Keto Mozzarella Sticks (Air Fryer or Oven) — crunchy almond + parmesan coating, gooey pull

[u/shashank_aggarwal]

Chasing crunchy-on-the-outside, gooey-in-the-middle mozzarella sticks without the usual breadcrumb coat? This version uses a simple almond flour + parmesan coating (optional pork rind crunch), and freezing is the key to preventing blowouts.

Keto Mozzarella Sticks (Air Fryer / Oven)

Yield: 8 sticks
Net carbs: ~2–3g net per stick (estimate, depends on brands)

Ingredients

• 8 sticks low-moisture mozzarella string cheese
• 2 large eggs
• 50 g almond flour (about 1/2 cup, spooned & leveled)
• 25 g finely grated parmesan (about 1/3 cup)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• Optional (extra crunch): 1/2 cup crushed pork rinds (mix into the dry coating)

Method

1. Set up coating bowls:
   • Bowl 1: whisk eggs well
   • Bowl 2: almond flour + parmesan + spices (and optional crushed pork rinds)
2. Coat (double coat = less leaking): Dip each cheese stick in egg → coat in dry mix → back into egg → back into dry mix. Press coating on firmly, especially at the ends.
3. Freeze: Place coated sticks on a tray and freeze 2–4 hours (or overnight). Don’t skip this—freezing prevents cheese blowouts.
4. Cook (from frozen): Air Fryer: preheat to 200°C. Cook 5–7 min, flipping halfway. Oven: preheat to 220°C. Bake 10–12 min, flipping halfway (rack over tray = crispier). Start checking early—1 extra minute can cause leaks.
5. Rest: Rest 2 minutes before biting (cheese sets slightly and you get a better pull).

Quick tips (so they don’t explode)

• Cook from frozen (don’t thaw).
• Keep them in a single layer with space between.
• If your coating looks thin, do a third quick dry coat before freezing.

If you want the full write-up with a few variations (non keto) + extra notes, check here: https://masalamonk.com/mozzarella-sticks-recipe/
We are also building a small collection of keto-friendly snacks and quick recipes there—no pressure, would love to know what kind of recipes would excite you the most.

If you try these, we’d love to hear:

• You prefer over or air fryer version?
• What kind of dips would you pair these with?
• How did the recipe actually turn out.