Description
Enjoy crispy, cheesy bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks that are perfect for snacking or as an appetizer. Each stick is wrapped in savory bacon, breaded, and fried until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce for a delicious dipping experience!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 mozzarella sticks
- 12 slices of bacon
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crunch)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- Marinara sauce (for dipping, optional)
Instructions
- Take the mozzarella sticks out of the packaging and place them on a plate. If they’re too soft, pop them in the freezer for about 30 minutes to help them hold their shape when frying.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to keep the cooked sticks warm later.
- Cut each slice of bacon in half.
- Starting at one end of a mozzarella stick, wrap the bacon around it tightly, overlapping slightly. Ensure the entire stick is covered to prevent cheese from oozing out.
- Place the wrapped sticks on a plate and repeat for all mozzarella sticks.
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt.
- Roll each bacon-wrapped mozzarella stick in flour, then dip in the beaten eggs, and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Repeat for all sticks.
- In a large, deep skillet or pot, pour enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom by about 1 inch. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully add a few mozzarella sticks to the hot oil, frying in batches if necessary. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the sticks and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Transfer the fried sticks to a baking sheet and keep warm in the preheated oven while finishing the rest.
- Arrange the mozzarella sticks on a serving platter. Optionally, garnish with fresh parsley or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- For extra crunch, use panko breadcrumbs.
- Ensure the oil is hot enough before frying to achieve a crispy texture.
- You can freeze the breaded mozzarella sticks for later frying; just add a few extra minutes to the frying time.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes