Sauce for mozzarella sticks

Latest answer — August 17, 2026

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Clue decoded

Marinara is the tomato-based dipping sauce commonly served with mozzarella sticks.

Clue type:
Definition
Fried mozzarella sticks served with marinara sauce.

NYT Crossword

This clue's Monday, August 17, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1One of two fruit flavors in Sprite
  2. 5Has no choice
  3. 9"The ___ thickens"
  4. 13Islamic prayer leader
  5. 14Poker player's buy-in
  6. 15Italian "Paul"
  7. 16Well-dressed guy
  8. 18Arctic Indigenous group
  9. 19Venomous arachnid
  10. 20Not dormant, as a volcano
  11. 21A, in German
  12. 22Autobahn speedometer meas.
  13. 24Take, as advice
  14. 25It captures ballpark smooches
  15. 29Stand for a poster
  16. 31Egyptian fertility goddess
  17. 32Hilarious person
  18. 34Doll with neon hair
  19. 37Ping-Pong table divider
  20. 38Containers for fruit preserves
  21. 40Burj Khalifa's country, for short
  22. 41Birds in V-formations
  23. 43Capital with fjord tours
  24. 44Facility that produces coins
  25. 45Casts a ballot
  26. 47Lengthy rants
  27. 49Sulky state
  28. 51___ Geo Wild (cable channel)
  29. 53Popular chain for RVers
  30. 54Snacked
  31. 56Hot pepper named for Cuba's capital
  32. 61Off Broadway awards
  33. 62"Totally agree!" ... or what the circled letters are, in different languages
  34. 63Like throwbacks
  35. 64Abbr. before a recipient's name on an envelope
  36. 65The Roaring Twenties and the Swinging Sixties
  37. 66Otherwise
  38. 67Hotel worker
  39. 68Overhaul

Down

  1. 1Covers for pots
  2. 2Apple with a big screen
  3. 3___ tofu (Sichuan dish)
  4. 4Catherine the Great, e.g.
  5. 5Sauce for mozzarella sticks
  6. 6Erase
  7. 7Reeked
  8. 8Half a score
  9. 9"Pink" animal of film
  10. 101963 Kingsmen hit with a repetitive title
  11. 11Martini garnish
  12. 12Schlepped
  13. 15Insta posting
  14. 17Sweeping in scope
  15. 20"Now I understand!"
  16. 23Fragrant bits tossed at newlyweds
  17. 25Key chess piece
  18. 26"That makes sense"
  19. 27On-location inspections
  20. 28Boozy brunch drink
  21. 30Lines on a GPS
  22. 33Breakfast beverages, for short
  23. 35Come down to earth
  24. 36"Sounds like a plan!"
  25. 38Hot tub nozzle
  26. 39Green Day or Pink Floyd
  27. 42"And that's that!"
  28. 44Wander aimlessly
  29. 46Wrap up
  30. 48Singer Chappell
  31. 49Sound asleep?
  32. 502016 prize for Bob Dylan
  33. 52Greek letter that symbolizes an angle
  34. 55That, in Spain
  35. 57___ Spumante
  36. 58Brontë's "Jane ___"
  37. 59Enjoy a fantasy, say
  38. 60___ buco
  39. 62Sweet potato

