Description
Fiery, crispy, and irresistibly cheesy, these Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks bring bold Southern heat to your favorite appetizer. Perfect for parties or indulgent snacking, every bite is a melty, crunchy flavor bomb.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 mozzarella cheese sticks, halved
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Hot sauce (optional)
- Ranch dressing, for dipping
Instructions
- Heat oil in a deep fryer or large skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- In one bowl, mix flour with salt and pepper. In another, beat eggs with milk and hot sauce. In a third, combine panko, cayenne, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for assembling and freezing the sticks.
- Dip mozzarella halves in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Repeat egg and breadcrumb steps for extra crunch. Place on the baking sheet.
- Freeze sticks for 30 minutes. Then, fry in batches for 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with extra cayenne or smoked paprika if you like it extra bold.
- Serve immediately with a cool side of ranch for dipping bliss.
Notes
- Freeze the coated sticks before frying to prevent cheese from leaking out.
- For extra crunch, double dip in the egg and breadcrumb mixture.
- Adjust spice level by reducing cayenne or omitting hot sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven or air fryer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Nashville hot mozzarella sticks, spicy cheese sticks, Chili's copycat recipe, crispy appetizer, party snacks