Description
Homemade Pizza Hut Cheese Sticks Recipe – Irresistible!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups whole milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- For Marinara Dipping Sauce (Optional):
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 small yellow onion, finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- If making homemade pizza dough, follow your preferred recipe. If using store-bought dough, allow it to come to room temperature for easier handling.
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet (approx. 13×18 inches) or line with parchment paper. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat.
- On a lightly floured surface or your prepared baking sheet, roll out the pizza dough into a 10×14-inch rectangle, about ¼-inch thick. In a small bowl, melt 4 tablespoons of butter, then stir in 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- Brush about three-quarters of the garlic butter mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border. Evenly sprinkle 2 cups of shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese. Gently score the dough into 1-inch wide vertical strips, then cut horizontally across the middle to create shorter sticks, without cutting all the way through.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven. Bake for 12-18 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. For extra crispiness, place on the lowest oven rack for the first 5-7 minutes, then move to the middle rack to finish baking evenly.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, brush the remaining reserved garlic butter mixture over the hot cheese sticks. Sprinkle with ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Let cool for a minute or two, then easily pull the sticks apart along the pre-cut scores.
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Sauté ½ small minced yellow onion until soft (5-7 min), then add 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried basil, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional), and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and stir in 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley just before serving.
- Arrange your warm, golden cheese sticks on a platter. Serve immediately with the homemade marinara dipping sauce alongside for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stick
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg