I Love How Quickly These Come Together Once Prepped. The Double-Coated Breadcrumb Crust Gives The Mozzarella A Perfect Crunch While Keeping The Inside Melty And Gooey.
I Also Enjoy The Balance Of Flavors. The Spicy, Slightly Sweet Nashville Hot Sauce Pairs Perfectly With The Cool Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. It Feels Like A Restaurant-Style Appetizer Made Right In My Kitchen.
Ingredients
(Here’s A Tip: Check Out The Full List Of Ingredients And Measurements In The Recipe Card Below.)
1 Lb Mozzarella, Cut Into 3×2 Inch Pieces 1 Egg 1 Tablespoon Water Vegetable Oil For Frying
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, Melted 1 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika 1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic Or Garlic Powder 1 Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Pepper 1 Teaspoon Honey (Optional)
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise 1/2 Cup Sour Cream 1/2 Cup Buttermilk 2 Teaspoons Chives, Dried Or Fresh 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice 1 Teaspoon Parsley, Dried Or Fresh 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder 1 Teaspoon Salt 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper 1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
Directions
I Prepare The Nashville Hot Sauce By Combining The Melted Butter, Cayenne Pepper, Brown Sugar, Smoked Paprika, Garlic, Salt, Pepper, And Honey In A Small Pot Over Low Heat. I Whisk Until Smooth And Let It Simmer For 1 To 2 Minutes, Then Remove It From The Heat.
I Make The Ranch Dressing By Mixing Mayonnaise, Sour Cream, Buttermilk, Chives, Lemon Juice, Parsley, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper, And Sugar In A Bowl. I Refrigerate It Until Ready To Serve.
In A Separate Bowl, I Combine Breadcrumbs, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano, Pepper, And Salt To Create The Seasoned Breading.
I Whisk Together The Egg And Water To Make An Egg Wash. I Dip Each Piece Of Mozzarella Into The Egg Wash, Then Coat It In The Breadcrumb Mixture. I Repeat The Process For A Double Coating To Ensure A Crispy Crust.
I Place The Breaded Mozzarella Sticks On A Parchment-Lined Baking Sheet And Freeze Them For At Least 30 Minutes To Firm Up.
I Heat About 2 Inches Of Vegetable Oil In A Pan Over Medium-High Heat Until It Reaches 350°F. I Fry The Mozzarella Sticks For 2 To 3 Minutes Until Golden Brown.
I Transfer The Fried Mozzarella Sticks To A Cooling Rack And Brush Them With The Prepared Nashville Hot Sauce.
I Serve Them Immediately With The Chilled Homemade Ranch Dressing.
Servings And Timing
This Recipe Makes 4 Servings.
I Spend About 15 Minutes Preparing The Ingredients, 30 Minutes Freezing, And 5 To 6 Minutes Frying, For A Total Time Of Around 50 To 60 Minutes.
Variations
I Sometimes Adjust The Cayenne Pepper To Control The Heat Level. If I Prefer A Milder Version, I Reduce The Amount Slightly.
For Extra Crunch, I Mix Panko Breadcrumbs With The Regular Breadcrumbs. I Also Occasionally Bake Or Air Fry Them Instead Of Deep Frying For A Lighter Option.
Storage/Reheating
I Store Leftovers In An Airtight Container In The Refrigerator For Up To 2 Days.
To Reheat, I Use An Oven Or Air Fryer At 375°F Until Heated Through And Crispy Again. I Avoid Microwaving, As It Can Make The Coating Soft.
I Do Not Recommend Freezing After Frying, But I Can Freeze The Breaded, Unfried Sticks For Up To 1 Month And Fry Them Straight From Frozen.
FAQs
Why Do I Need To Freeze The Mozzarella Before Frying?
Freezing Helps The Cheese Hold Its Shape And Prevents It From Melting Too Quickly In The Hot Oil.
Can I Make These Less Spicy?
Yes, I Reduce The Cayenne Pepper And Skip The Extra Honey For A Milder Flavor.
Can I Air Fry These Instead Of Deep Frying?
Yes, I Air Fry Them At 390°F For About 6 To 8 Minutes, Checking Carefully So They Do Not Overcook.
What Type Of Breadcrumbs Work Best?
I Like Using Regular Breadcrumbs Or Panko For Extra Crunch.
Can I Make The Ranch Dressing Ahead Of Time?
Yes, I Prepare It Up To A Day In Advance And Keep It Refrigerated Until Serving.
Conclusion
I Find These Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks To Be A Spicy, Crispy, And Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer. The Gooey Cheese, Crunchy Coating, And Bold Nashville Hot Sauce Create A Perfect Combination Of Heat And Comfort. Whenever I Want A Fun And Flavorful Snack, This Is One Of My Favorite Recipes To Make.
Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks are crispy, golden fried cheese sticks brushed with a bold, buttery cayenne sauce for that signature spicy kick. Served with cool and creamy homemade ranch dressing, this quick appetizer is perfect for game day, parties, or spicy snack cravings.
Author:Ella
Prep Time:30 minutes (includes freezing)
Cook Time:6 minutes
Total Time:36 minutes
Yield:4 servings
Category:Appetizer
Method:Frying
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Mozzarella Sticks
1 lb mozzarella, cut into 3×2 inch pieces
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Breading
2 cups breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
For the Nashville Hot Sauce
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon minced garlic or garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon honey (optional)
For the Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
½ cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons chives (dried or fresh)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon parsley (dried or fresh)
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon sugar
Instructions
1. Prepare the Nashville Hot Sauce
In a small pot over low heat, combine melted butter, cayenne, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic, salt, pepper, and honey (if using). Whisk continuously until fully combined and simmer for 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Prepare the Ranch Dressing
In a bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, chives, lemon juice, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and sugar until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Prepare the Breading
In a bowl, combine breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, black pepper, and salt.
4. Coat the Mozzarella
Whisk together egg and water to create an egg wash. Dip each mozzarella piece into the egg wash, then coat thoroughly in the seasoned breadcrumbs. Repeat the process for a double coating to ensure crispiness.
5. Freeze
Place breaded mozzarella sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for at least 30 minutes to prevent cheese from melting too quickly during frying.
6. Fry
Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry mozzarella sticks in batches for 2–3 minutes until golden brown.
7. Add the Sauce
Transfer fried mozzarella sticks to a cooling rack. Brush generously with Nashville hot sauce.
8. Serve
Serve immediately with chilled homemade ranch dressing.
Notes
Freezing is essential to prevent cheese from leaking during frying.
Adjust cayenne to control spice level.
For extra crunch, use panko breadcrumbs.
These can also be air-fried at 390°F for 6–8 minutes (after freezing).
