These Hot Fried Cheese Balls are flavor bombs that require ingredients you might already have on hand and ready to go. Perfect for whipping up as an appetizer or to serve when guests are over. They taste incredible straight off the skillet (once cooled, of course), but we had some pasta sauce on hand that nicely complemented the cheese balls' creaminess. Try making them today and let us know how they turned out!

Ingredients

• 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 oz. softened cream cheese
• 1 cup flour
• 2 cups bread crumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp water
• ¼ cup diced Poppy’s Giardiniera 
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Vegetable oil for frying 

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, add the grated cheese, softened cream cheese, and diced giardiniera. Mix until the ingredients are well combined. Using a small cookie scoop, roll into 1 inch balls and place in a single layer on a sheet pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.

2. After 30 minutes, remove from the freezer and roll each ball in flour. Mix the eggs and water and beat until well combined. Combine the bread crumbs with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Dip the cheese balls in the egg mixture, one at a time, before rolling each one through the flour again and dipping in the egg once more. Finally, roll each ball through the seasoned bread crumbs and get a nice coating over the whole ball. Place the balls on a sheet pan to rest. 

3. Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a cast-iron skillet on medium to medium-high heat. Cook the cheese balls until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove them and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve warm.