A spicy Southern twist on classic mozzarella sticks, featuring crispy, golden breading with Nashville-style heat!
Ingredients:
For the Mozzarella Sticks:
- 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks, cut in half
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp hot sauce (e.g., Louisiana or Frank’s RedHot)
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for extra crispiness)
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning (or Nashville Hot seasoning)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust for spice preference)
- Oil for frying (vegetable or peanut oil)
For the Spicy Nashville Dipping Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp lemon juice
Instructions:
- Prep the Cheese:
- Cut mozzarella sticks in half and freeze them for at least 1 hour (this prevents melting while frying).
- Set Up Breading Stations:
- In one bowl, add flour.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs with hot sauce.
- In a third bowl, mix seasoned breadcrumbs, panko, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne.
- Coat the Mozzarella Sticks:
- Dip each frozen mozzarella stick in flour, then into the egg mixture, and finally coat with the seasoned breadcrumb mix.
- For extra crunch, repeat the egg and breadcrumb coating a second time.
- Freeze for another 30 minutes before frying.
- Fry Until Golden:
- Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry mozzarella sticks in small batches for 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove and drain on a paper towel.
- Make the Spicy Dipping Sauce:
- Mix all sauce ingredients in a bowl and serve alongside the mozzarella sticks.
- Serve & Enjoy!
- Sprinkle with extra Cajun seasoning and serve hot with the dipping sauce!
🔥 These Southern Heat Mozzarella Sticks are the perfect balance of crispy, cheesy, and spicy goodness!
