Easy Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks Recipe (Freezer-Friendly!)
When it comes to yummy school lunches…I know what I’m talking about because I work at a school! Want to make sure your kids eat their lunch at school? I’ve made these Easy Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks Recipe (Freezer-Friendly!) for my own kids for years, and they LOVE them!
I started making these because my daughter wasn’t happy with the cheese-filled breadsticks at school and was begging me to try and duplicate these from school but make them 100 times better! I took her up on the challenge and made them using homemade pizza dough!!
One of my favorite things to do is to create bread recipes that anyone can make!
So I thought just how easy it would be to re-create a Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks Recipe from scratch…and it was! These are also WAY better than the old max sticks recipe, which is just a name for cheese sticks from school.
QUICK ANSWER:
These Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks are homemade pizza dough wrapped around melty mozzarella string cheese, baked until golden — ready in about an hour! They’re a favorite for school lunches, after-school snacks, or dipping in marinara for dinner. You can make them ahead and freeze them too, so lunch prep is one less thing on your plate.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
One of the names for these mozzarella cheese sticks is Max Sticks. These are the cheese-filled breadsticks that kids get from public school lunch. Honestly, they aren’t the worst, but when your kids are asking for better and possibly throwing their school lunch away because they won’t eat them (I see A LOT of waste!)…I’m down for making them better.
These cheesy breadsticks are great for packing school lunches or snacks! They are super filling and can be sent with marinara sauce so that they are like school pizza sticks and are super nutritious and filling!
On a whim one day while I was making one of my Yummy Homemade Pizza Recipes, I decided to keep out a portion of the dough to try my hand at making these homemade cheese-stuffed bread sticks. They turned out deeelish!
How to make Cheese Filled Breadsticks
Tips for the Best Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks
- Using my Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe makes the BEST Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks.
- You don’t have to use homemade bread dough. It’s perfectly ok to use store-bought pizza dough.
- Using a sprinkle of Cornmeal or Parchment Paper on your baking sheet will keep your Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks from sticking to the pan.
- Use any kind of cheese you like BUT, if you want yummy gooey cheese, use Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.
- Most important: Make these any way you like! Use any kind of cheese, and top with any seasonings you like (garlic powder, garlic salt, Italian Seasoning) ANYTHING!
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Ingredients:
- Homemade Pizza Dough Or you can buy store-bought pizza dough (find it in the refrigerated section at the store)
- Mozzarella String Cheese (or make it with your favorite cheese)
- Grated Cheddar Cheese for topping
- Garlic salt, Italian Seasoning (optional)
Directions:
STEP 1: Make your pizza dough first OR use store-bought pizza dough for this cheese-filled breadsticks recipe.
STEP 2: Roll out your Pizza Dough fairly thin on a lightly floured surface. Roll into an oblong shape. Making sure that the dough is wide enough for string cheese with a 1/2 inch extra dough or so on end.
If you’d like to make smaller bread sticks all you do is roll the bread dough out smaller AND cut the cheese smaller.
STEP 3: Cut dough into sections as seen in the pictures. Then cut ONE piece of string cheese LENGTHWISE in 1/2 or 1/4ths..however cheesy you want the middle to be.
Mozzarella cheese sticks are stringier than Cheddar. If you use cheddar cheese for the middle (which is totally fine!), it won’t be as stringy and your Cheese Sticks will be a bit greasy.
STEP 4: Lay one piece of string cheese in the middle of each piece on top of the dough.
STEP 5: Now roll up the string cheese and pinch the ends together at the opening. Put them onto the baking sheet with Parchment Paper or Sprinkled with Cornmeal.
I always use cornmeal on my baking sheets when cooking bread or pizzas. It makes them not stick to your baking sheet. You’ll find that pizza establishments use cornmeal on their baking sheets also!
STEP 6: Place the cheese-filled breadsticks close together…so that they become a pull apart when cooked or you can use a pizza cutter to get them apart smoothly.
I like to make Garlic Butter and spread it over the top. I simply do this with a little Garlic Salt and melted butter. You can also use olive oil with a little bit of fresh garlic…YUM!
