Description
Crispy buffalo chicken bacon mozzarella sticks are the ultimate game-day snack that’ll make your friends go crazy. Packed with spicy buffalo sauce, melted mozzarella, and crispy chicken, these cheesy delights deliver a flavor explosion that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup crumbled bacon
Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Binding Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
- ¼ cup ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups shredded chicken with ½ cup buffalo sauce in a bowl. Stir until chicken is thoroughly saturated with sauce.
- Slice 8 oz mozzarella into 2-inch long sticks approximately ½ inch thick.
- Carefully encase each cheese stick with the buffalo chicken mixture, ensuring total coverage.
- Prepare three separate shallow containers: first with ¼ cup flour, second with 2 beaten eggs, third with breadcrumbs mixed with ½ cup crumbled bacon, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper.
- Roll every chicken-wrapped cheese stick first through flour, then dip in eggs, finally coat completely with seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Arrange coated sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze precisely 30 minutes to help maintain structure.
- Pour 2 cups vegetable oil into a large, deep skillet. Heat to exactly 375°F using a cooking thermometer.
- Gently lower frozen sticks into hot oil in small batches. Fry 2-3 minutes, rotating once, until achieving deep golden-brown crispness.
- Extract sticks using a slotted spoon. Transfer to paper towels for excess oil drainage.
- Allow sticks to rest 2-3 minutes before serving alongside ¼ cup ranch dressing for dipping.
Notes
- Freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least 30 minutes before frying to prevent cheese from leaking out during cooking.
- Use a deep-fry thermometer to maintain the exact oil temperature, which ensures crispy exterior and melty interior.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour and breadcrumbs with almond flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- If you prefer baking, place frozen sticks on a wire rack and bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through for even crispiness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 730 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg