These cheesy parmesan mozzarella bites are golden, crispy, and loaded with melty cheese pull. Ready in 25 minutes with 7 expert tips for perfect results.
Ingredients
Scale
8 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into 24 small cubes
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray or olive oil for greasing
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Warm marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease it with cooking spray.
Set up your breading station: flour mixed with garlic powder in one shallow dish, beaten eggs in another, and breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and black pepper in a third.
Pat each mozzarella cube dry with a paper towel. This step is critical for getting the breading to stick properly.
Dredge each cube in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. Then dip into the beaten egg, letting any excess drip off.
Roll each cube in the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to coat all sides evenly. For extra crunch, dip in egg and breadcrumbs a second time.
Place the coated cubes on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Lightly spray the tops with cooking spray.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and the cheese just starts to ooze at the edges. Do not overbake or the cheese will leak out completely.
Let the bites cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes. The cheese inside continues to melt and becomes perfectly stretchy.
Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately with warm marinara sauce for dipping.