Description
Crispy, gooey bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks designed for meal prep. These high-protein, keto-friendly sticks hold up in the lunchbox and reheat beautifully in an air fryer or oven.
Ingredients
- Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese (cut into 1/2 inch wide, 3 inch long sticks)
- Thick-cut bacon (applewood smoked preferred)
- All-purpose flour
- Large eggs (beaten)
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried parsley
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper
- Avocado oil or canola oil (for frying)
- Cooking spray (for air frying)
Instructions
- Cut the low-moisture mozzarella block into sticks approximately 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long. Keep cheese cold.
- Set up a dredging station with three shallow dishes: one with flour, one with beaten eggs (seasoned with salt and pepper), and one with breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, and red pepper flakes.
- Wrap a strip of thick-cut bacon around each mozzarella stick, overlapping slightly to secure. Tuck in loose ends.
- Dredge each bacon-wrapped stick in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into the egg wash, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Place coated sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes (or up to 1 hour) to solidify the cheese and set the breading.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) for frying, or preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- If frying, cook sticks for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and bacon is crispy. If air frying, cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Transfer cooked sticks to a cooling rack or paper towels to drain excess oil. Let rest for a minute before serving.
Notes
Keep cheese cold until cooking to prevent leaking. Do not skip the freezing step as it ensures the cheese stays solid while the bacon cooks. For air frying, brush with a little oil to help breadcrumbs brown. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1-2 sticks per servi
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: bacon wrapped mozzarella sticks, meal prep lunch, keto friendly, high protein lunch, air fryer recipes, comfort food, lunch ideas