The Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks are a big 5-pound box of breaded, air-fryer-ready mozzarella sticks at Costco, made with 100% real mozzarella string cheese in a crispy seasoned breading. They come in two resealable bags so you can cook a handful without defrosting the whole box, and they are the kind of freezer stash that saves you when the kids want a snack or friends show up for the game. Serve them with marinara next to a plate of Foster Farms Mini Corn Dogs or a scoop of Costco's Artichoke Jalapeno Dip and you have an instant snack spread.
Quick Take: Crispy, gooey mozzarella sticks made with real string cheese, air-fryer ready, in a big resealable 5 lb box. Verdict: Buy. Scores: Taste ⅘ · Value ⅘ · Convenience 5/5 · Crowd-Pleaser 5/5.
The cheese pull test
The real test for any mozzarella stick is the pull, and these pass. Cooked right, you get that long, stretchy cheese pull out of a crispy, well-seasoned shell, with actual mozzarella inside (not some rubbery filler). The breading has a nice savory seasoning so they taste like more than just fried cheese. My kids inhale them, and dipped in warm marinara they honestly rival the ones at a restaurant for a fraction of the price.
What a 5-pound box costs
The box runs around $14.99 to $16.99 at Costco (item #222464). That is a lot of mozzarella sticks, roughly 30 servings of 3 sticks each, so the per-serving cost is low. Restaurant mozzarella sticks run $8 to $10 for a basket of six or so, which makes this box a steal for party snacking. The two resealable bags also mean the box lasts through many snack sessions without freezer burn.
Air fryer is the move
You can bake, convection-bake, or deep-fry these, but the air fryer is the easiest and fastest. A few guidelines from the box:
- Air fryer: 375°F, about 4 minutes for 8 pieces, shaking the basket halfway.
- Conventional oven: 475°F for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Convection oven: 350°F for 4 to 6 minutes.
- Deep fry: 350°F for 2 to 2.5 minutes.
One important tip: do not overcook them, or the cheese blows out and leaks. Let them stand about 2 minutes after cooking so the molten cheese sets up a little and does not burn anyone's mouth. Keep them frozen until the moment they go in.
The nutrition, real talk
Nutrition snapshot (per 3 sticks / 76g, about 30 servings per box): 210 cal · 10g fat (4.5g saturated, 0g trans) · 20mg cholesterol · 590mg sodium · 19g carbs · less than 1g fiber · 1g sugar (0g added) · 10g protein. Notable: 100% real mozzarella string cheese and a decent 10g protein per serving, with 15% DV calcium. Contains milk, wheat, and soy; made with a bioengineered ingredient.
These are a fried, breaded treat, so the sodium and saturated fat are what you would expect. The upside is real cheese and a solid protein hit, so as an occasional snack they are a reasonable splurge.
Snack-time winner
These are for families, game-day hosts, and anyone who wants a fast crowd-pleasing snack. They are perfect for after-school bites, party platters, and movie nights. Skip them if you have a milk, wheat, or soy allergy, or if you are avoiding fried foods.
What other parents say
Costco shoppers love these for the real cheese pull, big box, and air-fryer convenience, and they are a frequent repeat buy. The most common praise is that they taste better than most frozen mozzarella sticks and crisp up beautifully in the air fryer. The main note is the usual one: cook them carefully so the cheese does not leak, and they are a treat, not an everyday health food.
Stock the freezer with these too
- Costco Crispy Potato Corn Dogs: another freezer snack for hungry kids.
- Costco Onion Cheese Pinwheels: a savory bite for parties and snacks.
- Pizza Cupcakes with Pepperoni: a handheld snack for the same crowd.
- Vlasic Pickle Ball Corn Puffs: a crunchy snack to round out a platter.
- 21 Best Healthy Costco Snacks for Kids: lighter picks to balance the fried stuff.
Round out a party platter with some air-fried TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites, and if you want to make your own dipping sauce, these air fryer lamb meatballs come with an easy marinara that works for the mozzarella sticks too.
Scoreboard
- Taste: ⅘. Real cheese pull and a crispy, well-seasoned shell.
- Value: ⅘. A huge box for party-snack prices, cheaper than restaurant baskets.
- Convenience: 5/5. Air fryer in a few minutes, resealable bags, no thawing.
- Crowd-Pleaser: 5/5. Kids and party guests devour them.
Should you buy them?
Yes, as an easy Buy for snacking and entertaining. These mozzarella sticks deliver a real cheese pull and a crispy shell straight from the air fryer, and the big resealable box keeps them handy for whenever a snack craving (or a crowd) shows up. They are a fried treat, not health food, but for the price and convenience, they are one of the better freezer snacks at Costco.
Grab it here
Where to find it: Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks, 5 lb at Costco (item #222464). Box size: 5 lb (2.26 kg), about 30 servings, in two resealable bags. Price: ~$14.99 to $16.99, varies by warehouse. Storage: keep frozen, cook from frozen. Aisle: freezer section.
Disclaimer: Costco Finds is an independent review site and is not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Costco. All opinions are my own, based on personal experience.
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