Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
These Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks combine crispy, smoky bacon with gooey melted mozzarella cheese and a spicy Nashville-style hot sauce glaze. Perfect as a fiery appetizer or snack, they offer a delicious balance of creamy, spicy, and savory flavors that are sure to impress at any gathering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: 8 bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cheese and Bacon
- 8 mozzarella sticks
- 8 slices bacon
Spicy Sauce
- 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
Other
- toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
- Wrap Cheese: Wrap each mozzarella stick tightly with a slice of bacon, securing the ends with a toothpick to hold the bacon in place during baking.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the hot sauce, melted butter, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper, mixing thoroughly to create the Nashville-style spicy glaze.
- Brush Sauce: Generously brush the spicy sauce mixture over each bacon-wrapped mozzarella stick, ensuring even coverage to infuse flavor throughout.
- Bake: Arrange the sticks on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the cheese inside has melted.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the baked sticks from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving to let the cheese settle and prevent burning.
Notes
- Make sure to secure the bacon with toothpicks to prevent it from unraveling during baking.
- Use full-fat mozzarella sticks for the best melt and creaminess.
- You can adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to control the heat level.
- Serve immediately for the best taste and texture as bacon tends to lose crispness over time.
- To make it easier to handle, chill the wrapped sticks briefly before brushing with sauce.
