Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks are a spicy, cheesy appetizer featuring mozzarella sticks wrapped in crispy bacon and coated with a fiery Nashville hot sauce blend. Perfectly baked to melty perfection, these finger foods combine creamy cheese, smoky bacon, and a punch of heat for a crowd-pleasing snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: 8 mozzarella sticks 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Bacon
- 8 mozzarella sticks
- 8 slices of bacon
Hot Sauce Mixture
- 1/4 cup hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Other
- Toothpicks for securing bacon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Wrap Mozzarella Sticks: Take each mozzarella stick and wrap it tightly with one slice of bacon, securing the ends of the bacon with a toothpick to keep the wrap intact during baking.
- Prepare Hot Sauce Mixture: In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the hot sauce, melted butter, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to create the Nashville hot sauce blend.
- Coat Bacon-Wrapped Sticks: Generously brush the hot sauce mixture over each bacon-wrapped mozzarella stick, ensuring even coverage to infuse maximum flavor and spice.
- Bake: Arrange the coated sticks on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the mozzarella inside is melted and gooey.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the mozzarella sticks to cool for a few minutes. This also helps the cheese to set slightly so it doesn’t ooze out too quickly when eating. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Ensure the bacon slices completely wrap around the mozzarella sticks to prevent cheese leakage during baking.
- Use full-fat mozzarella sticks for the best melting and flavor.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper quantity to control the heat level to suit your taste.
- Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing to balance the spiciness.
- Watch carefully in the last few minutes of baking to avoid burning the bacon.
Keywords: Nashville hot, bacon wrapped, mozzarella sticks, spicy appetizer, baked cheese sticks, party snacks
