Baked Mozzarella Sticks

My husband has been wanting me to make Mozzarella Sticks forever. And thanks to Skinny Taste I found this delicious, low-fat recipe for baked mozzarella sticks. They were a huge hit, so simple, and so tasty. Can't wait to make them again!

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients: 

• 12 sticks part-skim, reduced sodium mozzarella string cheese (Sargento)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp flour
• 5 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 5 tbsp panko crumbs
• 2 tsp parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• olive oil cooking spray

Directions:

Cut cheese in half both length-wise and width-wise. This makes it so each bite isn't too cheesy. Place cheese in the freezer until cheese is frozen.

In small bowl, whisk the egg. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bow- combine the bread crumbs, the Panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and dried parsley.

Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs.

Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back into the freezer until ready to bake (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get golden).

When ready to bake preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with oil.

Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet. Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the bottom third of your oven until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4 - 5 minutes watching them closely so they don't melt.

Make sure to eat them straight out of the oven while they're nice and hot. Dip in marinara sauce.