If you love mozzarella sticks and you love bacon, these Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Cheese Sticks are about to become your favorite snack. Each stick of mozzarella gets wrapped in thin bacon and baked until the outside is crispy and smoky while the cheese inside turns soft, gooey and stretchy.
The trick is freezing the string cheese first, so it holds its shape while the bacon cooks. You only need two ingredients and about 12 minutes in the oven or air fryer. Serve them for game day, movie night or as a quick appetizer with marinara or ranch for dipping.
Prep: 10 min + 1 hr freezing | Cook: 12 min | Makes: 12 sticks
Ingredients
- 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks, cut in half
- 12 slices thin-cut bacon
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
- Black pepper, to taste
- Marinara or ranch, for dipping
Instructions
- Cut each string cheese stick in half and freeze for at least 1 hour. Frozen cheese keeps its shape while the bacon gets crispy.
- Heat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Wrap one slice of bacon tightly around each frozen cheese half, covering the ends so the cheese can't leak out.
- Set them seam side down on the foil, a little apart. Sprinkle with garlic powder and black pepper.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the bacon is browned and crispy. Turn on the broiler for the last minute if you want extra crunch.
- Rest 2 minutes, then serve warm with marinara or ranch.
Tip
Use thin-cut bacon, not thick. Thick bacon needs longer to crisp, and by then the cheese melts out. AIR FRYER: Cook at 375°F for 7 to 9 minutes, turning once halfway.
Enjoy your Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Cheese Sticks! Save this recipe and share it with someone who loves easy home cooking.
