Baked mozzarella onion rings

Ingredients:

• 2 large onions
• 12 mozzarella cheese sticks
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Cooking spray
• Marinara sauce (for dipping)

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray it with cooking spray.
2. Prepare Onions and Cheese:
   • Slice the onions into ½-inch thick rings, then separate them into individual rings.
   • Cut the mozzarella sticks into halves or thirds, depending on the size of the onion rings.
3. Assemble the Onion Rings:
   • Place a smaller onion ring inside a larger one, leaving a gap between the two. Stuff the gap with a piece of mozzarella cheese.
   • Repeat until all onion rings are filled with mozzarella.
4. Coat the Onion Rings:
   • Place the flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another, and breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a third bowl.
   • Dredge each onion ring in flour, then dip it in the beaten eggs, and finally coat it in the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring the cheese is fully covered.
5. Bake:
   • Arrange the coated onion rings on the prepared baking sheet.
   • Lightly spray the tops with cooking spray to help them brown.
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on them to prevent the cheese from leaking out.
6. Serve:
   • Serve the baked mozzarella onion rings hot with marinara sauce for dipping.

---

These Baked Mozzarella Onion Rings are a fun and cheesy twist on traditional onion rings, making them perfect for appetizers or snacks!