Description
These Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks bring a spicy, crunchy twist to the classic cheese-filled snack. Coated in a crispy breading and tossed in a fiery Nashville hot sauce, these mozzarella sticks deliver the perfect balance of heat and melty cheese. They’re perfect as an appetizer or a spicy snack for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Mozzarella Sticks:
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12 mozzarella cheese sticks
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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2 large eggs, beaten
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1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crunch)
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/2 teaspoon onion powder
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1/2 teaspoon paprika
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon black pepper
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Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Nashville Hot Sauce:
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1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
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1/4 cup hot sauce (preferably Frank’s RedHot or your favorite brand)
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2 tablespoons cayenne pepper (adjust to your preferred spice level)
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1 tablespoon smoked paprika
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1 tablespoon brown sugar
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
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1. Prepare the Mozzarella Sticks:
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Freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least 1-2 hours before frying. This helps prevent the cheese from melting out during frying.
2. Set Up the Breading Station:
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In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
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In a separate shallow bowl, beat the eggs.
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In another shallow bowl, place the breadcrumbs.
3. Bread the Mozzarella Sticks:
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Remove the frozen mozzarella sticks from the freezer.
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Dip each mozzarella stick into the flour mixture, coating it evenly.
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Next, dip it into the beaten eggs, ensuring it is fully coated.
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Finally, roll the mozzarella stick in the breadcrumbs, pressing slightly to ensure the breadcrumbs stick. For extra crunch, you can double dip by repeating the egg and breadcrumb steps.
4. Fry the Mozzarella Sticks:
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In a large skillet or deep fryer, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat (about 350°F or 175°C).
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Carefully add the breaded mozzarella sticks to the hot oil in batches, frying for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
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Use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the mozzarella sticks from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
5. Make the Nashville Hot Sauce:
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In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and salt. Stir until the sauce is well mixed and smooth.
6. Toss the Mozzarella Sticks in the Hot Sauce:
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Once the mozzarella sticks are fried, drizzle or toss them in the Nashville hot sauce until fully coated.
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You can either dip the mozzarella sticks in the sauce or pour the sauce over the top for an extra spicy finish.
7. Serve:
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Serve the Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping. Enjoy!
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Notes
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Adjust the cayenne pepper in the sauce depending on how spicy you want your mozzarella sticks to be.
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If you want to make these ahead of time, bread the mozzarella sticks, freeze them, and fry them later.
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You can also bake the mozzarella sticks at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes if you prefer a lighter version, though they won’t be as crispy as when fried.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mozzarella stick
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg