Description

Golden, crispy, and irresistibly cheesy, these fried cheese curds make the perfect snack or appetizer! Lightly battered and fried to perfection, they have a crunchy outside with a gooey, melty inside. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce for a delicious treat that’s even better than restaurant-style cheese curds!

Ingredients

Scale

cheese curds:

1 lb fresh cheese curds (white or yellow)

the batter:

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup beer (or club soda for a non-alcoholic option)

frying:

2 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying)

serving (optional):

Ranch dressing
Marinara sauce
Spicy aioli

Instructions

Prep the cheese curds: If refrigerated, let the cheese curds sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. This prevents them from getting too cold, which can cause them to burst when fried.
Make the batter: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg and mix in the buttermilk and beer (or club soda).
Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking until a smooth batter forms.
Heat the oil: In a deep pan or fryer, heat the vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C). Use a thermometer to ensure the oil is hot enough for frying.
Coat the cheese curds: Dip each cheese curd into the batter, letting the excess drip off.
Fry in batches: Carefully drop a few cheese curds into the hot oil, frying for about 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
Drain & serve: Remove the fried curds using a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Serve immediately with ranch dressing, marinara sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

Cheese Curds vs. Mozzarella: If you don’t have cheese curds, you can substitute cubed mozzarella for a similar effect, but the texture will be softer and stretchier.
Spice it up: Add cayenne pepper or chili powder to the batter for extra heat.
Make it gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend and substitute the beer with sparkling water or gluten-free beer.
Storage & reheating: Fried cheese curds are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in an air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes for best results.

Prep Time: 10Min
Cook Time: 10Min
Category: Appetizer, Snack
Method: Deep Frying
Cuisine: American, Midwest

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 12g
Cholesterol: 60mg

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