the egg roll wrapper around the piece of string cheese until about halfway.
Tuck the side corners over the string cheese.
Dip your finger in the water and wet the top corner of the egg roll wrapper.
Wrap the cheese completely in the egg roll wrapper, letting the wet corner seal it up.
Set aside and repeat with each piece of string cheese and wrapper.
Carefully drop the mozzarella sticks in the hot oil and cook for about 30-60 seconds on each side, until golden brown.
Move to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Serve warm with marinara sauce or another favorite dipping sauce.
Fried Mozzarella Sticks Leftovers
Storage: Place leftover fried mozzarella sticks in an airtight container. Place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: The best way to reheat is usually the way they were cooked. But if you don’t want to deal with hot oil again, you can stick them in the oven at a low temperature until warmed through.
Freezing: If you want to freeze the mozzarella sticks, place them on a baking sheet or cookie sheet with parchment paper in a single layer. Once they are frozen you can move them to a freezer bag and store them for up to 3 months.
Recipe
Originally Published On: July 17, 2023
Last Updated On: August 20, 2025
Fried Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- 12 pieces mozzarella string cheese
- 12 egg roll wrappers
- 1 tsp water
- Oil for frying (such as canola oil or vegetable oil)
Instructions
- Heat 1/2 inch of frying oil in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium heat until it gets to about 375 degrees F
- Place a piece of string cheese near a corner of an egg roll wrapper
- Start to roll the egg roll wrapper around the piece of string cheese until about halfway
- Tuck the side corners over the string cheese
- Dip your finger in the water and wet the top corner of the egg roll wrapper
- Wrap the cheese completely in the egg roll wrapper, letting the wet corner seal it up
- Set aside and repeat with each piece of string cheese and wrapper
- Carefully drop the mozzarella sticks in the hot oil and cook for about 30-60 seconds on each side, until golden brown
- Move to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil
- Serve warm
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Mozzarella Cheese
- Super Easy Homemade Fried Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
- Fresh Mozzarella-Topped (Not So) Flatbread
- Crispy Fried Mozzarella Cakes Recipe with Fresh Cheese
- Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatloaf
- Super Easy Pizza Dip
- Cheesy Meatball Skillet
- Homemade Pizza Burgers: The Best Combo of Two Recipes
- Five Cheese Pull-Apart Bread
- Chicken and Spinach Alfredo Bake Casserole
- Thai Basil Pesto Flatbread
- Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Super Easy Pizza Flatbread
- Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Shells
- Fresh Caprese Salad
- Spinach and Artichoke Quesadillas
- Easy Chicken Parmesan
- Kreacher’s French Onion Soup
- Hearty Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza
- Classic Stuffed Shells
- Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels Recipe
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Chicken and Spinach Casserole with Cream Cheese
- Baked Ziti
- BBQ Chicken Melt with Only 5 Ingredients
- Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Stromboli
- Cheesy Baked Crab Casserole
- Pizza Hot Pocket
- Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Stromboli Ring
- Hawaiian Chicken Wraps
- Cheesy Caper-Stuffed Tomatoes
Marinara Sauce
- Meaty Marinara Sauce in the Slow Cooker
- Super Easy Homemade Fried Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
- Sesame Pull-Apart Rolls
- Homemade Pizza Burgers: The Best Combo of Two Recipes
- Zucchini Tots
- Herbed Tortellini (or Ravioli)
- Easy Chicken Parmesan
- Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Stromboli Ring
- Classic Stuffed Shells
- Crispy Fried Mozzarella Cakes Recipe with Fresh Cheese
What a clever idea to use egg roll wrappers! Such a delicious fried mozzarella sticks recipe.
Oh, this is sooooo smart. I made some a long time ago and they didn’t come out right and I never tried to make them again. I think using the egg roll wrappers is such a great idea and I’m going to try again over the weekend. Thanks for sharing this recipe
I need to try this out. Sounds very tasty. Thanks.
I love the deep-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, and with melted gooey cheese on the inside. Its perfect and easy to amke at home.
Anything cheese you literally will have me doing cartwheels!! LOVE cheese and these sound fabulous, we will give these a try for sure x
Nnniiccceeee….they’ve just reminded me of spring rolls, that I liked so much when I was younger. Let me save the recipe. I will need to enjoy them soon enough.
These mozzarella sticks sound absolutely delicious! I love the idea of using egg roll wrappers for added crispiness. I’m definitely going to give these a try for my next game night. Thanks for sharing this super easy recipe!
Wow, these Homemade Fried Mozzarella Sticks are a game-changer! I followed your recipe, and they turned out crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside—simply irresistible. My family loved them, and now they’re requesting them all the time! Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe! 🧀🍅🔥
I have always loved mozzarella sticks too. I ate quite a few in my college days! How fun that you and your friend enjoyed judging mozzarella sticks. This sounds delicious!
This look so yummy and I can see it as my go to snack as its quick and nice to make them. Thank you for sharing!
There’s something new about this recipe for me! I’m glad I found out about it! Thanks!
These mozzarella sticks are absolutely look so good and tempting! I would try this and for sure it will be a blockbuster at home, yum! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
We love to get these when we are out. I never thought to try to make them at home. Your recipe sounds so doable!
These were easy to make and delicious! It had the perfect crispy golden crust with the gooey stringy cheese inside. I added an extra step with a sprinkle coating of grated Parmesan cheese. 10/10 would make again!