These mozzarella stuffed onion rings hide a plug of melty string cheese inside a crunchy fried onion ring. Each bite gives you sweet onion, stretchy cheese, and a golden crust in one go.
Thick onion rings hold the cheese in place, and a flour, egg, and panko coating fries up deeply crisp. A short freeze before frying keeps the cheese from leaking out into the oil.
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Why This Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings Recipe Works
Sweet onions soften and turn jammy in the fryer, which balances the salty cheese and the crunchy crust.
Pressing the cheese into the center of each ring means it melts into a pocket instead of oozing out the sides.
A flour dredge, an egg dip, and a panko crust seal the ring thoroughly, and freezing the coated rings gives the crust time to set.
Ingredients for Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings
- You need two large sweet onions, six mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into one inch pieces, one half cup all purpose flour, and two large eggs.
- Add one cup panko breadcrumbs, one half teaspoon salt, one quarter teaspoon pepper, and three cups vegetable oil for frying.
Sweet onions. Vidalia or other sweet onions have mild flavor and cook tender. Choose wide, even rounds.
String cheese. Low moisture mozzarella holds its shape. Cut the sticks to match the thickness of the rings.
Flour. The dry coat grabs the egg. Season it with the salt and pepper.
Eggs. Beat with a splash of water until smooth. They glue the crumbs to the ring.
Panko. The large flakes fry up extra crisp. Press them on firmly.
How to Make Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings
1. Cut the rings. Peel the onions and cut them into rings about three quarters inch thick. Choose the twelve widest rings.
2. Stuff. Press a piece of string cheese into the center of each ring so it fits snugly.
3. Set the station. Season the flour with salt and pepper and set out the flour, beaten eggs, and panko in three dishes.
4. Coat. Dredge each ring in flour, dip it in egg, and press it into the panko. Repeat the egg and panko once for a thicker crust.
5. Freeze. Freeze the coated rings on a tray for thirty minutes.
6. Fry. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F and fry the rings in batches for two to three minutes, until golden, then drain on paper towels.
Choose rings with a similar diameter so they cook at the same pace. The small inner rings from each onion can be chopped and used in another recipe, which keeps the stuffed rings looking neat and uniform.
How to Serve Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings
Serve the rings hot with ranch or marinara for dipping. They go well with nacho chip mozzarella sticks and mozzarella filled soft pretzels on a snack platter, and empanada dipping sauce or sausage peppers and onions round out a game day table.
How to Store and Reheat Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings
Cool leftovers and refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to two days. Reheat on a rack in a 400 degree oven for about ten minutes until crisp, because the microwave makes the coating soft.
Tips and Variations for Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings
Flag the allergens. This snack contains wheat, milk, and eggs. Check the panko and cheese labels if anyone has a food allergy.
Do not taste raw egg. Wash your hands and tools after handling raw egg, and never taste the coating mixture before it is fried.
Freeze first. Do not skip the freezer time, since cold cheese is the main protection against leaks.
Hold the oil steady. Check the temperature between batches so the rings brown evenly.
Fry in small batches. Crowding drops the oil temperature and leaves the coating greasy.
Bake option. Spray the rings with oil and bake at 425 degrees F for about fifteen minutes, flipping once.
Make a dip. Mix ketchup with a little horseradish for a zesty dipping sauce.
Check trusted guidance. Review the Texas AgriLife Extension food safety guide for safe handling of eggs and fried foods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings
How do I keep mozzarella stuffed onion rings from leaking?
Freeze the coated rings and double coat them so the crust seals the cheese in.
Can I air fry mozzarella stuffed onion rings?
Yes. Spray with oil and air fry at 400 degrees F for eight to ten minutes, turning once.
Which onions are right for mozzarella stuffed onion rings?
Large sweet onions such as Vidalia give wide rings and a mild flavor.
Can I make them ahead?
Coat and freeze the rings up to a week, then fry straight from the freezer.
What if my rings are too small?
Use halved string cheese pieces and stack two small rings together.
Mozzarella Stuffed Onion Rings
Equipment
- Deep pot
- Three shallow dishes
- Slotted spoon
- Frying thermometer
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 large sweet onions cut into 3/4 inch rings
- 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 1 inch pieces
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 cup vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Cooking
- Cut. Slice the onions into thick rings and pick the 12 widest.
- Stuff. Press a piece of string cheese into each ring.
- Coat. Dredge in seasoned flour, dip in egg, and press into panko, repeating the egg and panko once.
- Freeze. Freeze the coated rings for 30 minutes.
- Fry. Fry at 350 degrees F for 2 to 3 minutes in batches and drain.
