Best 10 Fried Cheese Balls Recipes

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Calling all cheese lovers! Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with a delightful journey into the world of fried cheese balls, also known as queso frito or fried mozzarella sticks. These golden-brown spheres of cheesy goodness are a crowd-pleasing appetizer or snack that will leave you craving more. With a crispy outer layer and a gooey, melted cheese center, these fried cheese balls are the perfect combination of textures and flavors. Whether you prefer a classic mozzarella filling or a more adventurous blend of cheeses, there's a recipe in this article that will satisfy your cravings. So gather your ingredients, heat up your oil, and let's embark on a culinary adventure that celebrates the irresistible charm of fried cheese balls.

Let's cook with our recipes!

HAM AND CHEESE ARANCINI (ITALIAN FRIED RICE BALLS)



Ham and Cheese Arancini (Italian Fried Rice Balls) image

Yummy, comforting deep-fried rice balls filled with ham and onion, stuffed with melty, gooey cheese! I came up with these tasty little morsels after having something similar at a tapas restaurant in my hometown. Sadly, that restaurant closed its doors, so I was forced to recreate my favorite dish. *I have made these with havarti and swiss cheeses instead of the cheddar: all are equally good!* NOTE: After reading the review, please note: You definitely want to use rice that is somewhat sticky. Do not use leftover fluffy rice that has had the starch rinsed off as they will not hold together well.

Provided by under12parsecs

Categories     Ham

Time 30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 eggs
2 1/2 cups cooked rice
1/4-1/2 cup ham, finely diced
1/3 cup butter, melted, plus
1 tablespoon butter (for sauteing onions)
2/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated or 2/3 cup romano cheese
1/4 cup onion, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped or 1 -2 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2-1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese (cut into small cubes)
oil, for deep-frying
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour, for coating
1 cup dry breadcrumbs or 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Steps:

  • Saute onion in 1 T butter over medium heat until translucent and beginning to brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  • In a bowl lightly beat 2 eggs. Stir in cooked rice, ham, melted butter, Parmesan cheese, sauteed onion, seasoned salt, garlic salt, parsley and pepper.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Roll into 1-1/2-inch balls.and press a cheese cube into each ball, reshaping around the cheese.(I have used havarti and swiss in place of the cheddar with fantastic results!).
  • Place the flour into a small bowl. Whisk 2 eggs in a second small bowl. Place the dry breadcrumbs in a third small bowl.
  • Dip each ball into flour, then into the egg and then into the breadcrumbs.
  • Heat oil to 375 degrees, then fry rice balls until golden brown (about 4 minutes). You can also shallow fry them in oil, turning to brown.
  • Drain on paper towels and enjoy! They are nice dipped in french onion dip, ranch dip or all on their own.

FRIED MACARONI AND CHEESE BALLS



Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls image

This is a recipe from Paula Deen's magazine. Plan ahead, you will need to refrigerate the cheese sauce for 8 hours and the balls freeze for 2 hours. The chilling and freezing time is included in the prep time listed.

Provided by CookingONTheSide

Categories     Cheese

Time 10h35m

Yield 5 1/2 dozen, 66 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 quarts water
1 teaspoon salt, divided
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons milk
1 (12 ounce) package cheese spread, cubed
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 large eggs
2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
peanut oil, for frying

Steps:

  • Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking dish. In large saucepan, bring water and 1/2 t salt to a boil over high heat. Add pasta, and cook 6-8 minutes, or until tender; drain well.
  • In a large bowl, combine hot cooked pasta, 1/2 cup milk, cheese spread, mozzarella cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper; stir until cheeses are melted. Spoon into prepared baking dish; cover, and refrigerate 8 hours.
  • Roll macaroni and cheese into 1-inch balls; place on a baking sheet, and freeze 2 hours.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and remaining milk.
  • In a separate small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and cornmeal.
  • Dip balls into egg mixture, then dredge in breadcrumb mixture.
  • In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 2 inches; heat to 350 degrees over medium heat.
  • Fry macaroni and cheese balls in batches, 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

BAKED "NOT FRIED" MAC AND CHEESE BALLS



Baked

This traditionally fired appetizer is now a bit healthier for you, in this delicious baked version! These are great served with marianara sauce for dipping! Note: The prep time does not include the overnight chilling of the mac and cheese

Provided by carebear18

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 1h

Yield 4-6 balls, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (14 ounce) box macaroni and cheese mix
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 egg
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup wheat bran

Steps:

