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 the cheese from leaking. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe for Quick Meals and Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars for Quick Snacks.
Why This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy bacon and panko coating
- Melty mozzarella cheese
- Spicy buffalo sauce
- Easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser
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.
- Chicken breast
- Mozzarella string cheese
- Bacon
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Buffalo sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Optional: Ranch dressing
- Optional: Blue cheese crumbles
- Optional: Chopped celery
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Mozzarella string cheese: Cut each string cheese in half to make 16 pieces.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Saves time and ensures even chicken pieces. → See on Amazon
- Deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot — Keeps oil at consistent temperature for crispy results. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken breast into 16 even pieces, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Wrap the cheese: Wrap each mozzarella string cheese half with a chicken piece, securing it with a toothpick.
- Coat the bombs: Wrap each chicken-wrapped cheese in a half slice of bacon, secure with a toothpick. Coat in flour, then dip in beaten egg, and finally press into panko breadcrumbs.
- Fry the bombs: Fry the bombs in 350°F oil for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Toss in sauce: Toss the fried bombs in buffalo sauce until fully coated. Serve immediately with ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, and chopped celery.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Common mistake and fix: To prevent the cheese from leaking, make sure to wrap the chicken tightly around the cheese and secure it with a toothpick before coating.
- Pro tip: For an even crispier coating, double-coat the bombs by dipping them back into the egg and panko after the first fry.
- Pro tip: To keep the bombs warm while frying in batches, place them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
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: The bombs can be prepared up to a day ahead, but do not fry until ready to serve.
Freezing Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Freezing is not recommended as it can make the coating soggy.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through. Microwave: Microwaving is not recommended as it can make the coating soggy and the cheese stringy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the buffalo sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute the chicken breast with boneless, skinless chicken thighs for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the cheese leaks during frying, try wrapping the chicken and cheese more tightly and securing it with two toothpicks.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant-read meat thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature without overcooking. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Chicken breast
- Mozzarella string cheese
- Bacon
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Buffalo sauce
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
Optional Toppings
- Ranch dressing
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Chopped celery
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken breast into 16 even pieces, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Wrap the cheese: Wrap each mozzarella string cheese half with a chicken piece, securing it with a toothpick.
- Coat the bombs: Wrap each chicken-wrapped cheese in a half slice of bacon, secure with a toothpick. Coat in flour, then dip in beaten egg, and finally press into panko breadcrumbs.
- Fry the bombs: Fry the bombs in 350°F oil for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Toss in sauce: Toss the fried bombs in buffalo sauce until fully coated. Serve immediately with ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, and chopped celery.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the buffalo sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute the chicken breast with boneless, skinless chicken thighs for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the cheese leaks during frying, try wrapping the chicken and cheese more tightly and securing it with two toothpicks.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover bombs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freezing is not recommended as it can make the coating soggy.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through.
- Microwave reheat: Microwaving is not recommended as it can make the coating soggy and the cheese stringy.
- Make ahead: The bombs can be prepared up to a day ahead, but do not fry until ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 280
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 75mg
- Sat. Fat: 8g
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, see the storage notes for make-ahead tips.
To prevent the cheese from leaking, make sure to wrap the chicken tightly around the cheese and secure it with a toothpick before coating. If the cheese still leaks, try using two toothpicks to secure the chicken.
Yes, but the coating will not be as crispy. Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is golden brown.
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through. Do not microwave as it can make the coating soggy and the cheese stringy.
Freezing is not recommended as it can make the coating 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!
