Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs are a deliciously crispy and cheesy appetizer perfect for game day or parties. These bite-sized treats feature mozzarella cubes wrapped in crispy bacon and encased in seasoned ground chicken, then coated in breadcrumbs and fried or baked until golden and crunchy. Finished with a drizzle of spicy buffalo sauce, they’re sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 bombs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Bacon
- 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 6 slices Cooked Bacon, crumbled and used to wrap cheese cubes
Chicken Mixture
- 1 lb Ground Chicken (or substitute with ground turkey or lean beef)
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup Buffalo Sauce (adjust to spice preference)
Coating
- 1 cup Plain Flour
- 2 large Eggs, beaten
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (Panko or regular for extra crunch)
For Cooking
- 2 cups Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil (for frying, optional if baking)
- Remaining 1/2 cup Buffalo Sauce (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese and Bacon: Cut mozzarella cheese into approximately 1-inch cubes and set aside. Crumble cooked bacon slices. Wrap each mozzarella cube completely with a piece of crumbled bacon to ensure good coverage.
- Make Chicken Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and half (1/2 cup) of the buffalo sauce. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated, creating a flavorful seasoned mixture.
- Form Bombs: Take a handful of the chicken mixture and flatten it in your palm. Place one bacon-wrapped mozzarella cube in the center, then carefully encase the cheese with the chicken mixture, shaping it into a compact ball to fully seal the cheese inside.
- Coat the Bombs: Roll each chicken bomb first in the plain flour, then dip it into the beaten eggs, and finally coat it evenly with breadcrumbs. The breadcrumb layer will give a crispy texture once cooked.
- Cook the Bombs: To fry: heat oil in a deep fryer or heavy pan to 350°F (175°C). Fry bombs in batches for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and crispy, ensuring the chicken is fully cooked. To bake: preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and place bombs on a lined baking sheet; bake for 18-20 minutes until crispy and cooked through.
- Serve: Remove cooked bombs from oil or oven, drain on paper towels if fried. Drizzle the remaining buffalo sauce over the hot bombs. Serve immediately for the best gooey, spicy experience.
Notes
- Chilling the assembled bombs in the refrigerator before cooking helps maintain their shape and improves crispiness.
- Using panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs will add extra crunch to the coating.
- Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce according to your preferred spice level—more sauce for extra heat or less for mild flavor.
- Ground turkey or lean beef can be used as substitutes for ground chicken if preferred.
- If baking, consider turning the bombs halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
Keywords: Buffalo chicken bombs, bacon mozzarella bites, game day appetizers, fried chicken balls, buffalo chicken recipes