Ingredients
Scale
For this recipe, you’ll need the following:
- 12 mozzarella sticks (cheese sticks)
- 2 cups of Hot Cheetos, crushed into a fine powder (you can do this in a blender or place them in a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin)
- 1 cup of flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying (vegetable oil or canola oil works best)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheeto Coating
- Place the Hot Cheetos in a blender or food processor, and pulse until they’re crushed into a fine powder. You can also place them in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. Once crushed, pour the powder into a shallow bowl.
- Set Up Your Breading Station
- Grab three shallow bowls:
- Bowl 1: Flour seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Bowl 2: Beaten eggs and milk, whisked together.
- Bowl 3: Crushed Hot Cheetos.
- Grab three shallow bowls:
- Prepare the Mozzarella Sticks
- Take each mozzarella stick and coat it lightly in the flour mixture. This will help the egg wash stick to the cheese.
- After coating in flour, dip each stick into the egg wash, making sure it’s fully covered.
- Immediately roll each stick in the Hot Cheeto crumbs, pressing gently to coat the entire stick. For a thicker coating, dip the stick back in the egg wash and roll it again in the Cheeto crumbs.
- Freeze the Coated Sticks
- Place the coated mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 1 hour. This step is crucial because it helps the cheese stay inside the coating while frying.
- Heat the Oil for Frying
- Pour oil into a deep frying pan or a heavy-bottomed pot, filling it up to about 2 inches deep. Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C). Use a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature, or test by adding a small piece of bread—if it sizzles and browns in a few seconds, the oil is ready.
- Fry the Mozzarella Sticks
- Carefully add a few frozen mozzarella sticks to the hot oil (don’t overcrowd the pan). Fry for about 1-2 minutes, or until the coating is crispy and the cheese is just beginning to ooze.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sticks to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
- Serve Immediately
- Serve these Hot Cheeto Mozzarella Sticks with your favorite dipping sauce. Marinara, ranch, or spicy sriracha mayo are all great choices!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 5g