Gluten-Free Cheese Curds Recipe: No-Fuss Fried or Baked

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Crispy, cheesy, and oh-so-yummy, these gluten-free cheese curds are the perfect low-carb snack or appetizer you don’t want to miss. You can make them at home in two easy ways: Pan-fry on the stovetop or follow a foolproof baking method in the oven.

Jump to Recipe

With just 4 ingredients and no fancy equipment needed, you can make a batch of these crispy, cheesy bites in less than 20 minutes anytime you’re hungry but don’t want anything too heavy. They’re also great for entertaining guests at parties, game days, and small weekend gatherings.

Serve these cheese curds with light dipping sauces such as ranch dressing, honey mustard, garlic aioli, or marinara. It’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that will not disappoint!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These crisp-gooey, golden nuggets of heaven will satisfy your comfort food cravings and keep the hunger pangs at bay. They’re so good that they literally disappear from our house within an hour of cooking them! Here’s why you and your family will love this recipe:

• Budget-friendly
• Basic kitchen equipment
• Minimal cleanup
• Family-friendly and kid-approved: The comforting flavors and textures are loved by both kids and adults, making these cheese curds an all-time family favorite.
• Simple ingredients: Using only 4 easy-to-find ingredients, these gluten-free cheese curds are the perfect go-to snack or appetizer for any occasion.
• Short prep and cooking time: Takes just 18 minutes to prep and cook so you can enjoy a quick snack without the hassle.
• Amazing flavors: The deliciously rich, savory, and mild flavor is hard to resist, with a plump and cheesy inside covered in a crispy exterior. Yum!
• Easy-to-follow directions: As easy as mixing ingredients, frying or baking, and serving while hot and gooey. Even beginner cooks can pull this off without worry.

How to Make Gluten-Free Cheese Curds

Cheese curds are an excellent choice for any wellness or keto diet. They’re naturally low in carbs and high in fat, making them an ideal snack or appetizer. The flavor is remarkably delicious, so if your keto diet plan has become monotonous, make a batch of these savory bites to jazz things up.

Testing this recipe started with my husband’s daily milking, and I prepared to make cheese curds from scratch. It’s a relatively quick process (the cheese finishes in 5 hours rather than several days like most other cheeses) and yields a developed flavor even without aging.

These tasty morsels come together so quickly, you don’t even need flour to make a crispy batter. Gather 4 basic ingredients and you’re halfway to making these delicious and savory gluten-free cheese curds in just 20 minutes!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions to make the best cheese curds.

Ingredients You Need

For those not familiar, cheese curds are fresh chunks of cheese, often cheddar cheese. Traditional cheese is usually aged for months or years to reach that savory flavor and rich texture, but cheese curds are the opposite. They’re valued by how fresh they are and, as a result, usually have a short shelf-life.

Gather the following ingredients to make this easy snack that’s sure to win everyone’s heart:

• Cheese curds: Two cups of the freshest and best quality cheese curds you can find. Making them from scratch is entirely optional, which involves mixing eggs with buttermilk. If you’re lucky, you can find cheese curds at your local grocery stores, at local family farms, or order them directly from farms online. Remember that the fresher the curds, the tastier your fried or baked cheese curds will be.
• Eggs: Whisk a few large eggs to coat the curds. Buy farm-fresh eggs if you can.
• Parmesan cheese: The quality of your cheese also impacts the recipe. Finely grated works best.
• Garlic powder: For flavor. I buy herbs and spices from Mountain Rose Herbs.
• Cooking oil (if using the frying method): Use lard, tallow, or another healthy fat with a high smoking point like avocado oil; avoid low-quality vegetable oils like canola oil. 

Substitutions and Variations

This cheese curds recipe is already gluten-free, grain-free, and nut-free. As the name suggests, it is essential to have cheese in the recipe. Therefore, this appetizer cannot be modified to be dairy-free, Whole30, or true paleo. Some people on the paleo diet tolerate dairy and should follow the recipe as written.

If you are following a GAPS diet, it’s best to hold off on this cheesy snack. Certain aged cheeses are allowed on GAPS, but fresh cheeses like cheese curds should be avoided. 

