Tasty Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Sticks

These cheese sticks wrapped in bacon turn plain old mozzarella into a mouthwatering starter that mixes crunchy, smoky bacon with melty, gooey cheese. I whipped these up for a football party last year, and now everyone wants them whenever they come over.

I threw these together during a big game when I needed something fast but fancy. The plate was cleaned out before the second quarter, and my buddies still bring them up even now.

Ingredients

• 12 mozzarella sticks: Go for the full-fat kind that melts and stretches the best
• 12 slices of bacon: Pick thick-cut since it holds up better and won't get too crispy
• 1 cup all-purpose flour: Forms the base layer that helps everything stick
• 2 large eggs: Works as the glue for sticking on the breadcrumbs
• 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs: Brings the crunch and flavor with herbs mixed in
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder: Pumps up the savory taste of the outer coating
• 1 teaspoon onion powder: Adds more layers of flavor to the outside
• ½ teaspoon paprika: Gives a hint of smoke and nice color
• ½ teaspoon black pepper: Cuts through the richness with a bit of spice
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped: Adds a pop of green and fresh taste on top
• Marinara sauce for dipping: Its tang perfectly balances the richness

Tasty Instructions

Freeze the Cheese:

Stick those mozzarella sticks in the freezer for a full 30 minutes. This step is super important—it keeps them from turning into a melty mess while cooking. I skipped this once and ended up with cheese puddles all over my pan.

Bacon Wrapping Technique:

While your cheese gets cold, heat your oven to 400°F and put parchment on a baking sheet. Cut your bacon slices in half. Wrap each frozen stick with bacon, starting at one end and winding down with slight overlap, tucking the end underneath. The frozen cheese makes this way easier to handle.

Create Your Breading Station:

Line up three shallow dishes. Put flour in the first one. Beat those eggs in the second dish until they're fully mixed. In the third, mix your breadcrumbs with the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper, stirring well so the spices spread out evenly.

Coating Process:

Hold each bacon-wrapped stick by the ends and first roll it in flour, making sure it's totally covered, even the ends. Shake off extra. Then roll in your beaten eggs, letting extra drip off. Last, press it firmly into your spiced breadcrumbs, using your fingers to cover every bit. Place them on your ready baking sheet, leaving room between each one.

Baking to Perfection:

Bake them for 15-20 minutes, turning the pan around halfway. Look for a deep golden color and crispy bacon. A little cheese oozing out means they're done. Let them sit for 2-3 minutes before serving so the cheese can firm up a bit.

I found out that throwing in a dash of cayenne to the breadcrumb mix adds a nice kick that goes great with the rich cheese. My kid, who usually stays away from anything spicy, said these were her favorite after I made them for her birthday last year. The whole plate was gone in minutes.

Make-Ahead Instructions

These bacon-wrapped cheese sticks are great for getting ready ahead of time. Do all the steps through the breading part, then put them on a parchment-covered baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours until they're solid. Move them to a sealed container or freezer bag with parchment between layers so they don't stick together. When you want to cook them, just bake from frozen, adding about 5-7 more minutes to the cooking time. I often make twice as many during the holidays so I always have something fancy ready to go.

Perfect Dipping Sauce Pairings

Marinara might be the traditional choice, but these bacon-wrapped sticks go great with lots of other dips too. Ranch adds a tangy creaminess that cuts through the richness. Honey mustard brings a sweet-spicy mix that makes the bacon taste even better. If you like heat, try some sriracha mayo or buffalo sauce. My favorite is a roasted garlic aioli that works with both the bacon and cheese flavors. Putting out different dips lets everyone pick what they like best.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Cheese leaks out when the sticks aren't cold enough before baking or when there are gaps in the coating. Make sure they're completely frozen and fully covered with bacon and breading. If the breading falls off, your egg mixture might be too runny – add a tablespoon of milk to help it stick better. When the bacon keeps unwrapping, hold it with toothpicks before adding breading, but don't forget to take them out before serving. And if they're getting too brown outside but the cheese isn't melted inside, turn the oven down to 375°F and cook a little longer.

These bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks will definitely wow your friends and have them asking for seconds!

Recipe Q&A

→ Can I make bacon wrapped cheese sticks in advance?

Sure thing! You can fix them up to the breading part and keep them in the fridge for a day before baking. If you need longer storage, pop the ready-but-unbaked sticks in the freezer for up to a month. When you're ready to eat, just bake them straight from frozen, adding a bit more time to the cooking.

→ Why do I need to freeze the cheese sticks first?

Freezing helps the cheese keep its shape while cooking. This stops the cheese from oozing out too soon before the bacon gets nice and crispy.

→ What goes well with bacon wrapped cheese sticks?

Tomato sauce is always a winner, but these tasty bites also go great with ranch, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or even a spicy mayo if you want some heat.

→ Can I cook these in an air fryer?

You bet! Cook them at 375°F for about 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway. The air fryer makes them super crispy outside while keeping the cheese all gooey inside.

→ What kind of bacon works best?

Thick-cut bacon is your friend here as it holds up better when wrapped around the cheese. Regular bacon works too - just make sure you wrap it snugly and secure it well around the cheese stick.

→ Can I try different cheeses?

For sure! Mozzarella is the go-to because it melts so well, but cheddar, pepper jack, or string cheese are fun options too. Just remember that each cheese melts differently, so you might need to tweak your freezing or cooking times.