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Golden, crispy homemade Nashville hot mozzarella sticks on a patterned plate, one split open with gooey melted cheese, parsley garnish, and marinara sauce in the background.

Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks

Crispy, cheesy Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks coated in fiery Nashville hot sauce for the ultimate spicy comfort food. Customize the heat level, make ahead, and serve with plenty of ranch for dipping.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks, Nashville hot mozzarella sticks air fryer, Nashville hot mozzarella sticks Chilis, Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks Jack in the Box, Nashville hot mozzarella sticks recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Freeze Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 mozzarella sticks
Calories: 390kcal
Cost: $9

Equipment

  • 1 Deep fryer or large heavy pot (For frying at 375°F)
  • 1 Candy thermometer (To monitor oil temperature)
  • 3 Shallow dishes (For breading station)
  • 1 Slotted spoon or spider strainer (For removing sticks from oil)
  • 1 Paper towel-lined plate (For draining excess oil)

Ingredients

For the Mozzarella Sticks

  • 12 sticks String cheese - Or cut block mozzarella into sticks
  • ½ cup All-purpose flour - Seasoned with salt & pepper
  • 2 large Eggs - Beaten
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • to taste Salt & pepper

For the Nashville Hot Sauce

  • ½ cup Unsalted butter - Melted
  • 1–2 tablespoon Cayenne pepper - Adjust for heat level
  • 1 tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoon Hot sauce - Adjust to taste

For Serving

  • ½ cup Ranch dressing - For dipping
  • 1 cup Celery sticks
  • as needed Extra napkins

Instructions

  • Cut mozzarella into thick sticks, pat dry with paper towels, and freeze for at least 2 hours so the cheese doesn’t melt out during frying.
  • Prepare 3 shallow bowls: one with flour seasoned with salt and pepper, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mix of panko and Italian breadcrumbs.
  • Dredge frozen cheese sticks in flour, dip fully in beaten egg, then roll in breadcrumbs. For a thicker crust, repeat the egg and breadcrumb steps.
  • Melt butter in a small saucepan, whisk in cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and hot sauce. Keep warm until ready to use.
  • Heat oil to 375°F and fry cheese sticks for 1–2 minutes until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel–lined plate.
  • Toss hot fried sticks in Nashville sauce immediately and serve with ranch dressing and celery while still hot.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.Feel free to add more of your favorite toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 130g | Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 960mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1300IU | Calcium: 310mg | Iron: 2mg