STEP 7: After that, I sprinkle over the top with Cheddar Cheese, Garlic Seasoning, Italian Seasoning, and Parmesan Cheese (optional) Use what you like!
STEP 8: Bake your garlic cheese-stuffed breadsticks at 375 degrees for about 15 min…or until golden brown.
This is a great way to make sure that your kiddos LOVE their school lunches and eat every single bite! This recipe turned out fabulous!!
What Dipping Sauce to Serve with Stuffed Breadsticks?
You can serve just about any kind of dipping sauce with these Breadsticks! Some of our favorites…depending on the cheese filling are:
- Pizza Sauce or Marinara Sauce
- Ranch Dressing
- Honey Mustard
- Garlic Alfredo Sauce
- These >> 4 Homemade Dipping Sauces
“THANK YOU for this idea. My high schooler has been taking these and loves them!”
Kristin
Storing & Freezing Leftovers
Can You Freeze Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks? Why Yes you can! These freeze beautifully, which makes them perfect for busy weeks AND school lunches!
To freeze after baking: Let them cool completely, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350° until warmed through, the microwave will work in a pinch, but the oven keeps that outside nice and crispy.
Leftovers in the fridge? Keep them in an airtight container for 3-4 days. A quick reheat in the oven or air fryer brings them right back to life.
FAQs
Mozzarella string cheese is my go-to — it’s stringy and melts perfectly. Cheddar works too if that’s what you’ve got on hand, it just won’t stretch quite the same way!
About 12-15 minutes at 375°, or until golden brown and the cheese is bubbling out those seams (in the best way).
I don’t know if I would call them health food, but when making them from scratch you know every ingredient that you are putting in the recipe. No additives or preservatives.
What to Serve with Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks?
You can serve Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks with so many different dishes!
Easy Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks
Ingredients
- 1 pound Homemade Pizza Dough Or you can buy store bought.
- 5 package Mozzarella String Cheese sticks halved lengthwise any flavor
- 1/4 Cup Cheddar Cheese grated
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter optional
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt optional
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning optional
Instructions
- Roll out Pizza Dough fairly thin, in an oblong shape. Making sure that the dough is wide enough for string cheese with a 1/2 inch or so on end
- Cut dough into sections and cut one string cheese in 1/2 or 1/4ths..however cheesy you want the middle
- Lay a piece of string cheese in the middle of each piece of dough
- Now roll up and put onto baking sheet close together…so that they become a pull apart when cooked…then sprinkle with Cheddar Cheese..
- I always use cornmeal on my baking sheets when cooking breads or pizzas. It makes them not stick
- Then bake at 375 degrees for about 15 min..or until golden brown.
Notes
Storing & Freezing Leftovers
These freeze beautifully, which makes them perfect for busy weeks AND school lunches! To freeze after baking: Let them cool completely, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350° until warmed through, the microwave will work in a pinch, but the oven keeps that outside nice and crispy. If you like them extra crispy an air fryer works great, but make sure they are thawed first or they may burn before the inside is reheated and melty. Leftovers in the fridge? Keep them in an airtight container for 3-4 days. A quick reheat in the oven or air fryer brings them right back to life.Nutrition
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Wow, is this easy or what! Pinned it!
Yum! We will have to make these soon. My husband and son are both obsessed with cheese, so these would be a hit!
We will love your Cheesy Filled Bread Stick. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week.
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
Next time I make dough I’ll have a go at these too. I can imagine they would make an excellent side to onion soup too. I usually sprinkle semolina to prevent dough from sticking to the baking stone, but I can imagine that cornmeal adds quite a nice taste, so that’s something else I’ll be trying in the future!
Thanks for sharing.
#SHINEbloghop.
Oh my, this looks and sounds absolutely scrumptious. Cheese and bread… my two favourites!
Thanks for sharing and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop.
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
Those look so good.
They are Amber and sooo easy too 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!!
These look so much Better than the ones from the pizza place. I will have to make these.
Hi Stephanie! Yes they are yummy AND easy to make! Hope you enjoy..you could put any kind of cheese in them too! Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!