  • The night before you would like to make this dish, cook the box mix of mac and cheese according to the directions on the box. Pour the mac and cheese into an 8 x8, 9x9 or and flat pan in the refrigerator to set overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Line three bowls on the counter.
  • In the first bowl, combine flour, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  • In the second bowl, break the egg and slightly scramble it.
  • In the third bowl, place the breadcrumbs and wheat bran.
  • Take the chilled mac and cheese out of the refrigerator and cut into 1 x 1 inches blocks. Don't try for perfection, because it won't happen. Just as long as the noodles are sticking together it will work out fine.
  • Now drudge the mac and cheese ball into the flour mixture, then egg, then breadcrumbs, and place on a pan.
  • Continue the process until you have created as many mac and cheese balls as you wish.
  • Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, depending upon how crusty you like them. And remember to flip the balls around every 10 minutes to make sure all sides cook evenly.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 412.5, Fat 4.4, SaturatedFat 1.3, Cholesterol 35.6, Sodium 648.2, Carbohydrate 77.4, Fiber 4.8, Sugar 7.6, Protein 16.1

FRIED MAC AND CHEESE BALLS



Fried Mac and Cheese Balls image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 12h35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk, warmed, plus 2 tablespoons for egg wash
1 pound grated Cheddar
1 pound grated smoked Gouda
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying
Marinara or Alfredo sauce, to serve

Steps:

  • Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
  • In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir it with a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes. Whisk the warmed milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until melted and smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni. Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
  • Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Freeze the balls overnight.
  • Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash and pour it into a shallow bowl. Put the bread crumbs into another shallow bowl. Remove the mac and cheese balls from the freezer. Dip the frozen balls into the egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry.
  • Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and center is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite marinara or Alfredo sauce or combination or both for dipping.

FRIED CHEESE BALLS



Fried Cheese Balls image

OH WOW! We loved this combo of cheeses even before we deep fried it. Once fried, we served them with both horseradish sauce and marinara. The horseradish was the fave, but these little guys are delicious no matter how you serve them. Enjoy!

Provided by Pam T

Categories     Cheese Appetizers

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 oz shredded cheddar
8 oz cream cheese bar
8 oz pepper jack cheese
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 roasted pepper diced
1 Tbsp cajon creole seasoning(whatever you use)
all purpose flour
buttermilk
panko bread crumbs

Steps:

  • 1. Mix all the above in a large bowl(except the flour,buttermilk and breadcrumbs) till it is smooth, then roll into small meatball sizes Then refrigerate for about an hour.
  • 2. Then take 3 bowls out and put the flour in one bowl, buttermilk in another and then Panko breadcrumbs in the third. Take each ball and roll them in the contents of the bowls - in that same order; set them aside. While doing this you can heat a pot of oil for frying.
  • 3. Take 2-3 balls at a time and fry them for about 1 minute until golden; drain on paper towels.
  • 4. I would serve this with horseradish dipping sauce.

FRIED MOZZARELLA CHEESE BALLS



Fried Mozzarella Cheese Balls image

A Yummy appetizer!

Provided by Eve Peterson

Categories     Other Snacks

Number Of Ingredients 7

8 oz mozzarella cheese
1 c flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c milk
2 c italian sytle bread crumbs
vegetable oil
1/2 c pizza sauce

Steps:

  • 1. Cut mozzarella cheese into 1 inch cubes and set aside. Place three shallow bowls beside each other, filling the first one with flour, the second one with eggs and milk and the third with bread crumbs. Roll each cheese cube in flour, then egg mix then roll into breadcrumbs and place on plate. Repeat with remaining cheese cubes until all coated. In large skillet or saucepan, heat 2 inches of oil to 350. Set a large plate topped with paper towels off to the side. Using slotted spoon, lower a few cheese cubes at a time into oil, making sure they stay separated while frying. Remove from oil using spoon after 1 min. or when the cubes are golden brown, and place on paper towels to drain. Let oil return to 350 before making the next batch. Repeat until all cheese cubes are fried. Heat pizza sauce in microwave or on the stove top until warm. Serve warm fried cheese balls.

ITALIAN FRIED CHEESE BALLS



Italian Fried Cheese Balls image

The cheese balls are actually a mixture of pecan meal, bread crumbs, cheese, and eggs. After frying, they are smothered in a tomato sauce, and baked to perfection. Uncooked cheese balls can be frozen for later use.

Provided by Debbie Russell

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup dried bread crumbs
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup eggs, beaten
1 onion, chopped
2 cups vegetable oil for frying
1 cup tomato juice
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix together pecans, bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, and onion. Shape into golf ball size balls.
  • Heat oil in an electric deep fryer or heavy saucepan to 365 degrees F ( 170 degrees C). Add cheese balls to hot oil, and fry until brown. Fry in batches to maintain oil temperature. Transfer to an 8 inch square baking pan.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together tomato juice, tomato soup, and cumin. Cover cheese balls with sauce. Sprinkle additional cheese on top, if desired.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 483.3 calories, Carbohydrate 26.5 g, Cholesterol 180.3 mg, Fat 35.6 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 17.6 g, SaturatedFat 9.6 g, Sodium 650.9 mg, Sugar 8.1 g

SUPPLI AL TELEFONO (FRIED RICE & CHEESE BALLS)



Suppli Al Telefono (Fried Rice & Cheese Balls) image

Foods of the World: The Cooking of Italy - Time life. Any other "soft cheese" will work well instead or mixed in with the mozzarella - consider if you wouldn't melt it to make a dip - don't put it in these. *note* suggested Risotto Recipes - Recipe #99860 or Recipe #32295.

