Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Crispy, golden, and oozing with cheese, these Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs are the perfect game day snack. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping them crispy and preventing them from exploding. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Crab Rangoon Pinwheels with Puff Pastry and Tropical Hawaiian Banana Bread with Pineapple and Coconut.
Why This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy, golden exterior
- Gooey, melted cheese center
- Perfect balance of spicy and savory flavors
- Easy to make ahead for game day
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.
- Buffalo chicken
- Mozzarella cheese
- Bacon
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Optional: Chopped green onions
- Optional: Ranch dressing for dipping
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Buffalo chicken: Use store-bought or make your own with shredded chicken, hot sauce, and butter.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Makes quick work of shredding chicken and mixing ingredients. → See on Amazon
- Panko breadcrumbs — Gives the bombs a crispy, golden crust. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Prepare the filling: Mix shredded chicken, mozzarella, and buffalo wing sauce in a bowl.
- Form the bombs: Wrap each piece of mozzarella in a slice of bacon, then roll in panko breadcrumbs.
- Chill the bombs: Place the bombs on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Bake the bombs: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), then bake the bombs for 20-25 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
- Common mistake and fix: To prevent the bombs from exploding, make sure to wrap the mozzarella tightly in bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Also, don't overcrowd the baking sheet.
- Time-saving tip: You can make the bombs up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Flavor boost: Add a sprinkle of garlic powder and onion powder to the panko breadcrumbs for extra flavor.
- Serving suggestion: Serve the bombs with ranch dressing for dipping and a side of celery sticks.
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 refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make the bombs up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
Freezing Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Freezing is not recommended as it can affect the texture of the bombs.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Microwave: Reheating in the microwave is not recommended as it can make the bombs soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra kick, add some diced jalapeños to the filling.
- Best substitution: If you don't have mozzarella, you can use cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese instead.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the bombs are not browning, you can broil them for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Watch them closely to prevent burning.
Want to level up this recipe?
Baking sheet — A large baking sheet ensures even cooking and prevents overcrowding. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bacon Mozzarella Bombs for Game Day
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Buffalo chicken
- Mozzarella cheese
- Bacon
- Panko breadcrumbs
Seasonings
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the filling: Mix shredded chicken, mozzarella, and buffalo wing sauce in a bowl.
- Form the bombs: Wrap each piece of mozzarella in a slice of bacon, then roll in panko breadcrumbs.
- Chill the bombs: Place the bombs on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Bake the bombs: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), then bake the bombs for 20-25 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra kick, add some diced jalapeños to the filling.
- Best substitution: If you don't have mozzarella, you can use cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese instead.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the bombs are not browning, you can broil them for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Watch them closely to prevent burning.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover bombs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freezing is not recommended as it can affect the texture of the bombs.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheating in the microwave is not recommended as it can make the bombs soggy.
- Make ahead: You can make the bombs up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 9g
- Fat: 9g
- Carbs: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 650mg
- 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
Overcrowding the baking sheet and not chilling the bombs before baking can lead to soggy results. Make sure to follow the recipe instructions closely to avoid this.
Yes, you can! Cook the bombs at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Yes, you can make the bombs up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake. See storage notes for more details.
Serve the bombs with ranch dressing for dipping and a side of celery sticks for a classic game day snack.
To prevent the bombs from exploding, make sure to wrap the mozzarella tightly in bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Also, don't overcrowd the baking sheet.
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!
