The 12 Best Chain-Restaurant Mozzarella Sticks
Dipping mozzarella sticks into a garlicky tomato sauce, taking a crunchy bite, and feeling that warm burst of buttery cheese unleash its deliciousness is the stuff dreams are made of. With only a handful of ingredients, this appetizer packs a big punch, delivering highly satisfying flavors along with some lovely textural contrasts. The outside of mozzarella sticks is coated in a crispy, seasoned breading that contains the piping hot cheese. Mozzarella sticks are fried until golden brown and typically served with a marinara dipping sauce that helps balance out the richness of the cheese with some refreshing tanginess. It's very easy to see why this dish has so much mass appeal and is featured on so many different menus at chain restaurants.
That said, there can be subtle variations in quality and construction. The breading can be thick and highly seasoned or light and more mild-flavored. Mozzarella sticks tend to come in the form of little logs, which makes them easy to eat by hand — but they can also come in bigger wedges and other shapes that might require a knife and fork. The quality of the cheese and the freshness of the marinara sauce are other important factors that often fluctuate between restaurants. Of course, cost and convenience are other aspects worthy of consideration. The truth is that both fast-food joints and sit-down establishments offer cheese sticks that are well worth your while. Read on to scope out 12 of the best chain-restaurant mozzarella sticks on the scene.
12. Culver's
Though technically not mozzarella sticks, Culver's makes fried cheese curds that equally hit the spot. These fried cheese curds are made with a mix of white and yellow cheddar cheese. The curds are formed into spheres and there can be some slight variation in size and shape. The cheddar cheese that's used in these offers a different flavor than mozzarella, since cheddar has a somewhat bolder taste.
There is one important thing to keep in mind with these cheese curds, though. If you're expecting these to come with some complimentary dipping sauce, you're setting yourself up for some disappointment. If you want a dipping sauce for your fried cheese curds at Culver's, you'll have to cough up some extra money. The good news is that Culver's has a wide range of sauces to choose from, including marinara, ranch, and cheddar cheese sauce.
Some customers say that if you're lucky, some locations might offer dipping sauce with these for free, but most locations charge, as that appears to be the official policy. These are definitely crunchy and delicious, but fried cheese should always come with complimentary dipping sauce, which is why these are ranked on the lower end of our list.
11. Checkers and Rally's
Between the cheeseburgers and classic milkshakes, there are a lot of good reasons to visit Checkers and Rally's. But one of the best reasons to pop by are the fries, which are lightly battered, fried nice and crispy, and then tossed in a crave-worthy seasoning. And if you dig the fries here, then you're bound to love the chain-restaurant's mozzarella sticks, too. Dubbed Monsterella Stix, this cheese-laden indulgence is fried until the outer breading is crunchy and brittle, then gets dusted in the company's Famous Seasoned Fries seasoning blend.
This seasoning blend adds some major flavor to these cheese sticks. It's tasty with a nice punch of black pepper and it helps this side dish beat out many of the chain's other competitors. Each bite of these cheese sticks is absolutely delicious, thanks to the seasoning (which is the same seasoning that the company uses on its fries). Unlike Culver's, this cheesy snack is served with a complimentary side of sauce for dipping. These cheese sticks are definitely some of the best cheese sticks available in the fast-food game: cheap, cheesy, and crispy. The only downside — the marinara is pretty mediocre. If the marinara tasted a bit tangier and fresher, these cheese sticks would land a higher spot here.
10. Fazoli's
Fazoli's has carved out a nice little slice of the fast-food market for itself. It's not easy to find a consistently delicious quick-service chain restaurant with a wide variety of affordable Italian-style comfort dishes, but Fazoli's pulls it off. There aren't many places where you can get baked spaghetti and meatballs smothered in melted mozzarella, chicken parmigiana, or a hot slice of hearty lasagna from a drive-thru. But thanks to Fazoli's menu, you can conveniently snag dishes like these with ease. Fazoli's also has fried Mozzarella Bites that come with your choice of alfredo or marinara sauce for dipping.
Having the choice of alfredo or marinara sauce with this snack is a part of what nudges it ahead of the restaurants below this pick. While marinara sauce is always a solid choice, having the option for some alfredo sauce too is a refreshing change. The creaminess of the alfredo sauce adds a rich complexity to these Mozzarella Bites that makes them extra flavorful and filling. At the same time, some might find the pairing of fried cheese with alfredo a bit too overwhelming, since it's basically a fried dairy bomb dipped in cream sauce. These Mozzarella Bites aren't necessarily very large; each one can probably be finished in one or two mouthfuls. If these were a bit bigger, this snack might be more elevated in our ranking. Still, these are a solid pick when you're in the mood for some cheap fried cheese and Fazoli's is definitely a worthy pit stop.
9. Red Lobster
Red Lobster is probably best-known for its Cheddar Bay Biscuits, but the truth is that the restaurant has plenty of other delicious items on its menu. Lobster linguini, hand-battered fish and chips, and fried flounder are just a few of this restaurant chain's tasty offerings. Even though most diners at Red Lobster are likely to reach for the Cheddar Bay Biscuits or seafood, it's a good idea to save some room for the restaurant's mozzarella sticks.
