Mozzarella sticks are one of my most favorite foods ever. Kelly has a traumatic story about mozzarella sticks. You should ask her about it. 
Sometimes Cliff and I will go to a local bar to watch a Bears game or a Bulls game. I would much rather watch at home laying on my own comfy couch in my yoga pants but there is one advantage to watching games at a bar. Greasy, fried, bar food. I am talking french fries, fried mushrooms, onion rings, and one of my favorites: mozzarella sticks. If Cliff wants to keep me from complaining and asking when we can leave he knows he just needs to keep ordering me fried food. Works every time. As far as I am concerned it is a win win situation. Cliff gets to watch the big game and I get to eat fried food. I really can’t complain. We made these fried mozzarella sticks a while back. They are still a favorite but I have been trying to bake things instead of frying them these days. For the most part, it works out pretty well. The panko makes the pepper jack cheese sticks nice and crunchy and the cheese melts really well in the oven. And you can definitely taste the spiciness of the pepper jack cheese. The only draw back is that baking them just doesn’t give them that dark golden brown color that frying does. Personally, I don’t mind that at all. They still taste fantastic. If you are not a fan of pepper jack cheese you can always do this with mozzarella or cheddar.
Sometimes Cliff and I will go to a local bar to watch a Bears game or a Bulls game. I would much rather watch at home laying on my own comfy couch in my yoga pants but there is one advantage to watching games at a bar. Greasy, fried, bar food. I am talking french fries, fried mushrooms, onion rings, and one of my favorites: mozzarella sticks. If Cliff wants to keep me from complaining and asking when we can leave he knows he just needs to keep ordering me fried food. Works every time. As far as I am concerned it is a win win situation. Cliff gets to watch the big game and I get to eat fried food. I really can’t complain. We made these fried mozzarella sticks a while back. They are still a favorite but I have been trying to bake things instead of frying them these days. For the most part, it works out pretty well. The panko makes the pepper jack cheese sticks nice and crunchy and the cheese melts really well in the oven. And you can definitely taste the spiciness of the pepper jack cheese. The only draw back is that baking them just doesn’t give them that dark golden brown color that frying does. Personally, I don’t mind that at all. They still taste fantastic. If you are not a fan of pepper jack cheese you can always do this with mozzarella or cheddar.
Here is what you’ll need
Cut the cheese sticks in half
Set up your dipping stations: flour, egg, bread crumbs
Dip each stick in flour, then egg, and finally the bread crumbs
Place them on a baking sheet and freeze them overnight
The cheese is nice and gooey!
Baked Pepper Jack Sticks
Ingredients
- 6 pepper jack cheese sticks, cut in half
- 1 cup panko
- 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup flour
- Salsa for dipping
Instructions
- Place flour in one bowl. Place egg in another bowl andwhisk. Mix together the panko and bread crumbs in a third bowl.
- Dip each cheese stick in flour, then egg, thenpanko/bread crumbs.
- Place on a baking sheet. Once all the cheese sticks arecoated in bread crumbs freeze them for about 12 hours. I usually freeze themovernight.
- Once you are ready to bake them preheat the oven to 350degrees.
- Place the cheese sticks on a parchment lined baking sheetand bake for 15 minutes.
- Serve immediatelywith salsa or dipping sauce of your choice. The cheese will set and hardenquickly so it is best to eat them immediately.