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Snack
Nashville Hot Fried Mozzarella Bites
By: Louis Gantus
These Nashville Hot Mozzarella Bites are the perfect game day snack. They’re spicy, cheesy, come with a delicious side for dipping, and most importantly there's enough to go around for the whole crowd.
25MINserves 10
Ingredients
Tillamook Farmstyle Triple Cheddar Blend Shreds (1 8 oz bag)
Phyllo dough sheets
6 tbsp Tillamook Extra Creamy Unsalted Butter, melted
Bites:
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1 ½ cups plain breadcrumbs
1 tsp salt
1 1⁄2tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp paprika
Vegetable oil (for frying)
Parsley (for topping, optional)
Nashville Hot Sauce:
½ cup oil (hot after frying the mozzarella)
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
Dipping Sauce:
2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic (Minced)
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp dill (chopped)
Salt to taste
Remove all mozzarella snacks from packaging and set aside. Grab 3 bowls, in the first one add your flour, in your second one whisk the eggs, and in your third mix the bread crumbs and all spices.
Dip the mozzarella snacks into the flour coating well. Then transfer into your eggs and coat until no dry spots remain. Then into your breadcrumbs making sure to fully coat. Once more back in the eggs then finish again in the breadcrumbs. It goes (Flour, Eggs, Breadcrumbs, Eggs, Breadcrumbs), repeat for all mozzarella snacks.
Tip: When coating your mozzarella snacks it is crucial you double coat as we don’t want the cheese leaking out.
Place on a plate or baking sheet lined with foil and set in the freezer for 45 minutes to an hour. Just before they finish setting, heat your oil in a pan or pot to 350 degrees. We will be shallow frying these so don't use too much.
Tip: While the oil heats up I would mix together your Nashville hot spices in the heat proof bowl so nothing cools down when it's time to make that.
Place in your mozzarella bites a few at a time making sure not to overcrowd and fry for 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown and place on a sheet tray with a wire rack.
For shallow frying we want the oil to go a little more than half way up the mozzarella bites but if you add a little more it's okay!
Once you've finished frying all of them grab a heat proof bowl and mix in all your Nashville hot sauce spices. Add ½ a cup of oil from the pan you just fried and mix until well combined.
I like to brush the hot sauce onto each individual mozzarella bite but you can always just dunk them in. Be careful since the oil is hot.
Finally make your dipping sauce by mixing together all the ingredients, optionally top the mozzarella bites with parsley and enjoy!
Tip: Eat while still hot so you can get that incredible cheese pull or reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Shop this recipe
Tillamook Extra Creamy Unsalted Butter
Tillamook Whole Milk Mozzarella Portions
Tillamook Sour Cream
Meet the chef
Louis Gantus
Louis discovered his love for food at an early age, spending time in the kitchen helping his mother whenever he could. He believes food is one of the most powerful ways to share love, culture, and connection. His mission is to inspire others to step into the kitchen with confidence and an unapologetic mindset. His work invites audiences to see cooking not just as a skill, but as a meaningful and creative experience.
