Description
Mozzarella ham and cheese sticks bring crispy comfort to classic appetizers. Melted cheese and savory ham wrapped in golden breading create irresistible bites you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks
- 12 slices deli ham (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup (120 g/4.2 oz) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (120 g/4.2 oz) panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Cooking spray or olive oil mist
Instructions
- Preparation: Wrap each mozzarella stick completely with ham, ensuring full coverage and neat alignment on a clean work surface.
- Breading Setup: Create three distinct stations – first with flour, second with whisked eggs, and third with a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Coating Process: Dredge each ham-wrapped stick through flour, then egg wash, and finally roll in seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to secure an even, comprehensive coating.
- Freezing Stage: Place coated sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes to stabilize breading and prevent cheese leakage during baking.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 400F (200C), ensuring consistent and intense heat for optimal crispiness.
- Baking Technique: Spritz chilled sticks with cooking spray, arrange on baking sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating halfway through to achieve uniform golden-brown exterior and crisp texture.
- Serving Suggestion: Allow sticks to rest briefly after baking, then serve immediately with marinara sauce or preferred dipping accompaniment for a delightful appetizer experience.
Notes
- Freeze Before Baking: Chilling the ham and cheese sticks in the freezer for at least 30 minutes is crucial to prevent cheese from leaking and helps create a crispy, stable breading that holds together perfectly during baking.
- Breading Technique Matters: Press breadcrumb mixture gently but firmly onto the ham-wrapped sticks to ensure an even, complete coating that will crisp up beautifully and create a crunchy exterior when baked.
- Oil Spray Trick: Lightly misting the sticks with cooking spray or olive oil before baking helps achieve a golden-brown color and enhances the overall crispiness of the breading, giving restaurant-style results at home.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap regular flour and panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities without compromising on taste or texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg