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Home » Recipes » Appetizers

Fried Cheese Balls

Estefania
Modified: Mar 25, 2026 · Published: Dec 30, 2023 by Estefania · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Irresistible Fried Cheese Balls are golden cheesy perfection, with a crispy exterior that gives way to a gooey center. These crispy cheese balls are not just a gooey snack but also the perfect cheese appetizer for any occasion.

Recipe
Crispy fried cheeseballs stacked on a plate, golden and crunchy on the outside with a soft, melty center

Why You'll Love This Fried Cheese Balls Recipe

  • Quick and Easy: Preparing these cheese balls takes just 10 minutes and a few simple ingredients. You'll have everything ready in under half an hour. 
  • Perfect Snack: They are an irresistible snack with a crispy exterior and gooey melted cheese inside. I love making them for party appetizers or when I crave some comfort food.

The Best Fried Cheese Balls - Crispy, Gooey, and Irresistible 

For me, fried cheese balls are the ultimate cheesy bites and the best easy party appetizer to put on the table. I love making homemade cheese balls with simple ingredients because they turn into gooey, melted cheese bites that always disappear fast. You can even pack a few as a school lunch snack, and they'll be gone before you know it!

When friends come over, I serve them with a dipping sauce for parties, game nights, or even as a Super Bowl appetizer. These crispy little bites are always a hit; there's just something about that golden outside and cheesy inside that makes everyone ask for more.

Golden fried cheeseballs with a gooey cheese pull, crispy outside and stretchy melted center on a plate

Fried Cheese Balls Ingredients

Here's what you need to make these cheese balls:

  • Mozzarella Cheese: I love using mozzarella in this recipe because it has a mild flavor and gets wonderfully stretchy and gooey when melted. You can also use other cheeses that melt well, like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a cheese combination.
  • Cornstarch and Egg: These two ingredients are crucial in this recipe. They work as a binder to help the cheese form into perfect balls. 
  • Salt: For seasoning.   

How to Make Fried Cheese Balls

You can find the complete printable Fried Cheese Balls recipe with measurements below, but for now, here's a quick overview of how it goes:

How to Make Fried Cheese Balls

1. Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine shredded mozzarella cheese, cornstarch, an egg, and a pinch of salt. Mix well using a spoon and your hands until everything is fully combined.

2. Shape Balls: Shape the mixture into small, firm balls, ensuring they hold their shape.

3. Fry: Heat enough oil in a deep frying pan for deep frying. Once the oil is hot (but not smoking), carefully drop in a few cheese balls at a time and fry until golden, about 2-3 minutes.

4. Drain & Serve: Remove the crispy cheese balls and place them on a plate lined with paper towels. Serve warm while they're still crunchy.

Crispy fried cheeseballs piled on a plate, golden and evenly browned with a crunchy exterior

Variations

  • Herb and Garlic Cheese Balls: Mix finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives and minced garlic into the cheese mixture for an extra kick of freshness.
  • Spicy Cheese Balls: Sprinkle in chili powder, chili flakes, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to give the mix a spicy kick and loads of extra flavor. 

My Tips for Deep Fried Cheese Balls

Cold Ingredients: It's best to use cold ingredients, especially the cheese, when making this recipe.

Oil Temperature: Make sure to heat the oil to the perfect temperature, around 350-375°F or 175-190°C. If it's too cold, the cheese balls might soak up too much oil, and if it's too hot, they could get too brown on the outside before melting inside.

Serve Immediately: I think fried cheese balls taste their absolute best when they're fresh out of the fryer. I always enjoy them right away so I can catch that gooey, melted cheese inside.

How to Serve

I love serving these fried cheese balls with dipping sauces like ranch dressing or pepper mayonnaise. Feel free to use your favorite sauce!

I recommend putting the dipping sauce in the center and arranging the cheese balls around it. That way, everyone can grab a cheese ball and dip it easily.

Try These Snack Recipes Next!

  • Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
    Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
  • Chicken Croquettes
    Easy Chicken Croquettes
  • Crispy mashed potato fries on a gray plate with a small bowl of creamy dipping sauce.
    Crispy Mashed Potato Fries 
  • Cowboy butter chicken wings on a white plate, crispy baked wings coated in a rich, glossy garlic butter sauce with herbs and a golden finish
    Cowboy Butter Chicken Wings Recipe

Recipe

Golden fried cheeseballs with a gooey cheese pull, crispy outside and stretchy melted center on a plate

Fried Cheese Balls

Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, these Fried Cheese Balls are the ultimate cheesy bites. Whether served as a cheese appetizer, a gooey snack, or crispy cheese balls for an easy party appetizer, they're always a crowd favorite.
5 from 3 votes
Print Rate
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 176
Author: Estefania

Ingredients 

  • 300 g mozzarella cheese - shredded
  • 3 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 egg
  • ¼  teaspoon salt
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Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella cheese, cornstarch, egg, and salt. Use a spoon and your hands to mix the ingredients until well combined. Take small portions of the mixture and roll them into bite-sized balls. Ensure that the balls are compact and hold their shape.
  • In a deep frying pan, heat enough oil for deep frying. The oil should be hot but not smoking.
  • Carefully drop a few cheese balls into the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until they turn golden brown and have a crispy exterior. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
  • Once the cheese balls are golden brown, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
  • Serve the fried cheese balls while they're still warm and crispy. You can enjoy them on their own or with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

Consistent Size: I always make sure to roll the cheese balls the same size; this way, they fry evenly and come out just right every single time. 
Prevent Overcrowding: I never fry too many at once. Small batches keep them from crowding the pan, so they crisp up beautifully without going soggy. 
Quick Frying: I like to pull them out as soon as they turn golden. Just a quick fry keeps the outside crisp while the cheese inside stays gooey and delicious. 
Draining Excess Oil: I set the fried cheese balls on paper towels right away. It’s a simple step that soaks up the extra oil and makes them perfectly crispy to bite into. 

Nutrition

Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 421mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Calcium: 257mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

More Appetizers

  • Cucumber avocado feta salad with fresh dill in a bowl, light and refreshing Mediterranean-style salad
    Cucumber Avocado Feta Salad 
  • Vegan Margherita pizza sliced into squares with melted vegan cheese, tomato sauce, and fresh basil on a wooden board
    Vegan Margherita Pizza Recipe
  • Crispy rice paper dumplings served on a plate with chili oil dipping sauce and sliced green onions
    Crispy Rice Paper Dumplings with Pork
  • Golden baked chicken meatballs on a plate with sweet chili dipping sauce, close-up view
    Baked Chicken Meatballs

Comments

  1. John says

    February 27, 2024 at 11:15 am

    5 stars
    Supper delicious

    Log in to Reply
  2. Susana says

    September 13, 2025 at 3:14 am

    5 stars
    These fried cheese balls look amazing! I love that they’re crispy on the outside and gooey inside, such a perfect snack or party appetizer.

    Log in to Reply
5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Image of Estefania

Hi, I'm Estefania!

I love to cook simple & easy recipes that are inspired by my Spanish culture and travel around the world. For simple and easy recipes with an occasional twist, you’re in the right place!

About Me

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