Fried Cheese Curds

hand holding a fried cheese curd with stretchy cheese.

Fried Cheese Curds are so easy to make at home! This delicious recipe uses fresh cheese curds dunked in buttermilk, seasoned up and fried until golden brown.

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 teaspoons 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 peanut 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 the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Stir in the buttermilk and club soda or beer until smooth.

Dip the curds, and fry

Add the 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 and ranch 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