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 getting them perfectly golden and melty every time. Keep reading for my best tips on making these better than takeout bombs. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe and Fruity Pebbles Cheesecake Tacos Easy No-Bake Dessert.
Why This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy exterior
- Melty, gooey mozzarella center
- Packed with buffalo chicken flavor
- Easy to make and impress a crowd
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.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Bacon
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
- Ranch dressing for dipping
- Optional: Chopped green onions
- Optional: Crumbled blue cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use chicken tenders if you prefer.
- Mozzarella cheese sticks: String cheese can also be used as a substitute.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Makes quick work of shredding chicken and cheese. → See on Amazon
- Baking sheet — Ensures even cooking and easy cleanup. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Step 1: Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 2: Cook chicken and bacon: Cook chicken breasts and bacon separately until cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Shred chicken and cheese: Shred cooked chicken and mozzarella cheese using a food processor or by hand.
- Step 4: Mix chicken, cheese, and seasonings: Combine shredded chicken, mozzarella, buffalo wing sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a bowl. Add cayenne pepper for extra heat if desired.
- Step 5: Wrap bombs with bacon: Wrap each mozzarella stick with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick. Repeat until all bombs are wrapped.
- Step 6: Bake bombs: Place wrapped bombs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Step 7: Serve: Let bombs cool for a few minutes, then serve with ranch dressing for dipping. Enjoy!
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- : For extra crispy bombs, bake them on a wire rack placed over the baking sheet.
- Common mistake and fix: If your bombs are not melting, try using full-fat mozzarella sticks instead of reduced-fat or part-skim.
- : To make ahead, assemble bombs and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Bake as directed when 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: You can assemble the bombs up to 24 hours ahead of time. 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 the cooking time.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until heated through. Note that this may make the bombs soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add some diced jalapeños to the chicken mixture.
- Best substitution: If you're not a fan of buffalo sauce, you can substitute it with BBQ sauce or honey garlic sauce.
- Make-ahead: These bombs are best served fresh, but you can make them up to 24 hours ahead of time as mentioned in the storage section.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your bombs are burning, try reducing the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and keeping an eye on them.
Want to level up this recipe?
Toothpicks — Essential for securing bacon around the mozzarella sticks. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Bacon
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Ranch dressing
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
- Ranch dressing for dipping
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 2: Cook chicken and bacon: Cook chicken breasts and bacon separately until cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Shred chicken and cheese: Shred cooked chicken and mozzarella cheese using a food processor or by hand.
- Step 4: Mix chicken, cheese, and seasonings: Combine shredded chicken, mozzarella, buffalo wing sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a bowl. Add cayenne pepper for extra heat if desired.
- Step 5: Wrap bombs with bacon: Wrap each mozzarella stick with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick. Repeat until all bombs are wrapped.
- Step 6: Bake bombs: Place wrapped bombs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Step 7: Serve: Let bombs cool for a few minutes, then serve with ranch dressing for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add some diced jalapeños to the chicken mixture.
- Best substitution: If you're not a fan of buffalo sauce, you can substitute it with BBQ sauce or honey garlic sauce.
- Make-ahead: These bombs are best served fresh, but you can make them up to 24 hours ahead of time as mentioned in the storage section.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your bombs are burning, try reducing the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and keeping an eye on them.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover bombs 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 the cooking time.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until heated through. Note that this may make the bombs soggy.
- Make ahead: You can assemble the bombs up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 170
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 11g
- Carbs: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 35mg
- Sat. Fat: 4g
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, you can assemble them up to 24 hours ahead of time. See the storage section for details.
Try using full-fat mozzarella sticks instead of reduced-fat or part-skim. Also, make sure your oven temperature is accurate.
Yes, you can freeze uncooked bombs for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Yes, cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
These bombs are best served with ranch dressing for dipping. You can also serve them with a side of celery sticks or carrot sticks.
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!
