Things to Eat with Cheese Sticks

Cheese Sticks are a popular and delicious appetizer, featuring breaded and deep-fried mozzarella cheese that’s gooey and melty on the inside and crispy on the outside.

They are often served with marinara sauce for dipping, but you may wonder what other side dishes would complement them well.

Here are 20 great ideas for sides that pair perfectly with cheese sticks.

1. Fresh salad

Mozzarella sticks go great with some fresh salad made of your favorite veggies.

You can choose to make your salad from seasonal veggies according to the area you live in and you will have a delicious lunch or dinner.

Feel free to add a dressing you like as well. However, you want to skip the dressings based on cheese since you will have the mozzarella sticks to get the cheesy flavor.

It is also going to help your digestive system to consume your mozzarella along with some fresh veggies seasoned with herbs of your choice. 

2. Garlic bread

If you enjoy your mozzarella sticks as a snack, you will love the way they pair with garlic bread. You can find garlic bread in stores already made or frozen so you can simply bake it at home.

You can make garlic bread at home as well from any kind of bread by simply adding some olive oil and garlic powder. This could also make for a delicious lunch if you are in a hurry. And it is a combination that can be very filling.

 3. Pizza Bagels

Bite-sized pizza bagels, topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings, offer a delicious and playful side dish that matches the cheesy theme of mozzarella sticks.

4. Caesar salad

Caesar salad is one of the most nutritious salads you will find. It has fiber from vegetables as well as animal protein from eggs and anchovies. You can also find many recipes for this salad that include chicken strips as well.

So, if you combine such a salad with your mozzarella sticks, you will have a very tasty meal that will keep the hanger away for several hours!

5. Stuffed Mushrooms

Savory and delicious stuffed mushrooms, filled with a mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, and cheese, make a fantastic side dish that complements the cheesy goodness of mozzarella sticks.

6. Dip sauce

We all know that mozzarella sticks are even tastier with the right dip sauce. And when it comes to the type of sauce you use, the sky is the limit.

You can choose a mild flavor or a more spicy and even hot flavor. There are plenty of sauces that are already popular on the market. You can buy them already made from your local grocery store.

You can also make a sauce from scratch by adding your own ingredients. Mozzarella sticks taste great with a thick sauce that is rich in flavor and will stay on each stick perfectly.

7. Guacamole

Guacamole and mozzarella sticks are truly a match made in heaven.

You can use homemade guacamole or you can purchase it already made from the grocery stores. However, we suggest you make your guacamole from scratch as it tends to be that much tastier when it is fresh.

It only takes a few minutes to make it while you also have full control over the ingredients.

8. Grilled fish

If you like this type of meat, you will be happy to know that grilled fish goes great with a side of mozzarella sticks.

You can prepare on the grill any type of fish from trout to salmon. And you can even bake it. However, you will enjoy the combination between mozzarella sticks and fish, regardless of how you choose to make your fish.

9. Fried eggs

Fried eggs such as scrambled eggs or omelets are a great choice to pair with mozzarella sticks.

However, the best egg side dish for mozzarella sticks tends to be an omelet with veggies. This offers you a wide range of nutrition and you will also enjoy a healthy meal that tastes really good.

10. Caprese Salad

A simple Caprese salad with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze adds a light and refreshing side dish that complements the deep-fried cheese sticks.

11. Stir-fries

Stir-fries are very popular as they are easy to cook and they contain a wide variety of veggies.

You can find many vegetable mixes. And they are all easy to throw in the wok or pan and fry for a few minutes. Add a few mozzarella sticks next to them and you have a meal that is very rich in flavors of all kinds.

12. Barbecue

Do you like barbecue? If so, be sure to try out your favorite barbecue meat with your mozzarella sticks and you will not be disappointed.

You can add a tasty sauce to this mix for an even better flavor as well. And feel free to get creative with your salads if you want an even more complex meal.

Overall, your favorite barbecue meat with mozzarella sticks will satisfy your taste just fine as well.

13. Grilled chicken

Just like you can eat grilled fish next to your mozzarella sticks and enjoy it, you can also try out some tender, grilled chicken.

The best type to go with mozzarella cheese is chicken breast as it compliments the taste of the sticks nicely, but you can also try out chicken wings or legs and see how you like it.

14. Crisp veggies

Crisp veggies, either fried or baked ones are even tastier if you try them with mozzarella sticks. This is a great combination especially if your mozzarella sticks are crispy as well.

The best way to enjoy crisp veggies is with some freshly made mozzarella sticks that have that crunchiness of their crust that we love so much.

15. Tomato salad

Tomatoes and cheese are some of the most traditional pairs that you can also find quite frequently in salads. So you can also add a delicious tomato salad with your mozzarella sticks.

Make sure to add seasonings to your salad to add the flavor you want, such as a dressing that you prefer. This combination might just become your best comfort food. And one of the easiest meals to put together.

16. Pickles

Pickles make a great side dish for many meals. They go great with different types of meat. However, they also pair well with mozzarella sticks, both fried and baked ones.

You can have pickled cucumbers or pickled peppers and you will absolutely enjoy the taste they add to your cheese sticks with no effort on your part.

17. Your favorite stew

If you like stews, know that both veggie stews and meat-based stews go amazingly with a side of mozzarella sticks. You can also dip your sticks into your stew for an even more perfectly combined flavor.

Feel free to try this combination out even with some leftover mozzarella sticks that don’t have that freshly fried crust.

18. Steak and veggies

If you like a great meal of your favorite steak with a side of veggies being steamed, fried, or fresh, you will appreciate this meal even better with a few mozzarella sticks as well.

This is the type of meal that offers you all the nutrients you need. And you can count on the fact that it is very tasty as well since mozzarella sticks go great with both veggies and meat!

19. Bruschetta

Fresh and flavorful bruschetta, made with chopped tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil on toasted bread, provides a light and tasty side dish that balances the rich flavors of mozzarella sticks.

20. Roasted Vegetables

A simple dish of roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes, provides a healthy and colorful side dish to balance the richness of the mozzarella sticks.