Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients

• 12 part skim mozzarella sticks
• 2 egg whites*
• 2-3 tbsp flour
• 1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tbsp parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• **Optional - Marinara sauce for dipping

Instructions

1. 1

   Cut all of the cheese sticks in half and place in the freezer for about 20-25 minutes to harden. (Do not skip this step, it is necessary to keep the cheese from melting everywhere!)

2. 2

   Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or silipat mat) and set aside.

3. 3

   Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of flour in a small bowl.

4. 4

   In a separate bowl, lightly whisk the egg whites.

5. 5

   In another bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, panko, parmesan, and dried parsley until fully combined.

6. 6

   Remove cheese sticks from the freezer. Toss each cheese stick first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Repeat the same thing with the egg white mixture, then with the breadcrumb mixture.

7. 7

   Place all of the cheese sticks on the prepared baking sheet, lightly spray with oil.

8. 8

   Bake for 4-5 minutes, remove from oven, flip the cheese sticks, then bake for another 4-5 minutes. Keep a close eye on them as they can easily start to burn or melt too much.*

9. 9

   Remove from the oven and serve immediately.