In fact, some customers happily report that Red Lobster is their favorite place to order mozzarella sticks. These mozzarella sticks feature a thinner and lighter breading, rather than the thicker style that some other restaurants use. This lighter breading allows the cheese to take center stage flavor-wise. These cheese sticks are also served with marinara sauce, which nicely complements the mozzarella. While the lighter breading can be viewed as texturally advantageous, one potential drawback is that they can lack textural contrast. Because the breading tends to be a little thinner than some other mozzarella sticks, the cheese and the breading can easily meld together. Usually, though, these are nicely fried and surprisingly good.
8. Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen is well known for sweet treats like ice cream Blizzards and cakes. Even though many customers may not associate Dairy Queen with savory menu items, the reality is that the restaurant's menu has cheeseburgers, fried chicken, onion rings, and other classic comfort foods. The fried cheese curds are another savory snack that the company whips up that deserves more attention from diners.
In fact, one fan on Reddit who allegedly worked for the chain said, "I never really liked eating DQ's food, but cheese curds right out of the fryer are simply ... irresistible." These fried cheese curds are available in two different sizes: regular and large. The batter on these fried cheese curds has some subtle coarseness that provide little lumps of crunchy goodness. There is a good amount of variation in the shapes of these cheese curds; some are bigger and longer, while others are smaller and more circular. These irregular shapes provide some tasty textural deviations. The cheese inside of these fried cheese curds is creamy and stretchy, which makes for a particularly glorious cheese pull. The only problem – the breading on these can often break open, spilling out during the cooking process. That said, a little breakage is bound to happen once in a while with fried mozzarella sticks. It's a risk we take every time we order cheese sticks at any restaurant. In Dairy Queen's case, it's still delicious and worth a roll of the dice.
7. Applebee's
With over 1,500 locations scattered around the country, Applebee's is a familiar spot with simple yet comforting food. The company's menu contains a long list of common dishes like three-cheese chicken penne, bacon cheeseburgers, as well as spinach and artichoke dip. While the restaurant's dishes are relatively straightforward, most of them are undeniably tasty. The mozzarella sticks at Applebee's are a particularly delicious choice. In fact, some diners say the cheese sticks are so good that they're the sole reason they choose to dine at Applebee's.
These mozzarella sticks are shaped into cylinders and come with a tomato sauce for dipping. The outer breading is well-seasoned without being overly salty and also has a pleasant crunch to it. What makes these mozzarella sticks better than others is how buttery the cheese is. The relatively affordable price tag is another bonus. The only trouble that some diners have run into with these has to do with the temperature that they're served. Occasionally, customers complain that these cheese sticks have been brought to the table lukewarm. If you ask us, we'd rather take some fairly warm cheese sticks over a piping hot batch that are primed to scold our tongues off. As long as the cheese is melted and the outside is crispy, we're pretty easy to please.
6. TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays' menu offers a wide variety of popular dishes like loaded potato skins, barbecue-glazed ribs, and fried chicken wings. Between the food, lively atmosphere, and full bar, a dining experience at TGI Fridays feels tailored to suit a casual, boozy meal. When it comes to appetizers, the mozzarella sticks at TGI Fridays are always a great call. This appetizer has proven so in demand among consumers that the chain restaurant even sells its mozzarella sticks at grocery stores across the country in the frozen food section. These mozzarella sticks are made with a garlic-seasoned panko breading that's thick, flavorful, and deliciously crispy.
One thing we appreciate about these cheese sticks is the shape. Because these mozzarella sticks are flat, it makes it easy to dip them like a paddle into the marinara and scoop up more sauce with each bite. When mozzarella sticks are shaped like cylinders, it can make it difficult to scoop up the marinara, depending on the sauce's consistency. But that's not the case with these — their wide form basically transforms these cheese sticks into an edible utensil.
The marinara dipping sauce at TGI Fridays is also excellent. Thick, herbaceous, and bold, this tomato sauce is rich and highly flavorful. It provides a pleasant punch of zesty flavor that pairs extremely well with gooey, crispy fried cheese. Good as these mozzarella sticks are, there are even better options out there to pick from.
5. Olive Garden
Well-known for its casual Italian food, Olive Garden is another popular chain restaurant. A few of the menu's highlights are the Chicken Alfredo, Cheese Ravioli, and Lasagna Classico. When it comes to appetizers, the restaurant's salad and breadsticks are some of the first dishes that come to mind. But the truth is that Olive Garden has other equally-tasty choices that you shouldn't pass up. The mozzarella sticks are another delicious pick that are a great way to rev up your appetite.
