📖 Instructions

1. First things first, let's get that chicken ready. Grab about a pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them into bite-sized pieces – think roughly 1-inch cubes. Don't worry about being perfect; rustic is charming, right?
2. Now, for the breading station! In a shallow dish, whisk together one large egg with a tablespoon of milk or water. This helps the breadcrumbs stick and adds a little extra moisture to the chicken.
3. In another shallow dish, combine one cup of plain breadcrumbs (panko works great for extra crispiness!) with a teaspoon of garlic powder, half a teaspoon of onion powder, a quarter teaspoon of paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Feel free to add other spices you like – Italian seasoning, chili powder, or even a little cayenne pepper for a kick!
4. Next, the mozzarella! You'll need about 4 ounces of mozzarella cheese, cut into cubes slightly smaller than the chicken pieces. Fresh mozzarella is amazing, but regular shredded mozzarella works too.
5. Time to assemble! Take a chicken piece, dip it into the egg mixture, then dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture, making sure it's fully coated. Now, gently press a mozzarella cube onto the breaded chicken. Don't worry if it's not perfectly covered; some cheesy peek-a-boo is a good thing!
6. Repeat until all the chicken and mozzarella are used up. Arrange the breaded chicken bits on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Make sure they aren't overcrowded. They need room to breath!
7. Pop the baking sheet into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the breadcrumbs are golden brown and crispy. The mozzarella should be nice and melty and just starting to ooze out – drool-worthy!
8. While the chicken bits are baking, prepare your dipping sauce. Marinara sauce is a classic choice, but ranch dressing, honey mustard, or even a spicy sriracha mayo would be delicious too. I tend to always keep my homemade marinara sauce. It's just better in every way.
9. Once the chicken bits are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. Trust me, you don't want to burn your mouth on molten mozzarella (been there, done that!).
10. Serve these cheesy bites immediately with your favorite dipping sauce and prepare for some serious snacking satisfaction. Fair warning: they're addictive!