The best sauces for mozzarella sticks are definitely marinara, Alfredo, honey mustard, and cheese sauce. After all, dipping sauces make everything better!
Sauce can add tons of extra flavor to your mozzarella sticks.
It can make them cheesier, tangier, spicier, or more garlicky. It can even give them an entirely new flavor profile.
Take mozzarella sticks dipped in BBQ sauce, for example. They’ll taste vastly different from ones dunked in marinara.
You can’t go wrong with any of the incredible sauce recipes on this list!
Best Sauces for Mozzarella Sticks
Here my picks for the 13 best sauces for mozzarella sticks.
They aren’t in any particular order, so be sure to try them all. You might be surprised at which one you like best!
Oh, and if you need a good recipe, check out these air fryer mozzarella sticks!
1. Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is an obvious pairing for mozzarella sticks. They almost always come with marinara if you order them at a restaurant. The robust tomato taste is the perfect complement to the crunchy mozzarella sticks.
Store-bought versions of marinara are a dime a dozen. However, it tastes best when made from scratch. It’s easy to whip up, too!
2. Papa John’s Garlic Sauce
Papa John’s garlic sauce is so good, you’ll want to put it on more than just mozzarella sticks! It’s buttery, garlicky, and tastes fantastic on anything. And there’s no need to order a whole Papa John’s pizza to get some of it.
You can make it yourself with three simple ingredients. It’s ready in less than 10 minutes with margarine, garlic powder, and salt.
3. Alfredo Sauce
Creamy, cheesy Alfredo sauce might not be everyone’s first choice for mozzarella sticks. But how many times have you ordered chicken or fettuccine Alfredo with a side of them? And have you dipped the mozzarella sticks in the leftover sauce? It’s too good!
Leftover alfredo sauce is perfect for sopping with mozzarella sticks. But don’t order a whole meal when you only want the sauce. Use this seven-ingredient recipe to make homemade Alfredo sauce instead.
4. Heinz Chili Sauce
In the mood for something sweet and tangy with a bit of spice to boot? Try this copycat Heinz chili sauce recipe. It’s thick and saucy with the perfect blend of onion flakes, garlic, and tomatoes. It’s similar to marinara but has a sweeter, tangier flavor profile.
It’s an excellent choice when you want something slightly different from standard marinara.
5. Honey Mustard Sauce
If you’re a honey mustard fan, you won’t be able to resist it on mozzarella sticks! It adds a sweet element that mixes perfectly with the creamy, gooey cheese.
If you have little ones, they’ll totally flip for this flavorful combination. Honey mustard is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
6. Homemade BBQ Sauce
BBQ sauce is one of my favorite mozzarella stick sauces. I love its rich sweet-n-smoky flavor, and it tastes great with all the cheese.
Plus, there’s just enough hot sauce in this recipe to give it a kick.
7. Spicy Ketchup
Speaking of a kick, we can’t overlook spicy ketchup! This simple, three-ingredient recipe combines ketchup with chili powder and hot sauce.
If you’re in the mood for something really spicy, this sauce is the perfect choice. Avoid it if you’re sensitive to heat, though.
8. Outback Ranch Dressing
Are you part of the crowd that puts ranch dressing on anything and everything? Don’t feel bad, there are lots of us out there.
Although, if you dip your mozzarella sticks in ranch, it needs to be the best ranch. Outback Steakhouse’s signature ranch dressing is as good as it gets.
If you’ve never had it, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s the king of ranch dressings. It’s thick, creamy, flavorful, and rich. And you can make a fantastic copycat version right in your own home. All you need is ranch dressing mix, buttermilk, mayo, and a full spice rack.
It’s ready in no time. You won’t know how you lived without it!
9. Nacho Cheese Sauce
Do you enjoy making foods even more cheesy? If so, dip your mozzarella sticks in thick nacho cheese sauce.
It’s surprisingly simple to make and tastes just like it does at your favorite stadium. If you don’t want it for your mozzarella sticks, bookmark the recipe anyway. It tastes phenomenal on fresh tortilla chips or taco salad.
10. Garlic Aioli
Garlic aioli is the perfect condiment for sandwiches and wraps. I never thought to try it with my mozzarella sticks until l I saw someone talking about it on TikTok.
I was pleasantly surprised after trying it. It adds a wallop of garlicky flavor and a hint of tanginess. It’s not the most traditional choice for mozzarella sticks, but it works.
11. Pesto Sauce
There isn’t a single Italian-themed food that doesn’t taste better with a little pesto sauce. Mozzarella sticks are no exception.
Pesto sauce dials their flavor up to 11, making them herby, fresh, and totally delicious.
12. Chipotle Sauce
This creamy, bright orange sauce is another non-traditional choice for mozzarella sticks. Chipotle sauce is something most people add only to Tex-Mex-style dishes.
But it pairs really well with crunchy mozzarella sticks. It adds loads of herby deliciousness and that smoky chipotle/adobo flavor.
You can also add it to sandwiches, tacos, nachos, or even fried fish! It tastes fantastic on a ton of different things.
13. Blue Cheese Sauce
As any cheese lover will tell you, blue cheese sauce is a total show-stealer.
It’s bold, bright, and so delicious! It’s an outright blue cheese explosion for your tastebuds. Definitely try it if you’re a blue cheese fan.
13 Dipping Sauces for Mozzarella Sticks (+ Best Recipes)
These sauces for mozzarella sticks are too good to pass up! From marinara to Alfredo to ranch, don’t miss these dippers.
Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
Papa John’s Garlic Sauce
Alfredo Sauce
Heinz Chili Sauce
Honey Mustard Sauce
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Spicy Ketchup
Outback Ranch Dressing
Nacho Cheese Sauce
Garlic Aioli
Pesto Sauce
Chipotle Sauce
Blue Cheese Sauce
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a dipping sauce in 30 minutes or less!
