Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks

Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks with an excellent cheese pull! Freezer-friendly, customizable heat, perfect for special occasions or a party!

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American, Nashville-inspired

Prep Time 20

Freezing Time 1

Total Time 1 20

Servings Servings

Calories 328kcal

In one shallow bowl, add the flour.
In a second bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy.
In a third bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt.
Roll each frozen cheese stick in the flour. Dip it into the egg wash. Coat it well with the breadcrumbs.
For extra crunch, repeat the egg wash and bread coating one more time.
And arrange them in a tray and freeze for about one hour.
Then slightly spray the tray or the basket with oil and arrange the breaded mozzarella sticks without crowding.
Air fry at 400°F for about 5 minutes, or until the crust turns golden and the cheese just starts to melt, flipping halfway through.
Meanwhile, mix together the melted butter, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and ground black pepper in a bowl.
Brush the golden crusted mozzarella sticks generously with the Nashville hot sauce, or gently toss them in a large bowl to coat.
Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing with pickles on the side.

You can use mozzarella string cheese or cut a block of mozzarella into sticks.
For an egg-free version, substitute the eggs with a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2–3 tablespoons water).
For extra crunch, use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular ones; flour can be swapped with tapioca starch or cornstarch.
Adjust the heat by reducing cayenne and chili powder for a milder taste, or increase them.
To store, refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 4 months; reheat in an oven or air fryer until crispy, about 5 minutes.
To prevent cheese from oozing, freeze breaded sticks for at least 1 hour before frying.