Here’s a crispy Cottage Cheese Stick recipe—like mozzarella sticks, but lighter and extra creamy inside 🧀✨
Cottage Cheese Sticks
Ingredients (makes about 10–12 sticks)
- 1½ cups small-curd cottage cheese (full-fat works best)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or mild cheddar (helps it hold together)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko for extra crunch)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- ½ tsp paprika (optional)
- Oil for frying or cooking spray for baking/air frying
Instructions
1. Drain the cottage cheese
- Place cottage cheese in a fine strainer or cheesecloth and drain very well (10–15 minutes).
👉 This step is crucial so the sticks don’t fall apart.
2. Make the cheese mixture
- In a bowl, mix drained cottage cheese, shredded cheese, and egg until combined.
3. Shape & freeze
- Spoon mixture onto parchment paper and shape into sticks.
- Freeze for 30–45 minutes until firm. (Don’t skip—this keeps them intact.)
4. Bread the sticks
- Roll frozen sticks in flour.
- Dip in beaten egg (optional extra egg if needed).
- Coat in breadcrumbs mixed with salt and spices.
5. Cook (choose one method)
Fry (crispiest):
- Fry in 350°F (175°C) oil for 2–3 minutes until golden.
Air Fry:
- Spray lightly with oil.
- Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes, turning once.
Bake:
- Bake at 400°F (205°C) for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway.
6. Serve hot
- Serve immediately with marinara, ranch, or spicy mayo.
Tips for Success
- Small-curd cottage cheese works best.
- Add mozzarella—pure cottage cheese is too soft alone.
- Freeze again after breading if they feel soft.
- Great high-protein snack or appetizer!
Variations
- Spicy: Add crushed red pepper to the breading
- Herb: Mix Italian seasoning into breadcrumbs
- Keto: Use almond flour + pork rind crumbs
If you want, I can also give you a 2-ingredient viral cottage cheese stick version or a high-protein air fryer-only recipe 👀