Provided by Michelle_My_Belle

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 35m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 eggs
2 cups risotto rice
4 ounces mozzarella cheese (1 cup)
3/4 cup fine breadcrumbs
oil (for frying)

Steps:

  • Beat eggs in medium sized bowl.
  • aAdd risotto (be gentle don't mash up the rice).
  • Scoop 1 tablespoon of rice into your cupped hand OR keep in it that spoon and grab another tablespoon to get the other side.
  • Place one cube of cheese in the middle of the risotto.
  • Place another tablespoon of risotto on top of cheese and pat into a ball (OR put two spoons together and seal edges).
  • Roll ball in bread crumbs and place on a sheet of wax paper.
  • Repeat until mixture and cheese is gone.
  • Refrigerate for up to half an hour.
  • Preheat oven to 250°F.
  • Fry no more then 5 at a time for about 5 minutes or until they are a light brown and crispy on the outside and the cheese is melted.
  • Take a casserole dish, line with paper towels - place balls on towels to drain and keep warm in oven for up to 10 minutes if needed.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 322.7, Fat 10.1, SaturatedFat 4.8, Cholesterol 128.2, Sodium 361, Carbohydrate 42.1, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 1.7, Protein 14.3

FRIED MAC AND CHEESE BALLS



Fried Mac and Cheese Balls image

A fun and easy recipe that the kids and guests will love! It's super cheesy and absolutely one of my faves. No need for spoons with this mac dish!!

Provided by erinrhodes813

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 7h10m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 (7.25 ounce) package macaroni and cheese mix
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
¾ cup pimento cheese spread
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
4 eggs
3 tablespoons milk
4 cups peanut oil for frying, or as needed

Steps:

  • Fill a pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the macaroni is cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 7 minutes. Drain. Stir in the 2 tablespoons butter, the 1/4 cup milk, and the cheese packet from the package.
  • While the macaroni is still hot, stir in the Cheddar cheese, pimento cheese spread, and Italian cheese blend, and continue to stir until melted. Place the macaroni and cheese mixture in a container and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the macaroni mixture from the refrigerator, and, using a cookie scoop, scoop into balls. Place mac balls on the prepared baking sheet and freeze for at least 2 hours.
  • Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Whisk the bread crumbs with the paprika, chili powder, black pepper, sugar, and cayenne in a shallow dish; set aside. Beat the eggs with the 3 tablespoons milk in a small bowl. Remove the mac balls from the freezer, coat in the egg wash, and then dredge in breading.
  • Fry the mac balls in small batches until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain briefly on a paper towel-lined plate; serve hot.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 543.2 calories, Carbohydrate 42.1 g, Cholesterol 146.5 mg, Fat 32.3 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 20.4 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, Sodium 1204 mg, Sugar 6.9 g

FRIED MAC-N-CHEESE-N-HOT DOG BALLS



Fried Mac-N-Cheese-N-Hot Dog Balls image

I've bragged about making healthy, filling snacks for my kid after school. This one is ...well...filling but not low in fat or calories. Either way, my son and his friends love it!

Provided by Melanie B.

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 20m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 cup cold prepared macaroni and cheese, preferably left over
1 hot dog, cut into 8 bite sized pieces
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Steps:

  • Mix together bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. Set aside in a shallow dish.
  • Shape macaroni and cheese into 8 balls with a piece of hot dog in the center. Roll in the bread crumb mixture coating well.
  • Fry in a pan with 350 degree oil until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
  • Serve with every kids best friend -- Ketchup!
  • Note: I've also made this before with a piece of Broccoli in the middle, to sneak in something healthy.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality cheese for the best flavor and texture.
  • Shred the cheese finely so that it melts evenly.
  • Coat the cheese balls in breadcrumbs or panko crumbs for a crispy exterior.
  • Fry the cheese balls in hot oil until they are golden brown and bubbly.
  • Serve the cheese balls immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
  • Experiment with different cheeses, fillings, and coatings to create your own unique cheese balls.

Conclusion:

Whether you're looking for a quick and easy appetizer or a fun and festive party snack, fried cheese balls are always a crowd-pleaser. With their crispy exterior and gooey, melted cheese center, these bite-sized treats are sure to be a hit with everyone. So next time you're in the mood for something cheesy and delicious, give this recipe a try!

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