Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Crispy, golden, and oozing with cheese, these 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. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry Recipe for Dinner and Easy Greek Grain Bowl with Halloumi and Zucchini Crisps.
Why This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, melty on the inside
- Packed with flavor from buffalo sauce and bacon
- Easy to make and perfect for game day or parties
- Better than takeout and a family favorite
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 breasts
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Bacon
- Buffalo sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Ranch dressing (optional)
- Optional: Ranch dressing
- Optional: Blue cheese crumbles
- Optional: Chopped green onions
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Cut into strips, about 1-inch thick
- Mozzarella cheese sticks: Cut in half crosswise
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Saves time and ensures even chicken strips → See on Amazon
- Baking sheet — Even heat distribution for crispy bombs → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Prepare chicken: Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch strips. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Wrap chicken: Wrap each chicken strip around a halved mozzarella stick. Secure with a toothpick.
- Wrap in bacon: Wrap each chicken and mozzarella bomb with half a slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place bombs on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and chicken is cooked through.
- Toss in buffalo sauce: Toss bombs in buffalo sauce until fully coated. Return to baking sheet and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
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 chicken is not too thick and your oven temperature is high enough.
- Pro tip: For an extra kick, add a drizzle of hot sauce to your buffalo sauce.
- Pro tip: For a crunchier exterior, brush bombs with a little bit of melted butter before baking.
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 fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare bombs up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Freezing Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to cooking time.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp up in the oven for 5 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb option, use string cheese instead of mozzarella sticks.
- Best substitution: Substitute buffalo sauce with your favorite hot sauce for a spicy twist.
- Make-ahead: Prepare bombs up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger gatherings.
- Troubleshooting: If bombs are not crispy enough, broil for an additional 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
Want to level up this recipe?
Toothpicks — Essential for securing chicken and cheese sticks → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Bacon
- Buffalo sauce
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Ranch dressing (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Ranch dressing
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Prepare chicken: Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch strips. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Wrap chicken: Wrap each chicken strip around a halved mozzarella stick. Secure with a toothpick.
- Wrap in bacon: Wrap each chicken and mozzarella bomb with half a slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place bombs on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and chicken is cooked through.
- Toss in buffalo sauce: Toss bombs in buffalo sauce until fully coated. Return to baking sheet and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb option, use string cheese instead of mozzarella sticks.
- Best substitution: Substitute buffalo sauce with your favorite hot sauce for a spicy twist.
- Make-ahead: Prepare bombs up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger gatherings.
- Troubleshooting: If bombs are not crispy enough, broil for an additional 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to cooking time.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp up in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare bombs up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 180
- Protein: 15g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- 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
Yes, prepare bombs up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
To prevent soggy bombs, make sure your chicken is not too thick and your oven temperature is high enough.
Yes, freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to cooking time.
Yes, cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes for the best texture.
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!