• Carnivore diet: As a zero-fiber recipe, this is one of the best carnivore snack options. For a strict carnivore recipe, omit garlic powder and bake or fry in animal fat like lard or tallow.
• Flavor boosters: Additional seasonings like paprika or cayenne pepper or herbs like basil can help make your cheese curds extra flavorful. You can also sprinkle in some black pepper, onion powder, or even Italian seasoning if you’d like. Optionally, add a pinch of coarse sea salt after they come out of the pan.
• Serve as skewers: Thread cheese curds and veggies like cherry tomatoes, zucchini, onions,, and mushrooms onto skewers just before baking or frying.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Learn to fry cheese curds in a pan or easily bake them in an oven without flour. Either way,  gluten-free cheese curds don’t take much time or effort and always make an easy snack or appetizer you can’t resist.

Follow these simple directions, and you can’t go wrong! Test both methods and choose the one that works best for you. 

Baked Cheese Curds

Oven-baked cheese curds produce chunky, gooey, perfectly soft curds. This cooking method is my favorite to achieve a classic plump cheese curd texture. 

Besides, the ease of preparation makes this method a breeze. You don’t have to stand over the stove babysitting the curds. The best part is cleaning up is significantly less than frying. 

Step one: Toss

Preheat the oven to 350 F (176 C). Whisk the eggs and garlic powder together in a large bowl. Toss the cheese curds to coat all surfaces evenly.

Step two: Coat

Add the Parmesan cheese to a second bowl and lightly roll a curd, one at a time, until covered. Alternatively, fill a large Ziplock bag with the cheese and one-quarter of the curds, seal the bag with air in it, and shake gently a few times to coat the curds.

Work in batches until all the curds are coated. Remove each batch before adding more. Do not mix so many curds at a time that the egg moistens the cheese and turns it clumpy.

Step three: Bake

Arrange cheese-covered curds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the tops turn golden brown and the cheese sizzles. Remove from heat and cool slightly before serving.

Pan-Fried Cheese Curds

Fried cheese curds are perfectly crisp on the outside, with a lusciously soft interior. Fried cheese is a comfort food you’ll have a hard time resisting.

Step one: Start with coating the cheese curds first. Whisk the eggs and garlic powder together in a large bowl. Toss the cheese curds until all surfaces are coated evenly.

Step two: Coat

Add the Parmesan cheese to a second bowl and lightly roll a curd, one at a time, until covered. Alternatively, fill a large Ziplock bag with the cheese and one-quarter of the curds, seal the bag with air inside, and shake gently a few times to coat the curds. 

Work in batches until all the curds are coated, removing each batch before adding more. Do not mix so many curds at a time that the egg moistens the cheese and turns it clumpy.

Step three: Fry

Heat the cooking oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium-high heat. I prefer lard for frying because it’s a traditional animal fat ideal for fried foods like cheese curds. You can also substitute with tallow or vegetable oil like avocado oil with a high smoke point.

Using a slotted spoon or spatula, arrange the cheese curds in a single layer and fry the first side until golden brown. Flip and continue cooking the second side, also until golden brown. This should take about 2-3 minutes on each side.

The oil may bubble and froth, but this is fine. Just tip the pan to the side and spoon the pooled-up oil over the curds while the second side cooks. Remove from heat and cool slightly before serving.

How to Store This Recipe

Gluten-free cheese curds are best enjoyed hot and fresh off the pan. If you have leftovers, keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Do not freeze since it can change the texture and make the curds less tasty.

To reheat fried cheese curds, fry them again for about 1 minute or refresh them in the oven to maintain their crispiness. For baked cheese curds, bake again for about 5 minutes or until heated through. Avoid using the microwave, as it can make the curds soggy.

What to Serve with Fried or Baked Gluten-Free Cheese Curds

Cheese curds make a simple meal that you can enjoy on its own. Whether baked or fried, they’re perfect with a side of your favorite dip. They pair well with a dipping sauce like 3-ingredient onion dip, sugar-free ketchup, salsa, or spicy mayonnaise.

You can also serve these gluten-free cheese curds on a fresh salad for a classic combo.I guarantee that these are also perfect as a side to a juicy keto burger instead of French fries. However, cheese curds are the main ingredient in a popular dish called Poutine served layered on top of French fries then topped with gravy.

The creamy texture of homemade coleslaw also balances well with the crispy curds. Cap it off with a glass of sweet and tart lemonade or ginger ale.

More Gluten-Free Snacks to Try

• Keto Pickle Chips
• Easy Crack Dip 
• Sugar-Free Pickled Eggs
• Chicken Liver Pate
• Chicken Feet Adobo

If you make this gluten-free cheese curds recipe, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and comment!