[1] However, food historians believe that medieval French fried cheeses had little in common with the preparation and development of modern mozzarella sticks.

[2] Mozzarella sticks most likely have their origins in the United States during the 1970s, through a combination of two factors, as per historian Joel Jensen: "the increasing availability of mass-produced mozzarella cheese beginning in the 1960s", and the development of new efficient frying technologies to be used in fast-paced food-serving businesses (such as bowling alleys and sports bars).

Popular fried cheeses other than mozzarella include provolone, Edam, cheddar, and American.

Mozzarella sticks with raspberry sauce are part of the regional cuisine of New York's Capital District.

[5] In many public schools throughout the United States, Bosco pizza sticks filled with mozzarella have become a popular staple.