These Keto Cheese Sticks only take 20 minutes to make and are the perfect appetizer! They are crispy on the outside with melty cheese on the inside. Serve with our creamy dill dipping sauce for a real crowd pleaser! These cheese sticks are keto, low-carb, grain-free, and gluten-free!
Let's be honest - cheese sticks are the best! They make the perfect appetizer, game day snack, or party dish. And both kids and adults love them, which makes them perfect if you are feeding a large crowd.
We have jazzed up these keto cheese sticks by using creamy Havarti cheese and pairing them with a dill dipping sauce.
They are absolutely devine!
For more cheesy treats, be sure to check out our Keto Chaffles and Keto Cheese Bread.
Why You Will Love These Cheese Sticks!
- Carb Content: Most cheese sticks you will find in the grocery store or at restaurants are made using a white flour or bread crumb batter. We have "keto-fied" this batter by using a combination of crushed pork rinds and almond flour. The result is a perfect coating without all the carbs.
- Crisp and Delicious: The pork rinds crisp up really well and turn a beautiful golden brown when fried making these cheese sticks taste even better than the original!
- Quick: This recipe only takes 20 minutes to make so it is perfect when you are short on time or looking for a fast snack.
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Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for the keto cheese sticks:
- Havarti: A semi-soft Dutch cheese that is smooth and mild in flavor. You can substitute with mozzarella or another semi-soft cheese.
- Pork rinds: For that delicious crispy coating.
- Almond flour: A great low-carb and gluten-free alternative to all-purpose flour.
- Parmesan: For a stronger cheesy flavor.
- Egg whites: To help the coating stick to the cheese sticks.
- Coconut oil: For frying.
Here are the ingredients for the dill dipping sauce:
- Mayonnaise and sour cream: For a creamy dip.
- Apple cider vinegar: The acidity helps to balance out the creaminess.
- Dill: Use fresh dill for the best flavor.
- Tabasco sauce: Or another hot sauce. Add it to suit your tastes.
- Coconut aminos: For a delicious umami flavor.
How To Make Keto Cheese Sticks
The full instructions are detailed in the recipe card at the end of this post.
But we wanted to give you step-by-step instructions, so you know exactly how to make this low-carb appetizer.
Step #1. Slice Your Cheese
Slice your cheese lengthwise into sticks about 3-4 inches long and 1/2-inch wide.
We use Havarti cheese in this recipe, but you can also use mozzarella or any other semi-soft cheese that melts well.
Step #2. Dredge Your Cheese Slices
In a shallow dish, whisk together egg whites and in a separate shallow dish, mix together the pork rinds and almond flour, along with some Parmesan cheese.
Dredge the cheese strips into the egg whites, then into the crumb mixture, then back into the egg whites, and once again back into the crumb mixture.
Dredging the cheese sticks twice in the egg whites and twice in the crumb mixture gives the cheese sticks extra crunchiness. We call this the "double dredge"!
You want the cheese strips to be fully coated, just like in the picture below.
Step #3. Fry Your Keto Cheese Sticks
Fill a deep frying pan or medium skillet with 1 inch of coconut oil (about 1 1/2 cups) and turn on the heat to high.
Heat the oil until it is sizzling. The temperature should be 375°F.
Using a pair of metal tongs, carefully place the cheese sticks into the skillet and fry for about 2 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Remove them from the skillet and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool slightly.
Step #4. Make Your Dipping Sauce
While your cheese sticks are cooling, make your dipping sauce.
Just add all the ingredients into a bowl and stir to combine.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Use uniform strips. Cut the cheese into similar sized sticks so that they cook evenly.
- Double dredge. Double dredging results in crispier keto cheese sticks.
- Test your oil. We recommend frying only one cheese stick first to make sure the temperature is perfect. Having the oil temperature too low will result in some cheese seeping out into the oil. Having it too high will result in your cheese sticks taking on a darker more burnt appearance and the inside won't get as melted.
- Be careful. The oil is likely to splatter so wear oven mitts when frying these keto cheese sticks to protect your hands and forearms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes - rather than frying these in a skillet, you can make them in the air fryer.
Follow Steps #1 & #2 above and then set your air fryer to 375°F.
Arrange the coated cheese sticks in a single layer and fry for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown.
Fry them in batches if they don't all fit in your air fryer in a single layer.
Marinara is the classic dipping sauce of cheese sticks - just make sure to opt for a no sugar added version. We like Rao's brand.
For this recipe, we wanted to mix it up, so we came up with a creamy Dill Dipping Sauce.
Havarti and dill are a match made in heaven. The sharpness of the Havarti pairs amazingly well with the lemony, sweetness of fresh dill.
These cheese sticks taste best when eaten immediately after being fried.
You can make the dill dipping sauce a day or two ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge.
More Easy Keto Appetizers
If you’d like more delicious appetizer recipes that are perfectly keto, then check out these favorites:
- Keto Soft Pretzels
- Keto Chicken Wings With Old Bay
- Keto Crispy Zucchini Fries
- Keto Crab Rangoons
- Keto Coconut Shrimp
- Keto Chicken Nuggets
- Keto Superbowl Recipe Round Up
We Can't Wait To See You Try It!
We love seeing our recipes come to life!! We can’t wait to see how you make these and loving seeing each person's unique spin on it! Tag us on Instagram @cleanketolifestyle or use the hashtag #CKLrecipe!
Keto Cheese Sticks with Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
For the Cheese Sticks
- 8 oz. havarti cut into 1/2-inch thick strips
- 1/2 cup pork rinds crushed
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 3 egg whites
- 1 1/2 cup coconut oil or enough to fill a medium skillet to an inch
For the Dipping Sauce
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chopped dill
- 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce or another hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon coconut aminos
Instructions
For the Cheese Sticks
- Heat the oil to 375°F in a medium skillet or deep frying skillet.
- In a shallow dish, whisk the egg whites.
- In a separate shallow dish, mix together the crushed pork rinds, almond flour, and Parmesan.
- Dredge the cheese strips into the egg whites, then into the pork rind mixture, then back into the egg whites, and once again back into the pork rind mixture.
- Using tongs, carefully place the coated cheese sticks one at a time into the hot oil. To not crowd the skillet, only fry a few at a time.
- Fry the cheese sticks for about 2 minutes until they are golden brown, flipping them halfway.
- Transfer them to a large plate or baking sheet to cool slightly before serving.
For the Dipping Sauce
- Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
Notes
- Use uniform strips. Cut the cheese into similar sized sticks so that they cook evenly.
- Double dredge. Double dredging results in crispier keto cheese sticks.
- Test your oil. We recommend frying only one cheese stick first to make sure the temperature is perfect. Having the oil temperature too low will result in some cheese seeping out into the oil. Having it too high will result in your cheese sticks taking on a darker more burnt appearance and the inside won't get as melted.
- Be careful. The oil is likely to splatter so wear oven mitts when frying these keto cheese sticks to protect your hands and forearms.
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