Description
These Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks combine crispy beef bacon, gooey melted mozzarella, and a spicy, flavorful Nashville hot sauce glaze for an irresistible appetizer that’s quick and easy to prepare. Perfectly crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside with a devilishly spicy kick, these snacks are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Mozzarella Sticks
- 8 mozzarella sticks
- 8 slices beef bacon
- toothpicks (optional)
Nashville Hot Glaze
- 1/4 cup hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Mozzarella Sticks: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) or your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Wrap each mozzarella stick tightly with a slice of beef bacon. Secure with a toothpick if needed to keep the bacon in place. For best results and to prevent the cheese from melting too quickly, place the wrapped sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Cook Bacon-Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks: Arrange the bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet for the oven, or place them in the air fryer basket if using. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes or air fry for 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. Cook until the beef bacon is crispy and the cheese inside is melted and gooey.
- Prepare Nashville Hot Glaze: While the mozzarella sticks cook, combine the hot sauce, melted unsalted butter, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a small saucepan. Whisk the mixture over low heat for 2-3 minutes until warm, aromatic, and well combined. Avoid boiling the glaze.
- Glaze and Serve: Remove the cooked mozzarella sticks from the oven or air fryer. Generously brush each stick with the prepared Nashville Hot Glaze, making sure to cover all sides. Serve immediately and enjoy! Optionally, garnish with fresh chives, ranch dressing, or pickle chips to balance the heat with cooling flavors.
Notes
- Freezing the bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks before cooking helps prevent the cheese from leaking out during cooking.
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper amount in the glaze to control the spice level.
- Be mindful of the cooking time based on your oven or air fryer to avoid burning the bacon.
- Use beef bacon for a more pronounced flavor, but regular pork bacon can be substituted if preferred.
- Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing for added creaminess and balance.
