By Annie Published in Air Fryer
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These easy Keto Mozzarella Sticks are covered in an ultra crispy crust and fried to perfection! You can easily enjoy two mozzarella sticks for just 1.8 net carbs.
With its wonderfully stringy texture and mild, creamy taste, mozzarella has got to be one of the best cheeses!
These low-carb mozzarella sticks coated in crispy almond flour and pork rind panko are indistinguishable from the indulgent party food we all know and love.
Fried to perfection, Keto Mozzarella Sticks are bound to be a hit with your dinner party guests or on the buffet. Pair them with a tasty low-carb marinara sauce for an extra dimension of flavor.
Being keto-friendly and naturally gluten free means these mozzarella sticks are the ideal option to suit a variety of dietary needs at your next party or dinner.
Are Mozzarella Sticks Keto?
Absolutely! In fact, mozzarella sticks are one of the easiest dishes out there to make keto. Simply switch regular flour and breadcrumbs with keto-friendly substitutes like almond flour and pork rind panko.
Swapping for low-carb versions of these ingredients won’t make any difference to the final result, so you can continue to enjoy everyone’s favorite party snack in all its crispy and creamy glory!
Ingredients for Keto Mozzarella Sticks
To make these low-carb mozzarella sticks without bread crumbs, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Mozzarella sticks
- Eggs
- Almond flour
- Pork rind panko
- Spices: garlic salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, parsley
- Low-carb marinara
- Oil for frying
Is Marinara Sauce Keto Friendly?
Generally not, as most brands add too much sugar to the sauce to fit within a low-carb diet. However, nowadays there are some great keto options available. For example, Rao’s do a lovely marinara sauce containing minimal sugar and net carbs.
How to Make Keto Mozzarella Sticks
Never made mozzarella sticks before? Don’t worry, it’s easy! Here’s an overview of how to make mozzarella sticks without bread crumbs:
- First, you’ll need to prepare three bowls. One with a mixture of almond flour, garlic powder and garlic salt. one with the beaten eggs. And one withthe pork rind panko, parsley and Italian seasoning.
- Slice the cheese sticks in half.
- Roll the cheese sticks in the almond flour mixture, then the egg, and finally the pork rind panko.
- Place each breaded cheesestick on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Freeze at least 2 hours.
- When ready to cook, add enough oil to cover 2 inches of a small pot to medium heat.
- Cook 2-3 keto cheese sticks at a time, using tongs to rotate. Cook 3-4 minutes until the outside has browned.
Can Mozzarella Sticks Be Made in an Air Fryer?
Yes! To make keto air fryer mozzarella sticks, do the following:
- Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F.
- Add the frozen cheese sticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Cook 5 minutes.
Dipping Sauces for Mozzarella Sticks
Not a fan of marinara? No problem! These keto cheese sticks are equally as delicious on their own or with another dipping sauce of your choice — sweet chili is a popular accompaniment for mozzarella sticks.
Or, you could serve up your mozzarella sticks with a gorgeous homemade dip. For an extra kick, give this Jalapeño Ranch Dip a try.
What Goes With Mozzarella Sticks?
Keto mozzarella sticks make the perfect appetizer, but are also great served with a fresh salad. Here are some suggestions of what to serve with mozzarella sticks:
- Keto Pizza Zucchini Boats
- Keto Pizza Stuffed Peppers
- Roast Chicken
- One-Pan Mushroom Chicken
- Keto Italian Meatballs
Tips for the Best Low-Carb Mozzarella Sticks
- When dipping the cheese sticks into the coatings, use your fingers to press the mixture tightly to the cheese. Make sure each cheese stick is covered completely.
- You can also dip each cheese stick in the egg and back into the pork rind panko mixture if you need to cover them better.
- Youmustfreeze the mozzarella sticks prior to frying them. This ensures that the keto breading stays put and doesn’t slide off and burn.
More Easy Keto Appetizers:
Whether you’re planning a party, a meal with friends or family or even fancy some inspiration for your own lunches, here are a few of my favorite keto-friendly appetizers!
- These Keto Pepperoni Pizza Bites are another perfect finger food for your next party!
- Why not try out some Air Fryer Buffalo Wings? Ultra-crispy with no breading, these wings make the ideal low carb game day snack.
- No buffet is complete without dips, and at under 4 net carbs per portion, this creamy Tzatziki is the perfect companion for fresh veggies, meats or chips.
- Crispy Green Bean Fries can be enjoyed as a side dish, appetizer, or snack. Serve with low-carb ranch for a real treat!
- No one can resist these Keto Breadsticks! They’re made with zucchini, and I have a secret to preventing them from becoming soggy.
Easy Keto Mozzarella Sticks
Annie
These Easy Keto Mozzarella Sticks are covered in an ultra crispy crust and fried to perfection!
4.52 from 29 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 4 minutes mins
Freeze Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 24 minutes mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Keto
Servings 24 Mozzarella Sticks
Calories 162 kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 mozzarella sticks sliced in half
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups pork rind panko*
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Instructions
Prepare 3 Bowls:
Bowl 1: Add the almond flour, garlic powder and garlic salt, stir well.
Bowl 2: Add the eggs, beat well.
Bowl 3: Add the pork rind panko, parsley and Italian seasoning, stir well.
Slice the cheese sticks in half.
To prepare the cheese sticks roll in the almond flour mixture, then the egg, and finally the pork rind panko. Use your fingers to press the mixture tightly to the cheese. Make sure each cheese stick is covered completely. You can dip it in the egg and back into the pork rind panko mixture if you need to cover them better.
Place each breaded cheesestick on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Freeze at least 2 hours.
When ready to cook add enough oil to cover 2 inches of a small pot to medium heat. Cook 2-3 cheesesticks at a time, using tongs to rotate. Cook 3-4 minutes until the outside has browned. (air fryer instructions are below)
Notes
The cheesesticks are going into the oil frozen, which will reduce the overall temp of the oil. Make sure you give the oil a minute or two to come back up to temp betweeen batches.
Air Fryer Instructions:
Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F. Add the frozen cheesesticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Cook 5 minutes.
Pork Panko: These are ground pork rinds that make a perfect sub for panko breadcrumbs. Simply put a 2.5 ounce bag of pork rinds in a food processor and pulse until it resembles panko breadcrumbs. This will result in about 2 cups of pork rind panko. Store in an air tight container.
Net carbs are 1.8 g per serving
Nutrition
Serving: 2 Cheese SticksCalories: 162kcalCarbohydrates: 2.1gProtein: 12.4gFat: 9.5gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 334mgFiber: 0.3g
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