Dave’s Hot Chicken Mozzarella Sticks (2026): A Complete Guide to Taste, Calories, Nutrition, Ingredients, Price, and How to Order

Dave’s Hot Chicken launched mozzarella sticks in 2026, and they became one of the most popular menu items. It became a trending item across the US, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Miami. Known as Dave’s Hot Mozz, it is a thick mozzarella plank with a golden fried coating and personalized heat options.

Because of the blend of cheese and spices, the Hot Mozz became everyone’s favorite. Today, 900-plus US locations are promoting it on their main menu. This guide covers taste, calories, nutrition, price, spice levels, availability, and how to order mozzarella sticks, with the latest information. The details are presented accurately after analyzing  Dave’s Hot Chicken nutrition chart (revised April 7, 2026). Registered dietitians confirmed the info. at New.Wellness, Inc., using both laboratory testing and the ESHA Research database resource. The guide provides reliable nutrition details about mozzarella sticks if you plan to order them.

What are Dave’s Mozzarella Sticks?

According to Dave’s, these are Hot Mozz or mozzarella planks. Unlike typical mozzarella sticks, these are thick and rectangular. Spices and seasonings play a major role. Dave’s Hot Chicken upgraded the mozzarella sticks with their Nashville-style heat. Customers can order mozzarella sticks in distinct heat levels such as No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper. Customers can choose their preferred heat level. It can also be a good option for vegetarian customers.

Dave’s Hot Chicken offers different variants of Hot Mozz, such as

• 1-piece Hot Mozz
• 3-piece Hot Mozz
• 5-piece Hot Mozz
• 3-piece meal
• 5-piece meal
• Hot Mozz Slider
• Hot Mozz Slider with fries
• 20-piece Hot Mozz Hot Box

Hot Mozz is also used in the latest menu to promote their signature snacks.

Taste & Experience

Mozzarella Sticks are made with 3 things: melted cheese, crispy breading, and signature spices. From the outside, they have a crunchy crust, and the creamy, soft inside makes them a unique, delicious treat. During the Delish Taste Test, the reviewer liked the mozzarella sticks and said the cheese pulled apart nicely, with a crisp outside and a melty middle. The reviewer said the pieces were quite filling and recommended them as something to share or eat as a side instead of having a lot of snacks.

The seasoning is Dave’s Identity. Unlike typical Hot Mozz Sticks served with marinara sauce, Dave’s serves their mozzarella sticks with a creamy signature sauce, giving customers a unique experience. Pickles can also add a sour flavor with a cheesy kick.

Calories Breakdown

Here’s complete calorie information. so you can stay updated with calorie intake;

Mozzarella cheese

 Cheese provides the majority of the fats and proteins (150-180 approx.).

Breading and Flour coating

 The Outer layer includes the carbohydrates. (100-150 approx).

Deep frying

This is the major calorie contributor, adding most of the fats and calories. (200-250 approx per plank)

Spices

 They Don’t add many calories, so choosing a spicier meal won’t add much. (less than 10)

Sauces

Since there isn’t much information about Dave’s sauces, you can control them. Side options such as fries, sauces, and pickles can increase the calorie count.

Availability

Right now, Dave’s consistently promotes the Hot Mozzarella Planks across its hundreds of franchises. Dave brought it back after major success in the first release. Many news reports claimed Dave’s discontinued Hot Mozzarella Planks, but in reality, they were just out of stock for a period of time.

Do all stores offer Mozzarella sticks:

Dave’s Hot Mozzarella is being promoted nationwide in 2026. However, Dave’s also works with other independent restaurants, so that availability may vary by location. To find Hot Mozz, you have to;

• visit the official Dave’s website.
• Look for the nearest franchise.
• Open the franchise online menu.
• Search for Hot Mozz
• Contact the restaurant if it is not available online.
• It’s best to check for new and popular items before visiting the restaurant.

Ingredients

The main items used to make Hot Mozz Planks are;

Mozzarella cheese:

The main ingredient is part-skim mozzarella Cheese. The cheese provides the stretch and most of the calcium, protein, and fat.

Breading:

The cheese is wrapped in seasoned flour and breadcrumbs. This layer adds crunch and about 28 to 42 grams of carbs per serving.

Dave’s Spice Blend:

After frying, Dave’s spice blend makes their mozz planks different from others. Dave’s signature planks are coated in a spicy, cayenne-heavy Nashville hot seasoning, creating a lasting impact on customers. Choosing different spice levels won’t add many calories to the overall meal.

