Description

These Baked Ham & Cheese Mozzarella Sticks are a crispy, golden snack made with melty mozzarella, savory ham, and a crunchy breadcrumb coating. Baked rather than fried, they deliver all the classic flavor with less grease, making them a perfect, easy appetizer or kid-friendly lunch.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Mozzarella Sticks

12 mozzarella cheese sticks (string cheese, low-moisture, part-skim)
12 slices deli ham

For the Coating

2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray

For Serving (Optional)

Marinara sauce, warmed, for dipping

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Instructions

Prepare Your Ingredients – Unwrap the mozzarella sticks. Lay out the slices of ham. Place the cheese sticks on top of each ham slice.
Wrap the Cheese – Roll each mozzarella stick tightly in a slice of ham to cover completely. Place the rolls seam-side down and set aside.
Prepare the Coating Stations – In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. In another bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and dried Italian seasoning.
Coat the Sticks – Dip each ham-wrapped cheese stick first in the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off, then roll thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture to coat all sides. For extra crunch, repeat both egg and breadcrumb coatings.
Chill for Best Results – Place the breaded sticks on a baking sheet and chill in the freezer for at least 20–30 minutes. This helps the coating stick and prevents cheese from oozing as it bakes.
Bake – Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. Arrange the chilled mozzarella sticks in a single layer. Lightly spray tops with more oil. Bake for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and crisp.
Serve – Let cool briefly, then serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping.

Notes

For extra-crispy sticks, double coat them by dipping twice in the egg and breadcrumbs.
Freeze longer for less cheese leakage; if you have time, freeze for up to 1 hour.
Try using smoked, honey, or black forest ham for variety.
These are best enjoyed fresh, but you can reheat leftovers in a 375°F oven for 5–7 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 stick
Calories: 110
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 330mg
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 7g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 8g
Cholesterol: 30mg