Psst: The Best App at Chili’s Isn’t *Actually* on the Menu

After trying the app firsthand, I can honestly say: Wow. I’ve been underestimating dear mozzarella sticks’s potential all this time. (And that says a lot, coming from someone who spent three years of her life devoted to capturing epic cheese pulls on camera.) 

If we’re all honest with each other, mozzarella on its own is milky and…pretty bland. It’s a solid foundation for caprese salads or a thick breading and a hearty dose of marinara. That also makes it a great canvas for the sweet heat of Nashville hot sauce. Chili's version starts out with a medium smoky spice, which gives way to a brown sugary sweetness on the backend, so your tongue isn't scorching afterward.

What really makes this combo work is Chili's style of mozzarella sticks—they're more wide slabs of breaded cheese than cylinders, and the cheese stays super gooey and stretchy. It offers a better seasoning-to-cheese ratio, and surprisingly, the breading stays crisp, even when sauced.

If you're not into heat, ask for extra ranch on the side—it mellows out the app nicely. And no matter what, you'll need extra napkins.

Of course, now that you know this, how could you limit yourself to just the Nashville Hot Mozz? I’d urge you to take things a step further and order it as part of a Triple Dipper. And, like all the videos on TikTok suggest, making it a meal to split with a friend. (For any Chili’s newbies, the Triple Dipper is an appetizer that’s hearty enough to be a full meal—which is why it’s gone viral on the social network. You can choose three apps total, ranging from sliders—known as Big Mouth Bites—to wings to mozz.) You can tack on a side salad—for health!—and have plenty of food for two.

If you really want to go all in on the heat, order the mozzarella and the Crispers in Nashville Hot. Just make sure you have plenty of water—and ranch—on hand.