Hot Cheeto Mozzarella Sticks: Best Quick Dinner Recipe
These Hot Cheeto Mozzarella Sticks are a spicy, crispy twist on the classic appetizer, combining crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos coating with gooey melted mozzarella cheese inside. Perfect as a quick dinner or snack, they’re easy to make using an air fryer for a perfectly golden and crispy crust with minimal oil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 51 minutes
- Yield: 24 mozzarella sticks 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Coating
- 1 bag (8.5 oz) Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (crushed, approx. 3 cups)
- ½ cup (62.5 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Main
- 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks (cut in half)
- 4 large eggs (room temperature, whisked)
To Serve
- Parsley (chopped, for garnish)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing (for dipping)
Instructions
- Crush the Cheetos: Add Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form, creating the spicy coating mixture.
- Prepare the Coating Stations: Arrange three shallow bowls: one with the flour, kosher salt, and garlic powder mixed; one with the whisked eggs; and the third with the crushed Cheeto crumbs.
- Coat the Mozzarella Sticks: Dip each mozzarella stick first into the flour mixture, then the eggs, and finally the Cheeto crumbs. For an extra thick and crispy crust, repeat the egg and Cheeto crumb coating once more.
- Freeze the Sticks: Place the coated mozzarella sticks on parchment paper and freeze for at least 30 minutes. This step helps prevent the cheese from oozing out during cooking.
- Air Fry to Perfection: Preheat your air fryer to 390°F. Lightly spray the frozen sticks with cooking spray, then air fry them for 4-6 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy.
Notes
- Freezing the coated sticks is essential to prevent the cheese from melting out during air frying.
- For extra crispiness, be sure to double coat the sticks in egg and Cheeto crumbs.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can deep fry the sticks until golden, but air frying is a healthier alternative.
- Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping and sprinkle with chopped parsley for a fresh touch.
Keywords: Hot Cheeto Mozzarella Sticks, spicy mozzarella sticks, air fryer appetizer, Flamin Hot Cheetos recipe, crispy mozzarella sticks, quick dinner, snack recipe
