Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Nashville Hot Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks combine the gooey, melty texture of mozzarella cheese with crispy bacon and a spicy Nashville-style hot sauce, making a bold and flavorful appetizer perfect for game days or parties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 mozzarella sticks
- 8 slices bacon
- toothpicks
Hot Sauce Mixture
- 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
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: Wrap each mozzarella stick with a slice of bacon, ensuring the ends overlap and securing them tightly with a toothpick to keep the bacon in place during baking.
- Make hot sauce mixture: In a small bowl, combine the hot sauce, melted butter, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir well until fully blended.
- Brush sauce on sticks: Generously brush the spicy hot sauce mixture over each bacon-wrapped mozzarella stick, making sure to cover all sides for maximum flavor.
- Bake the sticks: Arrange the sticks on the prepared baking sheet spaced slightly apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Remove the sticks from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes to allow the cheese to set slightly before serving. Remove toothpicks prior to eating for safety.
Notes
- Use full slices of bacon for best wrapping results; thin bacon may tear easily.
- For extra crispiness, broil the sticks for the last 1-2 minutes watching carefully to avoid burning.
- If you prefer less spice, reduce cayenne pepper to 1/2 teaspoon or omit.
- Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing for a cooling contrast to the heat.
- Make sure to secure toothpicks firmly but remove them before eating to avoid injury.
