Crispy Cheese Bites (Applebee’s Copycat Recipe!)
My Crispy Cheese Bites are just like Applebee’s! Skip the restaurant and recreate them yourself at home for a fraction of the price.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cheese curds
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- vegetable oil for frying
- marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and black pepper.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg until well combined.
- Pour the milk and egg mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir until a smooth batter forms. The batter should be thick enough to coat the cheese curds.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot or skillet to approximately 375°F (190°C).
- Drop a few cheese curds into the batter, making sure they are well coated. Use a fork or slotted spoon to transfer the cheese curds from the batter to the hot oil, allowing any excess batter to drip off.
- Fry the cheese curds in small batches for about 2-3 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy. Flip them occasionally for even cooking.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried cheese curds from the oil and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Repeat the process with the remaining cheese curds, ensuring the oil has returned to the proper temperature before adding each new batch.
- Serve the batter fried cheese curds while they're still warm and crispy. They can be enjoyed on their own or served with marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
Cheese curds can be found in the refrigerated section of some grocery stores or at specialty cheese shops. You can use fresh or slightly aged cheese curds for this recipe.
Ensure the oil is at the correct temperature before frying to achieve crispy and evenly cooked cheese curds.
It's important to fry the cheese curds in small batches to prevent overcrowding the pan and maintaining the oil temperature.
Drain excess oil from the fried cheese curds on a paper towel to keep them light and crispy.
For an extra crispy coating, allow the fried cheese curds to cool completely, and then fry them again.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 615cal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 1167mg | Sugar: 3g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 956mg | Iron: 2mg