These Doritos Mozzarella Sticks are one of those recipes I find myself making again and again because they're just that good. My son absolutely loves them, and they disappear almost as fast as I can make them! With a crispy, cheesy Doritos coating wrapped around perfectly gooey mozzarella, they're a fun twist on the classic appetizer that's always a hit with kids and adults alike. Whether you're serving them as an after-school snack, game day appetizer, or party food, these mozzarella sticks are guaranteed to be the first thing to disappear.
For these I used Cool Ranch Doritos, but honestly any flavor will work. These are a fun spin on a classic appetizer.
Why you'll love these Doritos Mozzarella Sticks
- Only requires a handful of ingredients
- Kid friendly and easy snack recipe
- They're a perfect party appetizer or game day snack
What to serve with these mozzarella cheese sticks?
- Marinara sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Cilantro garlic lime sauce
Ingredients needed for these cheesy treats
For the full list of ingredients and quantities, scroll to the recipe card.
- Mozzarella Cheese Sticks – The star of the recipe, mozzarella melts into a perfectly gooey, stretchy center while the coating becomes crispy and golden.
- Nacho Cheese Doritos – Crushed Doritos create a bold, cheesy, crunchy coating that takes classic mozzarella sticks to the next level.
- Eggs – Beaten eggs help the Doritos coating stick to the cheese sticks for an even, crispy crust.
- All-Purpose Flour – A light coating of flour helps the egg adhere to the mozzarella sticks, creating the perfect breading base.
- Cooking Spray or Oil – A light coating of oil helps the Doritos crust crisp up beautifully whether you're using an air fryer or deep frying.
Instructions
- Add a bag of doritos to the bowl of a food processor and process to a fine crumb.
- Set out three shallow bowls and a piece of parchment paper.
- In the first bowl add all purpose flour.
- In the second bowl, add eggs and whisk until you have an egg wash.
- In the third bowl, add the crushed Doritos crumbs. You should have an assembly line of shallow bowls.
- Working one at a time, first, dip the mozzarella stick into the flour mixture, turning to coat all sides.
- Next, roll it into the eggs, coating all sides.
- Third, dip the mozzarella stick into the Doritos crumbs.
- For best results, go back and dip the cheese stick in both the eggs and the Doritos crumbs a second time. The mozzarella stick should be fully coated. Place it on the parchment paper.
- Place the coated cheese sticks into the freezer for at least 2 hours.
- When ready to cook, add your canola oil to a large skillet and set the heat to medium high until your oil reaches 350 degrees.
- Do not overcrowd your frying pan, fry these in batches in the hot oil and remove from heat when all sides are golden about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and place cooked mozzarella sticks on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve immediately
Variations or substitutions
- Try a different Doritos flavor: Swap the Nacho Cheese Doritos for Cool Ranch, Flamin' Hot, Spicy Sweet Chili, or Tangy Ranch for a completely different flavor profile.
- Use another cheese: Mozzarella is the classic choice, but cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or Colby Jack cheese sticks also work well and add a unique twist.
- Make them extra spicy: Mix cayenne pepper, chili powder, or crushed red pepper flakes into the crushed Doritos coating for an extra kick.
- Gluten-free option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free cheese sticks if needed. Check that your chips are also suitable for your dietary needs.
- Bake instead of fry: If you prefer, bake the mozzarella sticks in the oven or cook them in the air fryer for a lighter version with plenty of crunch.
- Serve with different dipping sauces: Marinara is a classic, but these are also delicious with ranch dressing, spicy ranch, chipotle mayo, queso, honey mustard, buffalo sauce, or garlic aioli.
- Add seasonings: Mix garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or Italian seasoning into the crushed Doritos for even more flavor.
- Use string cheese or block cheese: String cheese is the easiest option, but you can also cut a block of mozzarella into sticks for homemade-sized portions.
- Make them bite-sized: Cut each cheese stick into halves or thirds before breading to create fun, poppable mozzarella bites that are perfect for parties or game day.
Storage
Refrigerator: Allow the mozzarella sticks to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: For the crispiest results, reheat in an air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes or in a 375°F oven for 8–10 minutes, until heated through and the coating is crispy again. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can make the coating soggy and the cheese rubbery.
Freeze Before Cooking: After breading the mozzarella sticks, arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up to 2 months. Cook directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Freeze After Cooking: Cooked mozzarella sticks can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Let them cool completely before freezing in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer or oven until hot and crispy.
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Doritos Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose Flour
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 10 oz bag of Doritos
- 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks
Instructions
- Add a bag of doritos to the bowl of a food processor and process to a fine crumb.
- Set out three shallow bowls and a piece of parchment paper.
- In the first bowl add all purpose flour.
- In the second bowl, add eggs and whisk until you have an egg wash.
- In the third bowl, add the crushed Doritos crumbs. You should have an assembly line of shallow bowls.
- Working one at a time, first, dip the mozzarella stick into the flour mixture, turning to coat all sides.
- Next, roll it into the eggs, coating all sides.
- Third, dip the mozzarella stick into the Doritos crumbs.
- For best results, go back and dip the cheese stick in both the eggs and the Doritos crumbs a second time. The mozzarella stick should be fully coated. Place it on the parchment paper.
- Place the coated cheese sticks into the freezer for at least 2 hours.
- When ready to cook, add your canola oil to a large skillet and set the heat to medium high until your oil reaches 350 degrees.
- Do not overcrowd your frying pan, fry these in batches in the hot oil and remove from heat when all sides are golden about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and place cooked mozzarella sticks on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve immediately
Notes
Variations or substitutions
- Don't have nacho cheese Doritos? You can opt for your favorite chip like hot cheese puffs, Takis, spicy Doritos or even potato chips.
- Don't want to fry these? You can use a quart air fryer instead
- Don't have mozzarella string cheese? You can use cheddar or any delicious cheese that melts
- Don't have a food processor? You can place the Doritos in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin in order to make the Doritos crumbs.
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