February 16, 2024
Review RecipeCheese Wrapped In Bacon
Table of Contents
There isn’t anything better than the combination of bacon and melted cheese. Our cheese wrapped in bacon proves it with its oozing cheesy center wrapped in crispy bacon, creating the perfect party food.
Bacon-Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks Ingredients
You will need:
- 12 whole milk or low-moisture mozzarella sticks
- 1 pound of bacon (typically about 12 slices of bacon)
- Cooking oil (not pictured)
PRO TIP:
Use regular-cut bacon as thick-cut bacon will take too long to cook and also has fewer pieces per pound in the package.
Substitutions And Additions
CHEESE: Instead of the mozzarella cheese strings, you could try the cheddar or marble varieties to change it up.
You could also replace the cheese strings with mozzarella cheese cut from a block; just make sure the cheese pieces are about the same size and shape as a cheese string.
BACON: While we haven’t tried this variation, you could try substituting prosciutto for the regular bacon in this recipe.
JALAPENO: Spice up your cheese sticks with jalapeño slices in your wrapped bundle.
Place the jalapeño on top of the cheese sticks before wrapping them in the strips of bacon.
How To Make This Cheese Wrapped In Bacon Recipe
STEP ONE: Unwrap mozzarella sticks from their wrappers.
STEP TWO: Use one bacon strip for each mozzarella stick. Wrap one end of the bacon over one end of the cheese stick.
Use a wooden toothpick to secure the bacon in place, pushing the toothpick straight through the bacon and into the center of the cheese.
STEP THREE: Wrap the bacon slice around the cheese stick, overlapping each layer slightly until the bacon can be folded over the opposite end.
Secure with another toothpick. A piece of bacon should completely cover the cheese stick. Set aside.
STEP FOUR: Continue wrapping all of the cheese sticks with bacon.
STEP FIVE: Place the bacon-wrapped cheese sticks in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Chilling the wrapped cheese sticks isn’t completely necessary, but it seems to make a difference in preserving the cheese stick while the bacon cooks. Warmer cheese sticks seem to ooze more and be floppier when transferring them out of the oil.
STEP SIX: Fill a skillet with two inches of cooking oil (vegetable oil) and heat over medium-high until the oil reaches 350°F.
PRO TIP:
The oil takes some time to heat (about 15 minutes). Use an instant-read thermometer or a candy thermometer to ensure the oil is heated to the correct temperature. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the cheese will become too soft and will ooze out of the bacon completely before the bacon is cooked all the way.
STEP SEVEN: Remove several cheese sticks from the freezer and add them directly to the hot oil.
STEP EIGHT: Fry, flipping after a few minutes until the bacon is cooked to the desired crispness.
STEP NINE: Use a strainer to remove the fried mozzarella stick from the oil and place it on a paper towel or paper bag to absorb the extra oil.
STEP TEN: Continue cooking the cheese sticks in batches until done.
STEP ELEVEN: Remove toothpicks before serving.
How To Serve
Serve these little bites of heaven with a dipping sauce of your choice. There are plenty of options, including pizza sauce, BBQ sauce, marinara sauce or ranch dressing.
You could even pair them with our ranch crack dip or jalapeno popper dip for a spicier flavor.
These would be fantastic to serve at a party. In my house, we love having pub nights for dinner every once in a while when we make several appetizers and enjoy all the goodness that comes with these types of delicious foods.
These would be a delicious addition to the menu. If you want to serve a “less spicy” alternative to guests as well, serve them alongside our bacon wrapped pineapple.
We have plenty of appetizer suggestions the next time you want to feed a crowd.
Make fried pickles, stuffed mushrooms, cucumber bites, and seven layer dip, and you’ll have very happy party guests.
MORE BACON-WRAPPED RECIPES
Storage
Now that you’ve savored the deliciousness of these bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks, let’s talk about how to store them to ensure you can enjoy their mouthwatering goodness later.
MAKE AHEAD: If you want to get a jump start on your party preparations or simply want these treats ready to go, you can prepare them ahead of time.
Assemble the mozzarella sticks as directed in the recipe but stop just before baking. Instead of baking, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid.
Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or a zip-top freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
They can be stored in the freezer for up to two to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, you can bake them directly from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
IN THE FRIDGE: These bacon fried mozzarella sticks can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days but are best served while still warm.
IN FREEZER: To store leftover cooked mozzarella sticks, allow them to cool to room temperature.
Then, place them in an airtight container or a zip-top freezer bag with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
They can be frozen for up to one to two months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, reheat them following the instructions below.
REHEATING: You can reheat these bacon-wrapped cheese sticks for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave after storing them in the refrigerator.
Why We Love This Recipe
EASY AND QUICK: This recipe is incredibly easy to make, making it a go-to choice for both novice and experienced cooks. With just a few simple steps, you can create a mouthwatering appetizer or snack in no time.
VERSATILE APPETIZER: These bacon-wrapped cheese sticks are incredibly versatile. They make for a crowd-pleasing appetizer for parties and gatherings, a tasty snack for game days, or even a delectable side dish for your favorite meals.
I don’t think you could go wrong with this combination of the flavorful bacon and gooey cheese. Biting into this cheese wrapped in bacon with its hot melted cheese and salty bacon would check all the boxes for an appetizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
You could substitute prosciutto for the bacon as it has a similar salty taste.
Placing the cheese strings in the freezer for at least 30 minutes helps slow down how fast the cheese cooks compared to the bacon.
There are several options to dip your bacon mozzarella stick, including pizza sauce, marinara sauce, barbecue sauce, and ranch dressing.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Taco Sticks
- Pizza Sliders
- Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob
- Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
- Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos
- Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
- Taco Pizza
- Pigs in a Blanket
- Crab Rangoon Eggroll
- BBQ Chicken Sliders
- BLT Dip
- Pizza Sliders
- Frizzled Onions
- Ranch Roll Ups
- Asian Cucumber Salad
- Fuji Apple Panera Salad
- Homemade Crab Rangoon
Cheese Wrapped In Bacon
Ingredients
- 12 whole milk mozzarella sticks or low-moisture mozzarella sticks
- 1 pound bacon typically about 12 slices
- cooking oil not pictured
Instructions
- Unwrap mozzarella sticks from their wrappers.
- Use one piece of bacon for each mozzarella stick. Wrap one end of the bacon over one end of the cheese stick. Use a toothpick to secure the bacon in place, pushing the toothpick straight through the bacon and into the center of the cheese.
- Wrap the bacon around the cheese stick, overlapping each layer slightly until the bacon can be folded over the opposite end. Secure with another toothpick. A piece of bacon should completely cover the cheese stick. Set aside.
- Continue wrapping all of the cheese sticks with bacon.
- Place the bacon-wrapped cheese sticks in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- Fill a skillet with 2 inches of cooking oil (vegetable oil) and heat over medium-high until the oil reaches 350°F.
- Remove several cheese sticks from the freezer and add them directly to the heated oil.
- Fry, flipping after a few minutes until the bacon is cooked to desired crispness.
- Use a strainer to remove the fried mozzarella strip from the oil and place on paper towels or paper bags to absorb the extra oil.
- Continue cooking the cheese sticks in batches until done.
- Remove toothpicks before serving.
Notes
- Use regular-cut bacon as thick-cut bacon will take too long to cook and also has fewer pieces per pound in the package.
- Chilling the wrapped cheese sticks isn’t completely necessary, but it seems to make a difference in preserving the cheese stick while the bacon cooks. Warmer cheese sticks seem to ooze more and be floppier when transferring them out of the oil.
- The oil takes some time to heat (about 15 minutes). Use an instant-read thermometer or a candy thermometer to ensure the oil is heated to the correct temperature. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the cheese will become too soft and will ooze out of the bacon completely before the bacon is cooked all the way.
Comments
Gloria says
My guys love bacon anything and this was a big hit!
Joan Vaughn says
ThankYou so very much. ,can’t wait to make this for a girls party
Maria says
Has anyone tried cooking these in the air fryer?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Maria – we haven’t tested them in the air fryer yet, please let me know if you do!
LD Brown says
I’m going to be a make it to family night and friends.