Our 13 Best Fried Cheese Recipes

"Sometimes even the most fun foods need a little refresh," says Chef John. "Not only are these mozzarella puffs crispier and more fun to eat than the original fried mozzarella sticks, but they're also easier since no breading is required!  I haven't forgotten the marinara sauce, but feel free to use other sauces."

"As a WI dairy farming family, we had to try this," says recipe reviewer cookingmama. "It was terrific! The taste was everything we had hoped for. We laid the cheese curds out flat on a cookie sheet in the freezer for a few minutes before dipping them in batter. This keeps the cheese from puddling in the hot deep fryer. I also topped them with another sprinkle of salt."

Homemade mozzarella sticks are so easy to prepare at home, and so extremely good. Sticks of mozzarella are coated in a simple batter and fried to a beautiful golden brown. There's nothing to it!

"Who can argue with fried cheese, and Havarti is my favorite!" says recipe creator WEEBRIE. "Sauces can vary from horseradish based (with ketchup and mayo) to mustard sauces, or really anything you like. Truly, these are divine all by themselves!"

"Here's an easy, cost-efficient way to make home-made fried cheese sticks," says recipe creator Melissa Goff. "Taste just wonderful, light crispiness. More for your dollar and easily stored in the freezer for when you have a craving. I make 2 batches, one for the 'now' and one for later. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce."

"While pan-frying cheese may not sound particularly healthy, as it caramelizes, it gives up a fair amount of butter fat, which stays behind in the pan," says Chef John. "This might just be the new way to breakfast!"

Mozzarella balls are stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and basil, then breaded and fried. "A great vegetarian appetizer on arugula salad or with bread," says recipe submitter Marianne.

Turns out, you can make a BLT better! Adding crispy baked mozzarella sticks to the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato combo takes the BLT to dazzling, delicious new heights. "I had a ton of mozzarella sticks and needed to find a use for them. A BLT panini seemed a good place to insert them," says Lisa Mayer Kaelblein.

"Straight out of Wisconsin, fried cheese curds are a favorite at carnivals and fairs," says Janet. "They look like little balls of popcorn and taste like cheese! Use up to 2 pounds of cheese curds with this recipe."

Homemade fried mozzarella sticks with Gruyere, cream cheese, and French onion soup mix. "Serve warm, with or without your favorite marinara sauce." says Julie Hubert.

Toasted cheese, ravioli style. "The St. Louis style of preparing ravioli is unique and delicious," says Barb. "The ravioli is breaded, fried and served with marinara sauce and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese."  You'll also love Deep-Fried Tortellini. 

Arguably the original fried cheese, "Halloumi is pan-fried in olive oil and finished with fresh lemon juice and dried oregano for a tangy, salty, and savory meze," says Diana Moutsopoulos. "Serve with crusty bread for mopping up the pan juices."

Cheese on the outside, cheese on the inside! "In my humble opinion, this crispy, crunchy, cheesy masterpiece is the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich," says Chef John. "Make sure you follow some basic rules for this to work properly. Only use airy, nutritionally insignificant white bread. Use a nice sharp cheddar and be sure to use a quality non-stick pan over medium to medium-low heat."