Mozzarella sticks are a crowd-pleasing comfort food — the crispy breadcrumb coating with gooey mozzarella cheese inside makes cheese sticks everyone’s favorite! While mozzarella sticks are delicious on their own, for a more complete and nutritious meal, pair them with another dish.
What should you eat with mozzarella sticks? Serve mozzarella sticks with your choice of salad, pickles, guacamole, fish and chips, or garlic bread. They go well with grilled chicken, steak, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, tomato soup, and your favorite stew.
Continue reading to find out more about the best mozzarella stick pairings. We also tell you which sauces go well with mozzarella sticks and what to do with leftovers in this article!
What To Serve With Mozzarella Sticks — Delicious Sides
You might be surprised to learn that the origins of mozzarella sticks are in France. Although frequently mistaken for being exclusively American, mozzarella sticks actually originated in Paris! Since the late 14th century, cheese sticks have been fried in oil in France. In the United States, the late 1970s saw the widespread popularization of mozzarella sticks, which have since become a standard item on the menus of fast food establishments.
But mozzarella sticks aren’t just a fast food favorite; they go great with home-cooked meals as well. You can serve mozzarella sticks for lunch, dinner, as an appetizer, or as a snack depending on the sides you select!
1. Fresh Salad
If you find mozzarella sticks to be too calorific and high in fat for your tastes, pair them with a bowl of refreshing and light salad. You can serve them with any salad you want, but the best options are a garden salad and a fresh tomato salad. You can also make a salad with whatever greens and vegetables you have on hand! It is also possible to use mozzarella sticks as salad ingredients. Lettuce leaves, cherry tomatoes, tortilla chips, and a creamy mayonnaise mustard dressing are all options.
2. Guacamole
If you want to try something new and think the typical sauces and toppings served with mozzarella sticks are boring, try guacamole instead! With cheese sticks, this traditional Mexican dip tastes fantastic. You can use freshly made or store-bought guacamole, but we do advise making your own for better flavor and texture. A ripe avocado, chopped tomatoes, red onion, lime or lemon juice, cilantro, and very little time are all you need to make guacamole! By including some jalapeno or chili peppers, this avocado dip can also be made hotter.
3. Steak
Potatoes are one of the most popular side dishes served with steaks, but if you eat this combination frequently, it can become monotonous. You could try serving mozzarella sticks with steak for dinner! A side of vegetables is also recommended for color and freshness. Serve mozzarella sticks with steak alongside roasted, baked, boiled, or fried potatoes if you want it all.
4. Mac And Cheese
Serve mac and cheese with mozzarella sticks if you feel like the cheese is not enough. Everything a cheese lover needs is creamy mac and cheese and crunchy mozzarella sticks. When making baked mac and cheese, place mozzarella sticks on top of the macaroni mixture before placing the baking dish in the oven. By doing this, you elevate your mac and cheese and warm the mozzarella sticks, allowing the cheese to melt and become ooey.
5. Pickles
Serve mozzarella sticks with pickles on occasions when they will be served as an appetizer. Pickles complement both fried and baked mozzarella sticks, as well as meats and a variety of other dishes. Pickles of your choice should be served with mozzarella sticks — pickled cucumbers and peppers are two of your best options. Pickles provide a refreshing and acidic flavor in between bites of cheesy mozzarella sticks.
6. Stew
Stews are filling, wholesome meals that are much healthier than fried food. They also leave you feeling satisfied. Stews, however, aren’t always all that exciting. To get your family excited for dinner, serve mozzarella sticks alongside stew. Mozzarella sticks go well with any stew, whether it is a meat or vegetable stew. If you’d like, you could even dip the cheese sticks in the stew!
7. Caesar Salad
A Caesar salad with mozzarella sticks is a great lunch or dinner option! You can serve mozzarella sticks with a traditional Caesar salad or one with chicken, bacon, or shrimp. Mozzarella sticks complement all of the ingredients in Caesar salad and add a nice crunch. If you don’t want to make the salad, make the Caesar salad dressing and serve it with mozzarella sticks as a dipping sauce.
8. Tomato Soup
The same goes for tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich and mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce. If you’re having trouble choosing between these two classic pairings, try tomato soup and mozzarella sticks for the best of both worlds! As you would with marinara sauce, dip the cheese sticks in the tomato soup. You might even prefer the warm tomato soup for this purpose!
9. Grilled Chicken
Because of its neutral flavor, chicken is one of the most versatile food products. It goes well with a wide range of ingredients, including various types of cheese. If you’ve already decided to make mozzarella sticks for dinner but aren’t sure what to serve them with, go with the safest option: grilled chicken breasts!
10. Fish And Chips
Mozzarella sticks are the one food that can improve fish and chips even further! The crispy golden coating on mozzarella sticks makes them the ideal complement to the meal of fries and fish fillets. Mozzarella sticks complement any sauce you choose to serve with the well-known British dish in addition to looking good next to it. If you find that fish and chips and fried mozzarella sticks are too unhealthy for you, you can bake the entire meal instead. Fish and chips baked in the oven with baked mozzarella sticks will taste and look fantastic!
11. Garlic Bread
Garlic bread with mozzarella sticks is ideal as an appetizer or side dish — both are simple to prepare and complement each other well. Garlic bread is delicious and fragrant whether made with fresh or roasted garlic. Even garlic butter can be used! Take a baguette or ciabatta and soften some butter with garlic. Spread the butter and garlic mixture on the lengthwise sliced bread. Bake until golden brown and crisp.
12. Crispy Vegetables
When serving mozzarella sticks with vegetables, it’s a good idea to cook the vegetables to a crispy texture as well. Prepare crispy breaded vegetables like eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, and mushroom caps. If you deep fry the vegetables, you will get the crispiest results. But bake them in the oven if you want to keep things on the healthy side. A fantastic appetizer platter includes mozzarella sticks, breaded vegetables, and traditional marinara sauce.
13. Eggs
You can eat mozzarella sticks with eggs for lunch or even breakfast if you want. Mozzarella sticks complement fried or scrambled eggs, an omelet, and eggs benedict, so cook the eggs however you like. You can supplement your plate with additional foods such as a handful of mixed greens, tomatoes, fried bacon, and so on.
Best Sauces For Mozarella Sticks
Usually, marinara sauce is served with mozzarella sticks. Garlic, onion, and herbs are used to flavor the tomato-based marinara sauce.
Although mozzarella sticks and marinara go great together, occasionally you might want to try something different.
Other sauces that go well with mozzarella sticks include the following:
BBQ mayonnaise sauce
Kransky Tzatziki
A garlicky sauce
spicy food
spicy sweet sauce
Ranch
mustard sauce with honey
What To Do With Leftover Mozarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks are perfectly crispy when freshly made, and the cheese inside is gooey and stringy when the sticks are still warm, so leftovers are usually unlikely. But what if you made too many mozzarella sticks and now have no idea what to do with the leftovers? Of course, save them for later! When the mozzarella sticks have cooled, place them in an airtight container or plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
After a few days in the fridge, mozzarella sticks lose their crispiness. Reheat mozzarella sticks in the oven, an air fryer, or a pan to restore them. Use the microwave if you don’t need the sticks to be crispy and just want to warm them up.