Mozzarella Cheese Balls (Printable)

Golden, crispy mozzarella balls with gooey melted cheese centers. Quick 25-minute Italian-American appetizer perfect for sharing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cheese

01 - 9 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

→ Breading Station

02 - 2 large eggs, beaten
03 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
04 - 1 1/4 cups breadcrumbs (panko recommended)
05 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Frying

09 - Vegetable oil for deep frying

# Steps:

01 - Arrange three shallow bowls: first with flour mixed with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian herbs; second with beaten eggs; third with breadcrumbs.
02 - Pat mozzarella cubes thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
03 - Dredge each mozzarella cube in flour, dip in egg mixture, then press firmly into breadcrumbs. For extra crunch, repeat egg and breadcrumb coating.
04 - Arrange breaded cheese balls on a tray and refrigerate for 10 minutes to set the coating.
05 - Pour vegetable oil into deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot and heat to 350°F.
06 - Fry cheese balls in small batches for 1-2 minutes until golden brown, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.
07 - Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with marinara, aioli or ranch dip.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • The contrast between the shattering crunch outside and the gooey, melting cheese inside is absolutely addictive
02 -
  • Never skip the chilling step—warm, breaded cheese will melt and escape into your oil before the coating crisps up
  • Work in small batches and let the oil return to temperature between frying, or youll end up with greasy, soft results instead of crunchy ones
03 -
  • Use one hand for dry coating and one hand for wet coating to keep your fingers from becoming breaded themselves
  • If the cheese starts leaking during frying, immediately remove that piece and let the oil come back to temperature before continuing

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