Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs are the ultimate game day appetizer. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping them crispy and preventing sogginess. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Ginger Scallion Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe and Easy High Protein Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad for Summer.
Why This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy golden exterior
- Melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella
- Perfect balance of spicy and savory
- Easy to make ahead and freeze
What You'll Need for Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Buffalo chicken tenders
- Bacon
- Flour
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Eggs
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Chopped green onions
- Optional: Ranch or blue cheese dressing
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Mozzarella cheese sticks: Part-skim mozzarella sticks work best.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Saves time and ensures even breading. → See on Amazon
- Deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot — Even heat for perfectly crispy bombs. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Step 1: Cut mozzarella sticks in half. Wrap each piece around a small piece of buffalo chicken and a half slice of bacon, securing with a toothpick.
- Step 2: Set up a breading station with flour, beaten eggs, and panko breadcrumbs. Coat each bomb in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs.
- Step 3: Heat oil to 375°F (190°C). Fry bombs in batches for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Step 4: Toss bombs in buffalo wing sauce. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing and chopped green onions.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Common mistake and fix: To prevent soggy bombs, make sure your oil is hot enough and fry in batches to maintain oil temperature.
- Tip: For a healthier version, bake bombs at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes or until golden and crispy.
- Tip: Make ahead and freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Fry from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to cooking time.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover bombs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare bombs up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
Freezing Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Fry from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to cooking time.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until heated through. (Microwaving may make bombs soggy.)
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the breadcrumbs.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken tenders with cooked, shredded chicken breast.
- Make-ahead: Prepare bombs up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If bombs are not crispy, try increasing the oil temperature or frying in smaller batches.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant-read thermometer — Ensures perfect oil temperature for crispy bombs. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Buffalo chicken tenders
- Bacon
- Flour
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Eggs
Seasonings
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut mozzarella sticks in half. Wrap each piece around a small piece of buffalo chicken and a half slice of bacon, securing with a toothpick.
- Step 2: Set up a breading station with flour, beaten eggs, and panko breadcrumbs. Coat each bomb in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs.
- Step 3: Heat oil to 375°F (190°C). Fry bombs in batches for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Step 4: Toss bombs in buffalo wing sauce. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing and chopped green onions.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the breadcrumbs.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken tenders with cooked, shredded chicken breast.
- Make-ahead: Prepare bombs up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If bombs are not crispy, try increasing the oil temperature or frying in smaller batches.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover bombs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Fry from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to cooking time.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until heated through. (Microwaving may make bombs soggy.)
- Make ahead: Prepare bombs up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 18g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Cholesterol: 65mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day FAQs
Yes, prepare bombs up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
To prevent soggy bombs, make sure your oil is hot enough and fry in batches to maintain oil temperature.
Yes, freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Fry from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to cooking time.
Yes, bake bombs at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes or until heated through. (Microwaving may make bombs soggy.)
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
