Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks (Chili's copycat)

Chilis Mozzarella Sticks copy cat recipe with ranch on the side.

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Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks (Chili's copycat)

These Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks have that perfect cheese pull you crave with a sweet and spicy hot honey butter glaze that's even better than what you'd order at Chili's!

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time22

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 710kcal

Author: Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

fried mozzarella

16 ounce block low-moisture (whole milk) mozzarella cut and trimmed into 4 equal 4"x2.5" rectangle slabs (about 1/2" thickness)
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
3 cups frying oil of choice

hot honey butter rub

1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oil in a pot with tall sides to 350˚F.
In a shallow bowl combine flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. In another shallow bowl beat together two eggs. In a third shallow bowl add panko.
Dredge mozzarella pieces into flour, shaking to remove any excess.
Then dip each piece into the egg mixture until fully coated.
Finally, dredge the pieces in the panko breadcrumbs until fully coated. Shake off any excess.
Fry a few pieces of mozzarella in hot oil, in batches, for 3 to 4 minutes or until well browned and crisp.
Transfer to a cooling rack lined baking sheet.
Repeat frying until all mozzarella pieces have been fried and transferred to cooling rack.
In a small bowl combine all hot honey butter ingredients.
Carefully brush a thin layer of the butter mixture onto each piece of mozzarella until fully and evenly coated.
Transfer pieces to a platter and serve with a side of ranch dressing for dipping.

Notes

Freeze Ahead and Reheating Instructions

One of the best things about these Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks is that they freeze so well, making them perfect for meal prep or always having an appetizer ready to go!

How to freeze mozzarella sticks:

Follow the recipe through step 5, so that you have fully breaded, but uncooked, mozzarella sticks.
Place the breaded sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for one to two hours or until frozen solid.
Transfer the frozen breaded sticks to a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to cook, fry directly from frozen, following the rest of the directions, adding an extra one to two minutes to the cooking time.

How to reheat cooked mozzarella sticks:

If you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Then follow these instructions to reheat them:

In the oven: Preheat oven to 400°F and place refrigerated mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet with 1 to 2 inches of space between them. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until heated through and crispy. For extra crispiness, broil for the last 1-2 minutes, while watching them carefully so they do not burn.
In the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and place the mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even heating.
In the microwave: Place the cheese sticks on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 30-45 seconds or until warmed through. This method will heat the cheese, but the coating will not be as crispy.

Nutrition