Last summer, Max discovered Nashville hot mozzarella sticks at a local spot and became completely obsessed. He'd finish his dinner just so he could order these as dessert. After watching our restaurant bills climb and listening to him talk about them nonstop, I knew I had to figure out how to make them myself. It took about fifteen tries and way too many burnt fingers, but I finally nailed that perfect combo of fiery coating and cool, stretchy cheese.
Why You'll Love These Spicy Cheese Sticks
Making these for Max's soccer team party taught me that they're basically magic for feeding picky eaters. Kids who won't touch anything with pepper on it somehow devour these without complaining. The heat sneaks up on you slowly, so it's not like biting into a jalapeño. Even my neighbor's daughter, who only eats mac and cheese, asked for three more.
They're also way cheaper than constantly ordering them when we eat out. One bag of mozzarella sticks from the grocery store makes enough for the whole team, versus spending twenty bucks every time Max wants them at a restaurant. And honestly, mine taste better because I can control how spicy they get.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Spicy Cheese Sticks
- Ingredients for Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
- For Frying:
- How To Make Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
- Fun Twists on Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
- Equipment For Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
- Storing Your Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
- What to Serve With
- Top Tip
- The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
- FAQ
- Spicy Snack Success!
- Related
- Pairing
- Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients for Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
The Cheese:
- String cheese
- Block mozzarella
The Coating:
- All-purpose flour
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Regular breadcrumbs
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
The Nashville Heat:
- Cayenne pepper
- Paprika
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Butter
For Frying:
- Vegetable oil
- Canola oil works too
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks Step By Step
Prep Work:
- Unwrap all your string cheese
- Set up three bowls: flour, beaten eggs with buttermilk, breadcrumb mixture
- Mix your Nashville spices into the breadcrumbs
- Heat oil to 350°F
The Assembly Line:
- Roll each cheese stick in flour first
- Dip in egg mixture
- Coat completely in spicy breadcrumbs
- Press the coating on so it sticks
- Do it twice - double coating prevents cheese explosions
The Frying:
- Drop them in hot oil carefully
- Fry for 2-3 minutes until golden
- Don't overcrowd the pan
- Pull them out fast before the cheese starts leaking
Nashville Hot Finish:
- Melt butter with extra cayenne and brown sugar
- Brush this mixture on the hot sticks right when they come out
- This is what gives them that signature glossy, spicy coating
Smart Swaps for Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Cheese Options:
- String cheese → Cheddar sticks
- Mozzarella → Pepper jack (if you want even more heat)
- Regular → Dairy-free cheese sticks
- Whole milk → Part-skim mozzarella
Coating Alternatives:
- Panko → Regular breadcrumbs only
- All-purpose flour → Gluten-free flour blend
- Buttermilk → Regular milk with lemon juice
- Eggs → Egg substitute
Heat Level Adjustments:
- Too spicy → Cut cayenne in half, add more paprika
- Not spicy enough → Add chipotle powder
- No cayenne → Use hot sauce powder
- Kid-friendly → Skip cayenne, use mild paprika
Cooking Methods:
- Deep frying → Air fryer at 375°F for 6-8 minutes
- Oil frying → Baked at 425°F for 12-15 minutes
- Fresh → Frozen (add 2-3 minutes cooking time)
Fun Twists on Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Buffalo Style:
- Add blue cheese powder to coating
- Brush with buffalo sauce instead of Nashville mix
- Serve with ranch dip
- Max's friend Jake's favorite
Sweet Heat:
- Extra brown sugar in the spice mix
- Touch of honey in the butter coating
- Balances the heat perfectly
- Good for people who think regular ones are too spicy
Ranch Powder Coating:
- Mix ranch seasoning into breadcrumbs
- Still add the cayenne for heat
- Tastes like ranch dressing and fire
- Weird but surprisingly good
Extra Crispy:
- Add crushed cornflakes to breadcrumbs
- Makes them super crunchy
- Takes longer to cook through
- Worth the wait
Loaded Version:
- Roll in bacon bits before final coating
- Add cheddar cheese powder
- Basically loaded potato skins in stick form
- Not exactly healthy but incredibly popular
Equipment For Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
- Deep pot or fryer
- Candy thermometer (oil temperature matters)
- Three shallow bowls for coating station
- Slotted spoon or tongs
- Paper towels for draining
Storing Your Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Right After Cooking:
- Best eaten immediately while hot
- Cheese gets weird and rubbery when cold
- If you must save some, keep them warm in a 200°F oven
Leftover Storage:
- Fridge for 2-3 days max
- Store in airtight container
- Reheat in oven, not microwave
- Microwave makes them soggy and gross
Freezing the Uncooked Ones:
- Coat them completely
- Freeze on a baking sheet first
- Transfer to freezer bags once solid
- Cook straight from frozen (add 1-2 minutes)
Reheating Tips:
- Oven at 375°F for 5-8 minutes
- Air fryer works great too
- Never microwave - learned this the hard way
- They won't be quite as good as fresh but still decent
What to Serve With
Grandma's beef stew pairs perfectly with sides that complement its rich, hearty flavors without overwhelming the meal. Crusty bread or warm buttermilk biscuits are essential for soaking up every drop of that coffee-enhanced broth - there's nothing worse than letting all that flavor go to waste. A simple mixed greens salad with light vinaigrette adds freshness and cuts through the richness, while roasted root vegetables like parsnips or turnips echo the stew's earthy comfort.
