Ingredients
Scale
- 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks (cut in half)
- 1 bag (8.5 oz) Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, crushed (approx. 3 cups)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 large eggs, room temperature, whisked
- Parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing (for dipping)
Instructions
- Place the Cheetos in a zip-top bag and crush them using a rolling pin or pulse them in a food processor until you have coarse crumbs.
- In one shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and garlic powder. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs. Pour the crushed Cheetos into a third bowl.
- Take a mozzarella half, dredge it in the flour mixture, dip it in the egg, and then press it into the crushed Cheetos until fully coated. For extra crunch, repeat the egg and Cheeto coating.
- Lay the coated mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 30–45 minutes.
- Air fry the sticks at 400°F for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through until they are golden and crispy, or bake at 425°F for 8–10 minutes in the oven.
Notes
Use fresh mozzarella for a gooey texture and freeze the coated sticks to prevent leakage during cooking. Adjust the heat level by mixing regular and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Keywords: snack, appetizer, cheesy, spicy, game day