Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs are the game day snack you’ve been craving. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping them crispy and preventing the cheese from leaking. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry Recipe Easy and Creamy and Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes.
Why This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside
- Packed with buffalo chicken flavor
- Easy to make and ready in just 20 minutes
- Better than takeout and perfect for game day
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
- Frozen buffalo chicken bites
- Bacon
- Ranch dressing
- Buffalo sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Chopped green onions
- Optional: Ranch dressing for dipping
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Mozzarella cheese sticks: Make sure the cheese sticks are fully frozen to prevent the cheese from leaking while cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Air Fryer — Crispy texture without the oil → See on Amazon
- Meat Thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Prepare the cheese sticks: Cut each mozzarella cheese stick in half. Wrap each half with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick.
- Cook the chicken bites: Cook the frozen buffalo chicken bites according to package instructions. Once done, cut each bite into quarters.
- Assemble the bombs: Wrap each bacon-wrapped cheese stick with a piece of buffalo chicken, securing it with a toothpick. Repeat until all cheese sticks are wrapped.
- Air fry the bombs: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the bombs in the air fryer basket, making sure they're not touching. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Serve: Remove the bombs from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.
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 the cheese sticks are fully frozen before wrapping them in bacon.
- Time-saving tip: You can assemble the bombs up to a day ahead of time. Just store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
- Make-ahead tip: These bombs are best served fresh, but you can reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can assemble the bombs up to a day ahead of time.
Freezing Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
These bombs are best made fresh and not frozen.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Do not reheat in the microwave as it will make the bombs soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra kick, drizzle the bombs with hot sauce before serving.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the buffalo chicken bites with cooked, shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce.
- Make-ahead: These bombs are best served fresh, but you can assemble them up to a day ahead of time.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the cheese is leaking while cooking, try wrapping the cheese sticks in plastic wrap before freezing them.
Want to level up this recipe?
Baking Sheet — Easy to clean and perfect for air frying → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Frozen buffalo chicken bites
- Bacon
- Ranch dressing
Seasonings
- Buffalo sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the cheese sticks: Cut each mozzarella cheese stick in half. Wrap each half with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick.
- Cook the chicken bites: Cook the frozen buffalo chicken bites according to package instructions. Once done, cut each bite into quarters.
- Assemble the bombs: Wrap each bacon-wrapped cheese stick with a piece of buffalo chicken, securing it with a toothpick. Repeat until all cheese sticks are wrapped.
- Air fry the bombs: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the bombs in the air fryer basket, making sure they're not touching. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Serve: Remove the bombs from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra kick, drizzle the bombs with hot sauce before serving.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the buffalo chicken bites with cooked, shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce.
- Make-ahead: These bombs are best served fresh, but you can assemble them up to a day ahead of time.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the cheese is leaking while cooking, try wrapping the cheese sticks in plastic wrap before freezing them.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: These bombs are best made fresh and not frozen.
- Oven reheat: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Do not reheat in the microwave as it will make the bombs soggy.
- Make ahead: You can assemble the bombs up to a day ahead of time.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 180
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sat. Fat: 5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day FAQs
You can assemble the bombs up to a day ahead of time. Just store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
To prevent the cheese from leaking, make sure the cheese sticks are fully frozen before wrapping them in bacon. You can also wrap the cheese sticks in plastic wrap before freezing them.
Yes, you can bake these bombs in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is melted.
Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Do not reheat in the microwave as it will make the bombs soggy.
No, fresh mozzarella will not hold its shape when cooked. You must use mozzarella sticks for this recipe.
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!