Cornbread brings a touch of sweetness that balances the savory depth of the stew, and mashed potatoes (even though there are already potatoes in the pot) create an extra layer of comfort that kids especially love. For something lighter, steamed green beans or sautéed spinach add color and nutrition without competing for attention. Keep drinks simple - hot coffee or tea feels right with this kind of soul-warming meal, though cold milk works well too. The key is letting that stew be the centerpiece, surrounded by simple, honest sides that would have made Grandma proud.Retry
Top Tip
- Max and I stumbled onto our best trick completely by accident last winter. I was rushing to get these ready for his basketball team's potluck, and Max was "helping" by getting ingredients ready. He knocked over the honey jar, and it spilled all over the butter I was melting for the Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks coating. I almost threw it out and started over, but Max convinced me to just roll with it.
- That honey-butter mixture created this incredible glaze that made the coating stick better and added this subtle sweetness that balanced out the heat perfectly. Now we always add about a tablespoon of honey to our Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks hot butter coating. It makes the spice more manageable for people who can't handle too much heat, but still keeps all that good burn.
- Our other discovery happened when I accidentally grabbed smoked paprika instead of regular paprika one time. The smoky flavor made these taste like they came from an actual Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks hot chicken restaurant. Max said they tasted "more serious," which I think was his way of saying they had more depth.
The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
The dish my grandmother taught me to love wasn't anything fancy - just her simple beef stew that simmered on the stove every Sunday after church. I can still see her standing at that old gas range, browning chunks of beef in her heavy cast iron pot, the smell of onions and garlic filling her tiny kitchen. She never wrote anything down, just went by feel and taste, adding carrots when they looked right, potatoes when the meat was tender enough, and always that secret splash of coffee at the end that she claimed "woke up all the other flavors."
What made it special wasn't the recipe itself, but the way she made me feel included in something important. She'd let me help cut vegetables on her worn wooden cutting board, teaching me to keep my fingers curved and my knife sharp. "Good food takes time and attention," she'd say, stirring the pot with that same wooden spoon she'd used for thirty years. Even now when I make it for Max, I can hear her voice guiding me through each step, reminding me that the best meals aren't about perfection - they're about the love you put into every ingredient and the memories you create around the table where they're shared.
FAQ
What is Nashville Hot mozzarella at Chili's?
Chili's Nashville Hot mozzarella sticks are breaded cheese sticks tossed in their signature Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks hot seasoning blend. They feature a spicy, buttery coating with cayenne pepper and brown sugar that gives them that characteristic sweet-heat flavor. The coating turns golden-red and creates a sticky glaze over crispy breaded mozzarella cheese.
What do chili Nashville Hot mozzarella sticks taste like?
They taste like regular mozzarella sticks with a slow-building heat that starts mild and gets spicier as you eat. The Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks seasoning adds smoky, sweet, and spicy flavors all at once. The cheese inside stays cool and creamy, which balances out the heat from the coating perfectly.
How do you order chilis Nashville Hot mozzarella sticks?
You can order them directly from the appetizer menu at Chili's or through their app and website for pickup or delivery. They're typically listed under "Awesome Blossom Petals" or in the appetizer section. You can also ask your server about them - they're a popular menu item.
How many calories are in the Nashville mozzarella sticks?
Chili's Nashville Hot mozzarella sticks contain approximately 1,080 calories for a full order. This includes the breaded cheese sticks and the Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks hot coating. For comparison, regular mozzarella sticks typically have fewer calories since they don't include the buttery hot sauce coating that adds extra calories and fat.
Spicy Snack Success!
Now you have all the secrets to making Nashville hot mozzarella sticks that rival any restaurant version from the double coating trick to our accidental honey discovery. These fiery cheese sticks prove that some of the best comfort food comes with a little heat.
Ready for more crowd-pleasing appetizers? Try our Healthy Baked Feta Eggs Recipe that disappears just as fast at parties. Craving something milder? Our The Best Tomato Gnocchi Recipe gives you the crunch without the Nashville fire. For game day gatherings, our Easy Chicken Nuggets Recipe pairs perfectly with these spicy sticks!
Share your Nashville hot success! We love seeing your creative takes on this fiery favorite!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Unwrap string cheese and prepare ingredients for coating.
- Arrange flour, egg-buttermilk, and spiced breadcrumb bowls for coating.
- Dredge each stick in flour, egg mix, and breadcrumbs - repeat for double coating.
- Fry sticks in hot oil for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Brush hot sticks with spicy honey butter glaze right after frying.
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