Fried Cheese Curds are probably the best thing that ever happened to cheese. Perfectly crunchy and breaded on the outside, with ooey-gooey melty fresh cheese curds on the inside, these babies are ready to hop right into your mouth!
There’s nothing more comforting than a cheesy treat. For one, it is delicious in every form and is ultimately satisfying. If you’re looking for some great cheese recipes, be sure to cheese it up with our Homemade Mozzarella Sticks, Jalapeño Popper Dip with Bacon, or this tasty Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball.
This Cheese Curds Recipe is the best thing that ever happened to cheese!
Last summer we did an epic roadtrip across the United States. One of our stops along the way was in Wisconsin where we visited my friend Melissa from the blog Simply Whisked. We went out to eat and she encouraged us to try a Wisconsin speciality – fried cheese curds.
They were absolutely delicious and we were immediately hooked. We also stopped at cheese stores later on and picked up bags of fresh squeaky cheese curds, which I LOVE but our kids weren’t so sure about.
So of course I had to include fried cheese curds in my American Eats series representing one of the foods that Wisconsin is most famous for.
Cheese Sticks vs Cheese Curds
Don’t mistake these for fried cheese or cheese sticks, we are working with the fresh cheese curds here. You won’t typically find them at the store since they are only fresh for about a day. You’re best bet is a local farmer’s market.
What’s a Cheese Curd?
What’s the difference? Curdles are formed when the milk is heated, but the curds are what don’t make it into the mold to age (the delicious cheese you buy at the store). So the curds are then typically seasoned with a little salt and are only fresh for about a day. You can typically find cheese curds from a local cheesemaker or farmers’ market.
Fried Cheese Curds are a great recipe to whip up if you are looking for a comforting snack, but are also great as an appetizer, a side dish, or finger food for a small get-together. They are especially good served with a side of ranch dressing or toss them up in some buffalo sauce for a special kick.
Fried Cheese Curds Recipe ingredients
- Cheese curds: You’ll need a couple pounds of these. Check your local farmers market or a cheesemaker, or possibly even your local grocery store.
- Flour: Regular all-purpose flour is all you need.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk will give the batter great flavor and help it stick to the curds.
- Baking soda: Will serve as a leavening agent in the batter.
- Garlic salt: To add the perfect amount of salt and flavor.
- Large egg: make sure your egg is at room temperature.
- Canola oil: Great for frying and getting that wonderful crunch on the outside.
How to make Fried Cheese Curds
- Heat the oil. Heat 1-2 inches of oil to 375°F in a large cast iron skillet or dutch oven. A thermometer helps to monitor the oil so it doesn’t get too hot or too cold.
- Mix the batter. Whisk the flour, buttermilk, baking soda, garlic, salt, and egg until it makes a smooth batter.
- Dip the cheese curds in the batter a few at a time to coat, then add them to the hot oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan or the oil temperature will drop.
- Fry the cheese curds until golden brown, turning them partway through. Transfer the fried cheese curds with a slotted spoon to a wire rack set over a baking dish to drain. Repeat with remaining cheese curds.
Fried Cheese Tips
- Oil: You’ll want to keep the oil tempurature as consistent as possible. Keep a thermometer on hand to make sure the temp stays at 375°F and only fry about 8-10 curds at a time to prevent overcrowding.
- Variations: This is a very basic fried cheese curd recipe. Feel free to spice it up with extra spices, ranch to dip, or even coat them in buffalo sauce.
- How to serve: You can serve these as an appetizer, a side dish to your favorite burger, or just whip them up as a cheesy snack.
How to eat this Cheese Curd Recipe
Fried cheese curds are best enjoyed hot, right after they come out of the fryer or oven. The heat enhances their gooey, cheesy goodness and crispy coating. We like to provide a variety of dipping sauces to complement the cheese curds like marinara sauce, ranch dressing, chipotle aioli, or even just ketchup.
How to store Fried Cheese Curds
Storing fried cheese curds can be a bit challenging because their texture and crispiness can change over time. However, if you want to store them for a short period and reheat them later, we recommend letting the fried cheese curds cool down for a few minutes after frying to help prevent condensation inside the storage container, which can make them soggy. Then transfer the cooled cheese curds to an airtight container lined with paper towels in a single layer and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
To reheat, preheat your oven to around 350°F (175°C). Place the curds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a wire rack. Heat them in the oven for 5-10 minutes until they are heated through and crisp. Alternatively, you can reheat in an air fryer for 5 minutes. Avoid using a microwave to reheat fried cheese curds, as it can make them soggy.
Remember that while this method can help preserve the texture of the fried cheese curds to some extent, they may not be as crispy as when freshly made. Fried foods are best enjoyed immediately after cooking for the best texture and flavor.
Deep Fried Cheese Curds FAQs
If you know of a local cheesemaker or a farmers market near you, those will be the best place to find your curds.
The freshest you can find is best. If you don’t know of a local cheesemaker, check the label to see when they were packaged. Another good way to tell freshness is the quickness of the curds. If it is squeezy when you bite into it, you have fresh curds.
More Tasty Fried Recipes You’ll Love
- Fried Green Plantains
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Southern Fried Chicken
- Fried Yellow Squash
- Crispy Fried Onion Strings
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
Cheese Curd Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cheese curds
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 1/2 quarts canola oil or more depending on the size of your pan
Instructions
- Heat 1-2 inches of oil to 375°F in a large cast iron skillet or dutch oven. A thermometer helps to monitor the oil so it doesn't get too hot or too cold.
- Whisk the flour, buttermilk, baking soda, garlic salt, and egg until it makes a smooth batter.1 ½ cups flour, 1 ½ cups buttermilk, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons garlic salt, 1 large egg
- Dip the cheese curds in the batter a few at a time to coat, then add them to the hot oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan or the oil temperature will drop.2 pounds cheese curds
- Fry the cheese curds until golden brown, turning them partway through. Transfer the fried cheese curds with a slotted spoon to a wire rack set over a baking dish to drain. Repeat with remaining cheese curds.1 ½ quarts canola oil
Nutrition
More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • Oregon • Puerto Rico • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Utah • Wisconsin
This is literally the EXACT same recipe as the one above it in the search results. Freaking lame.
But have you tried either recipe, Jeff? For what it’s worth, we don’t have control over where our posts show up in search results. But I do put a lot of time and thought into how best to describe the method for something like frying cheese curds in hot oil that might be intimidating for many home cooks. I don’t know what other recipes you are comparing, but I know that my explanations, anecdotes, and tips are my own based on my personal experience testing this, and every, recipe on my site.
Can you substitute corn starch for the flour to make a gluten free version for celiacs. I’ve been celiac for about 3 years and really miss fried cheese curds.
I don’t think corn starch would be able to replace the flour. Do you use a gluten free flour? They would work just fine with a gluten free flour.