Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Intro
If you love classic mozzarella sticks but crave something spicier, these Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks are the ultimate upgrade. They’re coated in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture, fried (or air-fried) until golden, then tossed in a buttery hot Nashville-style seasoning. The result? A crispy, cheesy pull-apart bite with a fiery punch — addictive, bold, and perfect for dipping in ranch or marinara.
Prep Mozzarella: 5 minutes
Freezing (twice): 1 hr 30 minutes (inactive)
Breading: 10 minutes
Cooking: 6–8 minutes
Sauce & Serving: 5 minutes
Total: ~2 hours (mostly inactive chilling time)
Ingredients
For the Mozzarella Sticks:
12 mozzarella cheese sticks (string cheese)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs (beaten)
2 tbsp hot sauce (mixed into eggs)
2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs (Italian or panko)
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp salt
Oil (for frying, or cooking spray if air-frying)
For Nashville Hot Butter Sauce:
½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
2 tbsp cayenne pepper (adjust to spice level)
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp salt
Instructions
Prep Mozzarella Sticks (5 minutes)
Unwrap string cheese and cut in half (for smaller sticks, optional).
Place them on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes (prevents cheese from melting out too quickly).
Breading (10 minutes)
Place flour in one bowl, eggs + hot sauce in another, and breadcrumbs mixed with paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and salt in a third.
Roll each mozzarella stick in flour, dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumbs.
For extra crunch, repeat egg + breadcrumb coating.
Freeze coated sticks for at least 1 hour (keeps coating intact during frying/air-frying).
Cooking (6–8 minutes)
Frying Method:
Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
Fry sticks in batches for 2–3 minutes, until golden brown.
Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Air Fryer Method:
Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
Spray sticks lightly with cooking spray.
Air fry for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.
Make Nashville Hot Sauce (3 minutes)
In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, cayenne, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt until smooth.
Brush or drizzle sauce over hot mozzarella sticks right after cooking.
Serve (2 minutes)
Serve immediately with ranch, blue cheese, or marinara sauce for dipping.
Serving Suggestions
Pair with ranch dip to cool down the heat.
Serve alongside fries or Nashville hot chicken for a fiery platter.
Garnish with chopped parsley or jalapeños for presentation.