Fried Cheese Curds
Fried cheese curds are a delicious Midwestern spin on mozzarella sticks. Cheese curds get dunked in a savory buttermilk batter and fried to crunchy but gooey perfection. The perfect snack or appetizer!
Have you had the good fortune to experience a good batch of fried cheese curds?
Let me tell you it isn’t just about the taste.
No with these cheesy bites you get the texture of the crunchy batter and gooey cheese plus the telltale squeak a good cheese curd makes when you bite into it.
If you know you know.
What are fried cheese curds?
Fried cheese curds are the Midwest’s answer to mozzarella sticks.
Rather than being battered and breaded mozzarella though, fried cheese curds are battered cheese curds.
Cheese curds are essentially nugget shaped milk solids or a less fully processed form of mozzarella.
In some areas you’ll hear fried cheese curds called fried cheese balls.
Ingredients
To make these you’ll need:
- Oil– Vegetable oil for frying. Enough to cover the bottom of the dutch oven in at least two inches of oil or enough to fill your fryer as instructed.
- Flour– All purpose
- Baking powder– For leavening
- Spices– Garlic powder and onion powder
- Buttermilk– You want it to be nice and cold so leave it in the fridge until you are ready to make it.
- Club soda– Don’t substitute.
- Cheese curds– You can find these in the deli section or specialty cheese case in the grocery store.
How to Make
Fried cheese curds are pretty easy to make- especially if you have ever deep fried something!
To do it, heat the oil in a deep fryer, or dutch oven, and heat until it reaches 375F.
While the oil heats, whisk all of the dry ingredients except for the cheese together in a mixing bowl.
Whisk the buttermilk and soda into the flour mixture until evenly combined into a smooth batter.
Then fold the cheese curds into the batter, tossing as needed to evenly coat.
Carefully fry the battered cheese curds in small batches for 1 minute before carefully flipping them.
Continue frying them just until golden brown.
Once they are golden brown, remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon, letting the excess oil drip off.
Transfer them to a paper towel lined plate to cool and drain.
Continue cooking until all the curds are fried.
Serve immediately, and enjoy!
What to Serve with Fried Cheese Curds
These are delicious on their own but everything is better with a dipping sauce.
You can serve them with whatever you like but some favorites include:
- ranch dressing
- honey mustard
- hot sauce
- blue cheese dressing
- marinara sauce
- barbecue sauce
- spicy mayo
- pepper or tomato jam
Storing Leftovers
These are best eaten right after you make them.
However you can store leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
For best results reheat in a hot oven until warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- If using a dutch oven use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature.
- I like to use a fork or slotted spoon to gently add them to the hot oil to prevent splashing.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the fryer or dutch oven. Adding too many at a time will lower the oil temperature and cause them to cook unevenly.
Other Cheesy Appetizers or Snacks
Fried cheese curds are a cheese lover’s dream come true in a squeaky, delicious snack form.
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other cheesy appetizers or snacks?
Try these:
If you’ve tried these FRIED CHEESE CURDS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Fried Cheese Curds
Ingredients
- oil for frying
- 1 cup flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 cup cold buttermilk
- 1/2 cup club soda
- 16 oz cheese curds
Instructions
- Add the oil to a deep fryer, or dutch oven, and heat until it reaches 375F. If using a dutch oven use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature.oil
- Add all of the dry ingredients except for the cheese to a mixing bowl, and whisk together until evenly combined.1 cup flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Pour in the buttermilk and soda, whisking until evenly combined into a smooth batter.1/2 cup cold buttermilk, 1/2 cup club soda
- Fold the cheese curds into the batter, tossing as needed to evenly coat.16 oz cheese curds
- Carefully fry the battered cheese curds in small batches, I like to use a fork or slotted spoon to gently add them to the hot oil to prevent splashing. Fry for 1 minute, then gently flip and continue cooking just until golden brown.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil, letting the excess drip off, then transfer them to a paper towel lined plate to cool and drain. Continue cooking until all the curds are fried.
- Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Notes
- If using a dutch oven use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature.
- I like to use a fork or slotted spoon to gently add them to the hot oil to prevent splashing.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the fryer or dutch oven. Adding too many at a time will lower the oil temperature and cause them to cook unevenly.
Nutrition
