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Loaded Mozzarella Sticks Appetizer with Tomatoes, Cheese and Bacon

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BackYourSnack #CollectiveBias

Transform an appetizer favorite into something amazing. This Loaded Mozzarella Sticks appetizer with tomatoes, cheese and bacon is great for parties.

Loaded Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

Recently I was challenged to share a favorite snack hack — a snack that’s easy to prepare and uses Farm Rich products. See, there’s a contest happening right now, now in its final round, and you can get in on the voting (note: I am not participating in the contest, just sharing info about it). Read more about the Farm Rich Back Your Snack contest below.

Friday nights in our house is family movie night. Unless something else comes up, we gather around the living and watch something together.

Often, on our movie nights, we eat dinner around our coffee table too. And sometimes instead of doing a big dinner, I like to serve a fun snack-based meal.

That’s where these Loaded Mozzarella Sticks come in. Served with a big platter of sliced veggies and other snacks, they are a fun dish to serve while watching Sarah try to save her baby brother from the Goblin King or the Szalinski kids hike through their jungle-like back lawn to find a way to be made big again.

Farm Rich at Walmart

This recipe starts with Farm Rich Mozzarella Sticks, which I found in my local Walmart’s freezer section. (It’s also delicious with Farm Rich Toasted Ravioli.) These mozzarella sticks bake up gooey on the inside and crispy on the inside.

Bake them according to package directions … then the magic happens.

See, you aren’t just making mozzarella sticks with this recipe. You are making loaded mozzarella sticks. That’s a whole different ballgame.

Loaded Mozzarella Sticks

Then, you transfer those hot, gooey mozzarella sticks to an oven-safe serving dish. Drizzle them with a flavorful marinara-pesto sauce. Sprinkle ’em with sweet grape tomatoes and salty bacon. Then bake until it’s all sizzling … just a few minutes more.

Just before serving, you sprinkle with a touch of parmesan to finish them off.

HINT: Be sure to warn folks that the dish may be hot.

Loaded Mozzarella Sticks

The result is a gooey, cheesy, flavorful snack that is totally fork ready.

Want to know more about the Farm Rich Back Your Snack contest? Now in its final round, there will be demos and in-store voting this weekend on October 8, 9 and 11 at select Walmart locations around the county (for a list of where to find the demos, click here). For all of the details, check out the rule book.

The recipe contest winner wins $10,000, and you can vote to help choose that winner. Voters can also enter a special sweepstakes just for them — there will be 5 sweepstakes winners who win a prize pack containing all of the following items: a tote bag, a meat thermometer, grilling tongs, an oven sheet, an oven mitt, $50 worth of Farm Rich product coupons and a $50 Walmart Gift Card.

Loaded Mozzarella Sticks

Loaded Mozzarella Sticks

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 box Farm Rich Mozzarella Sticks
  • 2 tbsp marinara sauce
  • 2 tbsp basil pesto
  • 1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
  • 3 slices bacon, , cooked and chopped
  • 2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook the mozzarella sticks according to package directions.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the marinara sauce and pesto. Stir well to combine.
  3. Arrange the mozzarella sticks in an oven-safe dish that they can be served in. Drizzle with the marinara-pesto sauce. Sprinkle with the grape tomatoes and bacon.
  4. Return to the oven and heat for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce is hot.
  5. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parmesan. Serve.

Kate

Thursday 8th of October 2015

This looks like such a kid friendly treat!

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