Baked Mozzarella Balls (Better Than Store-Bought!)

freshly baked mozzarella balls with marinara sauce

Molly LaFontaine

Baked Mozzarella Balls (Better Than Store-Bought!)

I love serving my baked mozzarella balls with a side of homemade marinara sauce while my husband and I watch football on the weekends! They're made with fresh mozzarella and hand-breaded with wholesome ingredients. They not only taste better than store-bought freezer aisle mozzarella bites, but they're better for you! I hope my recipe replaces the pre-made options in your home like it has in ours!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 16

Freezing 1

Total Time 1 26

Servings: 24 bites

Step-By-Step Mode

Ingredients

2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cups breadcrumbs (I use homemade sourdough breadcrumbs)
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder (no salt added)
1/2 tsp onion powder (no salt added)
1 egg
24 fresh mini mozzarella balls

Instructions

Set an oven-safe wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet pan and grease it with butter or avocado oil. Set aside for now.
Grab 3 shallow bowls, in the 1st bowl add flour. In the 2nd bowl, add egg and whisk until no whites are left. In the 3rd bowl, add and mix together breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Dredge each ball by dipping one at a time in flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumbs so it's completely coated each time. Make sure to shake excess off after each step. Place breaded mozzarella on the greased wire rack over the baking sheet.
Repeat until all mozzarella balls are breaded. Ensure they're 1-2 inches apart on wire rack.
Place pan of breaded mozzarella in freezer for 1 hour before baking. This ensures they don't burst. Don't skip this step!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Once preheated, bake for 16-18 minutes until crunchy. At 15 minutes begin to watch them so they don't burst.
Sprinkle with sea salt immediately after baking and enjoy! If desired serve with homemade marinara sauce.

Video

Notes

Whip up a batch of quick homemade marinara for dipping: https://plumbranchhome.com/quick-marinara-dipping-sauce-from-scratch/

Please see blog post for all kinds of helpful tips and storage information. You can double this recipe as many times as you’d like.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment below or share a photo on social media! If you share a photo be sure to tag me @plumbranchhome

This recipe was developed from scratch in my kitchen by me, Molly LaFontaine, and tested many times by my husband and me to ensure success. Just like all of my recipes on Plum Branch Home. They’re created with purpose, cherished in our own home, and developed with my experiences, trial and error, and skills. NEVER AI (artificial intelligence). Here at Plum Branch Home, we’re loving our families and serving God one recipe at a time!