According to some alleged employees, the marinara sauce is made from scratch on a daily basis. This gives the marinara an exceptionally fresh flavor that helps it surpass some of the other chain restaurants in this ranking. On the other hand, the mozzarella sticks aren't given the same level of attention. Apparently, these cheese sticks come in a frozen bag, which is pretty common for many chain restaurants. At the same time, we can't help but wonder how much better these would be if the restaurant took the time to make them fresh every day just like the marinara. The good news is that the freshness of the marinara manages to elevate these in a noticeable way that makes them worth every penny. The next time you're at Olive Garden enjoying some of the restaurant's beloved salad and breadsticks, don't miss out on an order of these mozzarella sticks.
4. Buca di Beppo
Buca di Beppo is an Italian restaurant geared toward family-style dining with large, shareable plates of delicious food. Some of the restaurant's highlights include eggplant parmigiana, stuffed shells with spicy Italian sausage, and baked rigatoni. Buca di Beppo's appetizers don't disappoint, either. Freshly-baked mozzarella bread, fried calamari, and prosciutto-stuffed mushrooms are all fantastic choices. It's the fried mozzarella, though, that's one of the real all-stars of the menu.
This fried mozzarella is cut into thick, triangular wedges and is served with homemade marinara. One thing we love about this fried mozzarella is how it's served. They sit on top of a thin pool of marinara, which lightly soaks into the bottom of the mozzarella sticks. This keeps the top of the mozzarella sticks nice and crispy, while also making dipping unnecessary, since there's already tomato sauce ladled on the bottom of the plate. The only downside here is that due to the size and sauce on the bottom of the plate, this isn't exactly a handheld affair. A knife and fork are definitely necessary for these. Delicious as they are, our favorite mozzarella sticks are finger foods that are convenient to eat. Another drawback is the price tag. These cheese sticks are definitely tasty, but they aren't exactly cheap. That holds them back from being placed a little higher on our list.
3. Carrabba's Italian Grill
There's a lot to love about Carrabba's Italian Grill. The restaurant has an affordable, approachable menu that can please just about any palate. Chicken marsala, veal piccata, and grilled pork chops are just a few of the treats that the kitchen whips up. At Carrabba's, the appetizers shine just as bright as the entrees. Prince Edward mussels steamed in white wine, Four-Cheese and Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, and Tomato Caprese with Fresh Burrata are some of the best starters on the menu. The restaurant's Mozzarella Marinara is also worth a visit for a few different reasons.
For the price, these mozzarella sticks are unbelievably fresh. These cheese sticks are hand-battered and made to order, which automatically makes them better than most of the other restaurant chains on this list. First, a block of mozzarella is cut into thin planks. Then they're dipped in flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs. They are also double-breaded, which protects the cheese inside from bursting and also gives them some extra crunch. Once they're breaded, they get fried until they're crunchy and golden brown. While we love how fresh these mozzarella sticks are, we do wish that they were a little thicker. We love being able to bite into a thick chunk of fried cheese, and that's not really possible with these, since they're cut on the thinner side. That said, these are still of great quality and very fairly priced.
2. Maggiano's Little Italy
Maggiano's Little Italy opened its first restaurant in Chicago in 1991. Since then, the restaurant has gone on to expand into about 50 different locations around the country. What's the secret to its success? Simple, delicious food made from recipes that were handed down from Italian grandmothers. Even the garlic bread, made from white truffle ricotta butter and Italian cheese, is jaw-droppingly flavorful.
The menu also offers family-style dining that comes with appetizers, main courses, and desserts. This option is best for groups of four or more, and lets you pick from dishes like tomato bruschetta, Italian meatballs, mushroom ravioli, shrimp scampi, and chicken piccata. Whether you're choosing family dining or not, the Mozzarella Marinara is always a wise move.
This fried mozzarella comes with even more cheese melted on top of the breading for an extra layer of cheesiness. Then the ends of the fried cheese wedges get drizzled with a lovely layer of marinara and garnished with herbs. The outer breading is well-seasoned and crunchy, and the tomato sauce is appropriately portioned. Like Buca di Beppo, this is another appetizer that needs to be eaten with a knife and fork due to the fact that it's pre-sauced. We think the marinara sauce should be provided on the side instead of ladled on top; this would help maintain the crispy texture of the fried mozzarella a little better.
1. Arby's
Even though Arby's is primarily known for its roast beef and cheese sandwiches and curly fries, the restaurant's mozzarella sticks are amazingly delicious for a fast-food chain. In fact, when asked which restaurant has the best cheese sticks in the business, people seem to resoundingly agree that the answer is Arby's. There's a lot to love about these cheese sticks: You can easily snag them at a drive-thru, they're relatively cheap, and the breading to cheese ratio is pretty much perfect.
The outer breading has flavor without stealing the spotlight from the cheese. The cheese itself is thick, buttery, and stretchy. The amount of cheese used also feels generous. It comes with marinara sauce that adds the right touch of fruity tang. These mozzarella sticks also happen to be nice and cheap compared to some of the other options on this list. We also love that these mozzarella sticks come in orders of four or six — even numbers that make them easy to split with someone else. On the other hand, the mozzarella sticks at Arby's are so good that sharing can be a challenge.