The best frozen mozzarella sticks should have crispy breading on the outside and molten, flavorful, ooey-gooey cheese on the inside. We’re looking for that signature fried, slightly greasy, extra cheesy flavor and, of course, an elegant cheese pull. If that cheese tastes like or resembles melted plastic, we’re tossing it. If that breading is limp or soft, we’ll make a dirty joke or two…and then toss it. We’re ruthless over here, okay?
After two taste tests in search of the best mozzarella sticks, here’s what we’ve learned: There’s a massive hole in the market for restaurant-quality mozzarella sticks. If you head to the grocery store looking for sticks that live up to what you get at the local sports bar, you might be bummed. But we revisited this ranking for a reason. There are some new and fresh brands out there that we wanted to try, and even a couple of options we missed before (like one brand of gluten free mozzarella sticks that really wowed us).
We cooked all of these frozen mozzarella sticks in the oven according to the directions on the package. We looked for milky, creamy, fatty cheese that tastes great and melts properly. We also looked for good cheese pull (there should be adequate stretch!). Lastly, we wanted a fried, crunchy breading—ideally with enough seasoning to keep things interesting without overpowering the real star of the sticks: the mozzarella. Mozzarella sticks have a vibe, and we know a good one when we see (and taste) it, so here’s what made the list. (And don’t forget the best marinara sauce for dipping.)
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- Budweiser Beer Battered Cheese Sticks
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These have the delightful pungency of beer-battered bar food, and I love that. When you open the frozen bag, your nostrils are immediately struck with a beer smell. The taste is bold and a little bitter, which some found a bit off-putting. These contain white cheddar cheese in addition to mozzarella, so you get even more bold cheese flavor to go along with that beer taste. They may not be the best mozzarella sticks for those who want a traditional version of the appetizer, but I appreciate the big swing Budweiser took with them. They’re wholly unique. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Farm Rich Breaded Mozzarella Sticks
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The Farm Rich brand is widely available, which I think is why it’s number one on a lot of rankings of the best frozen mozzarella sticks. Overall, this is a good product. These sticks are packed with cheese that doesn’t spill out onto the pan when you heat them in the oven. They’re also really salty and juicy. The juiciness is extra surprising, and something I didn’t realize I wanted in a mozzarella stick. Even when these sit out at room temperature for a while, they manage to remain super moist. There’s a bit of an aftertaste, from some oregano or tomato or something. They almost taste like they already have marinara sauce in them. Farm Rich is good, but they aren’t the best mozzarella sticks we’ve tasted so far. Still, if you spot them in stores they’re a pretty solid choice. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Market Pantry Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
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Market Pantry’s mozzarella sticks have a good, crunchy breading and a compelling, salty flavor that permeates every bite. The cheese itself, however, tastes a bit on the cheap side, almost like string cheese (and I’m not talking about the best string cheese). There’s nothing wrong with string cheese, by the way, it just doesn’t taste the same as fresh mozzarella. I kind of love the processed vibe going on here, and would happily eat these. For what they are, they’re worthy of a spot on our list of the best frozen mozzarella sticks. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks
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These gluten free mozzarella sticks from Feel Good Foods are surprisingly yummy. No, that rice flour and tapioca starch breading won’t fool anyone—these aren’t nearly as crispy as some of the others on this list, but it really doesn’t matter. The cheesy interior is deliciously juicy without being too greasy, which gives you an immediate burst of flavor as soon as you bite in. Plus, that cheese pull? As stretchy as a yoga instructor. Basically, what these gluten free mozzarella sticks lack in crunch they make up for in flavor—and that’s what makes them some of the best mozzarella sticks we tried, period. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Members Mark Mozzarella Sticks
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For the most part, Members Mark did, in fact, hit the mark with these. Member’s Mark is the private label brand at Sam’s Club, so we were expecting a good bang for our buck, and guess what? We were right on the money! One box contains 72 mozzarella sticks—yes, 72 mozzarella sticks—for around 14 bucks. No other brands on this list come anywhere close to beating that value. More importantly, these frozen mozzarella sticks taste really good! The breading is extra crispy and fried. The cheese is tangy and flavorful. It’s missing a strong cheese pull, but when I can eat one mozzarella stick for 19 cents (you bet I did that math), I’ll let bygones be bygones. These are the best mozzarella sticks to grab for a party or, if you have the freezer space, to keep stocked for your mozz stick fix any old time. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Sam’s Club
- Whole Foods 365 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
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These Whole Foods mozzarella sticks blew me away with their creamy, fatty decadence. You can taste the difference in the cheese here, especially when you stack these up against other brands. They use a little dehydrated garlic, too, so there’s a subtle garlicky kick that’s really nice. It’s not panko, but the breading is just fine, too. These are the best frozen mozzarella sticks if you want a lot of cheese and good cheese pull. Overall, they’re a little lacking in the flavor department, but, hey, when you’re dipping a mozz stick in marinara or ranch, who actually cares? —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- TGI Fridays Mozzarella Sticks
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TGI Friday’s breaded mozzarella sticks have good flavor, great quality cheese, and a crispy, crunchy panko breading. The cheese itself is a mozzarella blend that melts perfectly while still maintaining a nice, creamy flavor. While low-moisture mozzarella melts great, it can sometimes taste a little plasticky. That’s not the case here. The breading on these things is pretty good, too. Panko is an excellent choice, as it always maintains a solid crispiness. The flavor could be a tad better, but these are salty and good enough to scratch that mozzarella stick itch. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Big Mozz Sticks (Giant Sized)
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Big Mozz is making frozen mozzarella sticks with big flavor and big cheese pull. They’re also big, like, literally. Their giant-sized Big Mozz sticks use high-quality ingredients, like whole milk mozzarella (no processed, part-skim string cheese) and an extra crispy breading seasoned with garlic, parsley, and Pecorino Romano cheese. (That cheese is the magic touch, y’all.) These big sticks (don’t misread that) have the perfect level of greasiness, incredible depth of flavor thanks to those seasonings, and a stretchy, melty, mouthwatering cheese pull. Our one gripe? They can be tricky to find at a good price—but thankfully, not impossible. Right now, you can find these at Whole Foods for $9.99 and Wegmans for $7.99. If you want to try one of the best mozzarella sticks brands we’ve ever tasted, we recommend finding them at those stores! —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Big Mozz
Best Bold Flavor
Best Widely Available
Best Salty
Best Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks
Best in Bulk
Best Cheese
Best of the Best
Best Restaurant Quality
Other products we tried: Snapps Mozzarella Sticks, Kroger Breaded Cheese Sticks, Trader Joe’s Breaded Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Stater Bros Crav’N Flavor Mozzarella Sticks, Big Mozz Nuggets, Wholly Veggie Mozzarella Style Sticks, Appetitos Mozzarella Sticks
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