Description
Spicy and cheesy, these Hot Cheeto Mozzarella Sticks are a bold twist on the classic appetizer. With a crunchy, fiery Cheeto coating and gooey mozzarella inside, they’re perfect for dipping in ranch or blue cheese dressing!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bag (8.5 ounces / 6 cups) Flaming Hot Cheetos, crushed (about 3 cups)
- 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks, cut in half
- ½ cup (62.5 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- Parsley, chopped, for garnish
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing, for dipping
Instructions
- Crush the Flaming Hot Cheetos into fine crumbs using a food processor or by placing them in a zip-top bag and crushing with a rolling pin.
- Set up a breading station:
- In one shallow bowl, place the flour, salt, and garlic powder.
- In another shallow bowl, beat the eggs until smooth.
- In a third shallow bowl, place the crushed Cheetos.
- Dip each mozzarella stick first into the flour mixture, coating it evenly, then into the egg wash, and finally into the crushed Cheetos. Make sure the sticks are well-coated with the Cheetos crumbs.
- Once all mozzarella sticks are coated, freeze them for at least 30 minutes (this helps prevent the cheese from melting too quickly during frying).
- Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the mozzarella sticks in batches for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oil and place on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Notes
- Be sure to freeze the mozzarella sticks before frying to prevent the cheese from oozing out.
- You can adjust the level of spiciness by using regular Cheetos or adjusting the amount of Hot Cheetos used.
- For a lighter version, try baking the mozzarella sticks at 400°F (200°C) for about 10-12 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 30 minutes freezing time)
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (per batch)
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Hot Cheeto Mozzarella Sticks, Spicy Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Cheese Sticks, Hot Cheetos Appetizer, Cheesy Snack