Fried Cheese Curds

hand holding a fried cheese curd with stretchy cheese.

Fried Cheese Curds are coated in a light, seasoned buttermilk batter and fried until golden and crisp on the outside with hot, melty cheese inside.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1

Total Time 11

Servings 1 oz servings

Calories 145kcal

Author Kylee Ayotte

Ingredients

vegetable oil for frying
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 cup buttermilk cold
1 cup club soda or beer cold
1 pound cheese curds cold

To serve

marinara sauce
ranch or blue cheese

Instructions

Heat the oil

Add vegetable oil to a deep fryer or to a Dutch oven until it reaches about 4 inches up the sides. Heat oil to 375°F.

Make the batter

In a large bowl whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.
Stir in 1 cup buttermilk and 1 cup club soda or beer until smooth.

Dip the curds, and fry

Add 1 pound cheese curds to the bowl and coat them in the batter.
Carefully add the cheese curds a handful at a time, not touching into the hot oil. Place the bowl back into the fridge so everything stays cold.
Let them fry for about 1 minute, flipping halfway through until lightly golden brown.

Remove and devour

Take them out of the oil, letting excess oil drip off. Place them on a paper towel lined plate to soak up any excess oil.
Place the cheese curds on a wire rack that is placed on top of a sheet tray while you fry the remaining curds.
Serve immediately with marinara sauce and ranch or blue cheese for dipping.

Notes

Variations:

Other spices you can add to the batter: cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, or smoked paprika.

I do not add salt to the batter because the cheese curds are already very salty. This may vary by brand, so taste a cheese curd first to check the salt level. Add up to ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt to the batter if they need it.

What to do with leftovers

These are best eaten the same day. But, to reheat leftovers I suggest placing them back into the fryer until warmed through, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Freezing instructions

These can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To heat, do not bring to room temperature, place the frozen curds right into the hot oil for a minute or two until warmed through.

Nutrition