2 Ingredient Crispy Cheese Balls
These cheese balls are crispy on the outside and gooey and melted in the center. They are such an easy appetizer or side dish to make and you can serve them with your favorite dipping sauce. The cheese balls are also gluten-free, low carb and keto-friendly.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (180 g) shredded cheese, see note
- 2 large (70 g) egg whites
Instructions
- Add 2 inches of canola or vegetable oil to a medium saucepan. Bring to medium heat (350°F/177°C).
- While oil is heating, make your cheese dough. In a large mixing bowl, add shredded cheese and egg whites. Use a spatula or your hand to really incorporate the egg whites into the cheese until the shredded cheese turns into a soft loose dough.
- Use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough and release it into your palm. Lightly roll the cheese ball between your palms to form a round ball. Place onto a parchment lined surface and repeat with remaining cheese dough.
- Add a few of the balls to the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the hot oil and drain onto a paper-towel lined plate. Season with a little bit of kosher salt if desired and then repeat with remaining balls.
- Let cool slightly before enjoying. If desired, you can serve with your favorite dipping sauce. I served mine with marinara sauce. Cheese balls are best enjoyed soon after they are done cooking as they do lose their crispness when fully cooled.
Notes
- This recipe should work with most shredded cheeses that melt well. I tested it with shredded low moisture mozzarella and a shredded Italian five cheese blend. I don't recommend using fresh mozzarella because it is too wet.
- It should also work with parmesan cheese, but if you want to use parmesan make sure you freshly grate the parmesan, otherwise pre-shredded parmesan is too dry.
- While the balls can be cooked in the oven or air fryer, they won't stay be round balls and will be flatter. They also don't get as crispy as the fried version.
- Estimated nutrition is for the cheese dough only as it is difficult to determine how much oil is absorbed by the cheese balls during frying.
Serving: 1ball, Calories: 75kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 163mg, Sugar: 0.1g, NET CARBS: 1
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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