Cheese Balls
Crispy fried cheese balls — melty mozzarella centers in crunchy panko shells. Party appetizer that disappears in minutes. The trick is freezing before frying so cheese doesn't escape.
Prep Time
11 min
Cook Time
13 min
Servings
4
Calories
291 cal
🛠 Interactive Recipe Tools — Use them right here on this page
Smart Servings Scaler
- Cheese1 cup
- Flour2 cups
- Breadcrumbs½ cup
- Salt1 tsp
- Black Pepper½ tsp
- Cooking Oil1
- Garlic3 cloves
All quantities scaled automatically from 4 servings.
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings · Use the Servings Scaler above to adjust
- Cheese1 cup
- Flour2 cups
- Breadcrumbs0.5 cup
- Salt1 tsp
- Black Pepper0.5 tsp
- Cooking Oil1
- Garlic3 cloves
Instructions
- 1
Cut 12 oz of block mozzarella into 16 small cubes (about 1 inch each).
- 2
Set up breading: ½ cup flour, 2 beaten eggs, 1.5 cups panko mixed with ¼ cup grated Parmesan, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt.
- 3
Coat each cube: flour, egg, panko. Then repeat egg and panko (double coat essential to prevent cheese escape).
- 4
Place on parchment-lined tray. Freeze at least 1 hour, ideally overnight. Frozen cheese inside while breading crisps outside.
- 5
Heat 2 inches of oil to 350°F. Fry frozen balls in batches for 60-90 seconds — just until panko is golden. Any longer and cheese fully melts and escapes.
- 6
Drain on a wire rack. Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce. The cheese pull is the appeal.
Watch how to make Cheese Balls
Plays the exact recipe video right here — no need to leave the page.
💡 Expert Tips
- 1.Double bread. Single coat = cheese leaks.
- 2.Freeze before frying. Essential.
- 3.Short fry time. 60-90 sec is enough.
- 4.Eat immediately. Cheese pull only works warm.
🔬 Why It Works
Cheese balls succeed when the cheese melts inside while the breading stays crispy. Freezing creates the temperature gradient — breading crisps quickly while cheese is solid, then melts as you bite (cheese pull moment). Without freezing, cheese escapes into oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
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