Fryers:

Hot Mozz Planks are deep-fried, which is why they have more fat (47 g per piece). The oil that mozz absorbs adds a larger portion of the total calories.

Allergen information:

 Mozz Planks include allergens like dairy, gluten (wheat), and egg.  They are made in shared fryers, so cross-contact may occur. Check for the allergen information to avoid sensitivities.

Sodium quantity in Mozz Planks:

According to the official statistics, sodium content is very high in Hot Mozz. A single Hot Mozz plank contains about 1,210-1,280 mg of sodium, which is higher than half of our daily limit (2,300).

It is very important information for people with Blood Pressure, kidney problems, and cardiovascular concerns. However, choosing lite or no spicy planks can reduce sodium content significantly. (Calorie drop from 2,600 mg to 2,390 mg.)

Is Hot Mozz Healthy?

Hot mozz planks aren’t a healthy option, but they are a fast-food treat.It goes through breading and frying and is made mainly with mozzarella cheese. It can have a lot of carbs, fats, carbohydrates, and sodium depending on the serving. The official statistics say everything. A single plank contains around 580 calories, 47g of fat, 9g of saturated fat, and 1,280 mg of sodium. This makes it unhealthy when eaten daily. However, ordering one piece with other items is different from ordering five-piece planks with fries. You can have a simple meal by;

• Choosing a smaller portion of plank 
• Sharing a bigger order.
• Avoiding Cold Drinks.
• Limiting extra sauces.
• Choosing a single side only with the meal.

What’s good in Hot Mozz

Hot Mozzarella is a good source of dairy protein (7g per plank, 17g for 3 pieces). It also provides a good amount of calcium from Mozzarella cheese, supporting bone health. It can be a good vegetarian product at chicken-focused restaurants. It also doesn’t have any trans fats across all portions.

What’s Bad in Hot Mozzarella

It contains a large portion of fat content(around 47 g). Fats provide the majority of the calories (410 cal out of 570). Sodium is also in a high amount (more than half of the total daily sodium requirement. It also provides carbohydrates (29 per blank), making it unhealthy for keto and low-carb diets. Deep frying carries heart health concerns.

Honest opinion

Enjoy the Hot Mozz planks in moderation. Share it with others and try it with water rather than sugary drinks. It can be a good option for a balanced lifestyle when ordered occasionally.

1 Piece V/S 3 piece planks. Which one is better?

One-Piece Plank is a satisfying option for single customers(570 cal). However, the three-piece option is another option for a small group of people(1,430).

You should choose a one-piece plank If;

• You have never tried Hot Mozz Planks.
• You already have a chicken meal.
• Want something special and extra.
• You are trying to balance out the portion of food.

You should choose three-piece planks if;

• If you are with a group. 
• You only want to eat Hot Mozz in Dave’s Restaurant.
• Want to try different heat levels
• If you are very hungry.

The Planks are thick and beat the hunger. The Delish reviewer said that one is enough for a single individual, while more than one is better for sharing.

So, if you are ordering Mozz Planks with other menu items, buying one is a better strategy. But if your main course is Hot Mozz Planks without a meal upgrade, then a three-piece plank is a great option.

Smart Ordering Tips:

Order a single piece if you are health-conscious:

A single piece is a nice option with 570 cal. However, three pieces contain 1,430 calories, equivalent to a full meal.

Choose Lite Mild or no spicy option to reduce sodium.

While the calorie difference between spice levels isn’t much, the sodium difference is significant. The three-piece Not Mild and No Spicy have 2,390 mg of sodium. While Mild to Reaper level contains  2,600 Calories.

Avoid or limit the dipping sauce.

Dave’s Sauces add a significant number of calories to the menu item because of their mayo base (around 100 to 150 calories). Dave’s Mozzarella sticks already taste creamy and cheesy, so you don’t need sauce on the side. If you still want sauce, you can request it, but we suggest dipping in a controlled way.

Share the 3-piece and 5-piece Mozz Planks.

 Splitting a 3-piece between two people is more manageable, as it gives 715 calories and 61.5 g of fat. Moreover, splitting a 5-piece between two people gives 1,175 calories each, which is very high but still a significant decrease.

Don’t Combine Hot Mozz with Loaded fries.

The 5-piece Meal already offers fries, which gives sodium a significant push (around 4,770). Adding another side can increase sodium and add other health concerns.

Add water, not soda.

Choosing water over soda can save 150 to 250 calories and cut additional sugar from the meal.