Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks with Crispy Bacon Twist Recipe

Introduction

Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks with a crispy bacon twist bring together spicy Southern flavors and gooey cheese in a fun, irresistible snack. Perfect for game day or a flavorful appetizer, these spicy, cheesy bites will impress any crowd.

Ingredients

• 10 mozzarella string cheese sticks
• 10 slices thin-cut bacon
• Toothpicks (optional, for securing)

Nashville Hot Sauce:

• 2 tbsp butter (melted)
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
• Salt to taste

Optional Garnishes:

• Ranch or blue cheese dressing
• Chopped parsley
• Extra hot sauce for dipping

Instructions

1. Step 1: Unwrap the mozzarella sticks and freeze them for 30 to 45 minutes. This helps prevent the cheese from melting too quickly during cooking.
2. Step 2: Tightly wrap each frozen mozzarella stick with a slice of thin-cut bacon, spiraling from one end to the other. Secure with toothpicks if needed to keep the bacon in place.
3. Step 3: Preheat your cooking method: if using an air fryer, set to 390°F (200°C); if baking, preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
4. Step 4: Cook the bacon-wrapped sticks. Air fry for 10–12 minutes or bake for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook until the bacon is crispy and the cheese inside is soft.
5. Step 5: While the sticks cook, prepare the Nashville hot sauce by melting the butter in a bowl. Stir in cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar if using, and salt to taste.
6. Step 6: Once cooked, immediately brush or drizzle the hot sauce over the bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks to coat them evenly.
7. Step 7: Serve the sticks hot with optional ranch or blue cheese dressing, chopped parsley, and extra hot sauce for dipping. Enjoy them fresh for the best crispy and gooey texture.

Tips & Variations

• Freezing the cheese beforehand is key to preventing the mozzarella from oozing out during cooking.
• Using thin-cut bacon helps it crisp up better and wrap more easily around the cheese sticks.
• Adjust the cayenne pepper to control the heat level—start with less and add more if you like it spicier.
• For extra flavor, sprinkle chopped parsley over the finished sticks for a fresh touch.

Storage

Store leftover cooked sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm them in the oven or air fryer to maintain crispiness. You can freeze uncooked bacon-wrapped sticks for future use; just thaw before cooking.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular bacon instead of thin-cut?

Yes, but thin-cut bacon crisps up better and wraps more easily around the cheese. Regular bacon may take longer to cook and can sometimes be harder to secure.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

Oven baking works just as well. Bake the sticks at 400°F (205°C) for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway through to get crispy bacon on all sides.

Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks with Crispy Bacon Twist Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.4 from 737 reviews

These Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks with a Crispy Bacon Twist are a spicy, cheesy appetizer perfect for fans of bold flavors. Wrapped in thin-cut bacon and coated with a flavorful Nashville-style hot sauce, these sticks can be baked or air-fried to crispy, melty perfection. Serve them fresh with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.

• Author: Isla
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 10 mozzarella sticks 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Air Frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 10 mozzarella string cheese sticks
• 10 slices thin-cut bacon
• Toothpicks (optional, for securing)

Nashville Hot Sauce:

• 2 tbsp butter (melted)
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
• Salt to taste

Optional Garnishes:

• Ranch or blue cheese dressing
• Chopped parsley
• Extra hot sauce for dipping

Instructions

1. Freeze cheese: Unwrap mozzarella sticks and place them in the freezer for 30–45 minutes to prevent the cheese from melting too quickly during cooking.
2. Wrap with bacon: Take each frozen mozzarella stick and tightly wrap a slice of thin-cut bacon around it, spiraling from one end to the other. Secure with toothpicks if necessary to keep the bacon in place.
3. Preheat and prep: For air frying, preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C). For baking, preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper or grease it lightly.
4. Cook: Place the bacon-wrapped sticks in the air fryer basket and air fry for 10–12 minutes, or bake them in the oven for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time. Cook until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is soft inside.
5. Make hot sauce: While the sticks cook, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a bowl. Stir in cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar (if using), and salt to create the Nashville hot sauce.
6. Glaze sticks: Once cooked, immediately brush or drizzle the hot sauce over each bacon-wrapped mozzarella stick to coat them evenly with spicy flavor.
7. Serve: Serve the hot, spicy mozzarella sticks fresh and crispy with ranch or blue cheese dressing and optional garnishes like chopped parsley and extra hot sauce for dipping.

Notes

• Freeze the cheese sticks before cooking to prevent the cheese from oozing out and creating messes or ‘blowouts.’
• Use thin-cut bacon as it crisps better and wraps more easily around the mozzarella sticks.
• Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper in the sauce to control the spice level; start with less if you prefer milder heat.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze the uncooked bacon-wrapped sticks to prepare later.

Keywords: Nashville hot mozzarella sticks, bacon wrapped cheese sticks, spicy appetizers, air fryer mozzarella, hot cheese sticks, party snacks