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. One of two fruit flavors in Sprite — Answer: LIME. Hint: This citrus flavor gives the soda a bright, tangy kick. 🍋
  2. 5. Has no choice — Answer: MUST. Hint: Someone in this situation is required to act. 🔒
  3. 9. "The ___ thickens" — Answer: PLOT. Hint: This famous phrase suggests a story is becoming more complicated. 📖
  4. 13. Islamic prayer leader — Answer: IMAM. Hint: This person leads worship in a mosque. 🕌
  5. 14. Poker player's buy-in — Answer: ANTE. Hint: It is the initial stake placed before the cards are dealt. 🃏
  6. 15. Italian "Paul" — Answer: PAOLO. Hint: This is the Italian form of a familiar biblical first name. 🇮🇹
  7. 16. Well-dressed guy — Answer: DAPPERDAN. Hint: Picture a sharply dressed fellow with polished style. 🤵
  8. 18. Arctic Indigenous group — Answer: INUIT. Hint: This Indigenous people has deep roots in the far northern regions. ❄️
  9. 19. Venomous arachnid — Answer: SCORPION. Hint: This eight-legged creature is known for its stinging tail. 🦂
  10. 20. Not dormant, as a volcano — Answer: ACTIVE. Hint: A volcano in this state may erupt at any time. 🌋
  11. 21. A, in German — Answer: EIN. Hint: This German indefinite article can precede a masculine or neuter noun. 🇩🇪
  12. 22. Autobahn speedometer meas. — Answer: KPH. Hint: This metric unit expresses road speed in distance per hour. 🚗
  13. 24. Take, as advice — Answer: HEED. Hint: To do this is to pay careful attention to guidance. 👂
  14. 25. It captures ballpark smooches — Answer: KISSCAM. Hint: This stadium camera turns romantic moments into crowd entertainment. 💋
  15. 29. Stand for a poster — Answer: EASEL. Hint: Artists and presenters use this support to display a large board. 🖼️
  16. 31. Egyptian fertility goddess — Answer: ISIS. Hint: This ancient goddess was associated with motherhood, magic, and fertility. 𓂀
  17. 32. Hilarious person — Answer: RIOT. Hint: Someone described this way is extremely funny. 😂
  18. 34. Doll with neon hair — Answer: TROLL. Hint: This toy is famous for its colorful, upright hairstyle. 🧸
  19. 37. Ping-Pong table divider — Answer: NET. Hint: It stretches across the middle of the table during play. 🏓
  20. 38. Containers for fruit preserves — Answer: JAMJARS. Hint: These glass vessels hold sweet spreads for breakfast. 🍓
  21. 40. Burj Khalifa's country, for short — Answer: UAE. Hint: Think of the Gulf nation where the world's tallest building stands. 🏙️
  22. 41. Birds in V-formations — Answer: GEESE. Hint: These honking migrants famously fly in an aerodynamic formation. 🪿
  23. 43. Capital with fjord tours — Answer: OSLO. Hint: This Scandinavian capital offers easy access to stunning waterways. 🚢
  24. 44. Facility that produces coins — Answer: MINT. Hint: Coins are made at this specialized government facility. 🪙
  25. 45. Casts a ballot — Answer: VOTES. Hint: This verb describes participating in an election. 🗳️
  26. 47. Lengthy rants — Answer: SCREEDS. Hint: These are extended, often angry tirades. 📣
  27. 49. Sulky state — Answer: SNIT. Hint: A pouty, offended mood can be described this way. 😠
  28. 51. ___ Geo Wild (cable channel) — Answer: NAT. Hint: The wildlife channel begins with a familiar shortening of nature. 🐾
  29. 53. Popular chain for RVers — Answer: KOA. Hint: RVers often stop at this well-known campground network. 🚐
  30. 54. Snacked — Answer: NOSHED. Hint: Had a casual bite to eat. 🍪
  31. 56. Hot pepper named for Cuba's capital — Answer: HABANERO. Hint: This fiery pepper takes its name from Cuba's capital. 🌶️
  32. 61. Off Broadway awards — Answer: OBIES. Hint: These theater prizes honor achievement beyond Broadway. 🎭
  33. 62. "Totally agree!" ... or what the circled letters are, in different languages — Answer: YESANDYES. Hint: The circled letters express enthusiastic agreement twice in translated form. 👍
  34. 63. Like throwbacks — Answer: RETRO. Hint: A vintage-inspired style can be described this way. 📻
  35. 64. Abbr. before a recipient's name on an envelope — Answer: ATTN. Hint: This envelope abbreviation directs mail to a specific recipient. ✉️
  36. 65. The Roaring Twenties and the Swinging Sixties — Answer: ERAS. Hint: Both are memorable periods in cultural history. 🕰️
  37. 66. Otherwise — Answer: ELSE. Hint: Think of a word meaning “in another way” or “if not.” 💡
  38. 67. Hotel worker — Answer: MAID. Hint: A room attendant helps keep a hotel stay tidy. 🧹
  39. 68. Overhaul — Answer: REDO. Hint: To overhaul something is to remake it substantially. 🔧

Down

  1. 1. Covers for pots — Answer: LIDS. Hint: These keep cookware covered during meal preparation. 🍲
  2. 2. Apple with a big screen — Answer: IMAC. Hint: Think of Apple's all-in-one desktop computer. 🖥️
  3. 3. ___ tofu (Sichuan dish) — Answer: MAPO. Hint: This spicy Sichuan dish often combines tofu with minced meat and chili bean paste. 🌶️
  4. 4. Catherine the Great, e.g. — Answer: EMPRESS. Hint: She ruled Russia during its imperial era. 👑
  5. 5. Sauce for mozzarella sticks — Answer: MARINARA. Hint: Dip these fried cheese sticks in this classic tomato sauce. 🍅
  6. 6. Erase — Answer: UNDO. Hint: Use this command to reverse your latest action. ↩️
  7. 7. Reeked — Answer: STANK. Hint: This past-tense verb describes something that smelled awful. 🤢
  8. 8. Half a score — Answer: TEN. Hint: This number equals half of twenty. 🔟
  9. 9. "Pink" animal of film — Answer: PANTHER. Hint: This sleek feline starred in a famous comedy film series. 🐾
  10. 10. 1963 Kingsmen hit with a repetitive title — Answer: LOUIELOUIE. Hint: This catchy rock song is famous for its repeated title and famously garbled lyrics. 🎸
  11. 11. Martini garnish — Answer: OLIVE. Hint: A briny green or black fruit is a classic cocktail garnish. 🍸
  12. 12. Schlepped — Answer: TOTED. Hint: This means carried something, often with effort. 👜
  13. 15. Insta posting — Answer: PIC. Hint: On social media, this is a quick informal photo post. 📸
  14. 17. Sweeping in scope — Answer: EPIC. Hint: Something on this scale is grand, sweeping, and larger than life. 🌟
  15. 20. "Now I understand!" — Answer: AHA. Hint: This brief exclamation signals a sudden realization. 💡
  16. 23. Fragrant bits tossed at newlyweds — Answer: PETALS. Hint: These delicate flower pieces may be scattered during a wedding celebration. 🌸
  17. 25. Key chess piece — Answer: KING. Hint: In chess, protecting this royal piece is the ultimate priority. ♟️
  18. 26. "That makes sense" — Answer: ISEE. Hint: This phrase shows that an explanation has clicked. 💡
  19. 27. On-location inspections — Answer: SITEVISITS. Hint: Inspectors make these trips to examine places in person. 🔎
  20. 28. Boozy brunch drink — Answer: MIMOSA. Hint: This bubbly citrus cocktail is a brunch favorite. 🥂
  21. 30. Lines on a GPS — Answer: STS. Hint: On navigation displays, these can mark streets in abbreviated form. 🗺️
  22. 33. Breakfast beverages, for short — Answer: OJS. Hint: These are familiar citrus drinks often served with breakfast. 🍊
  23. 35. Come down to earth — Answer: LAND. Hint: Touch down after being airborne. 🛬
  24. 36. "Sounds like a plan!" — Answer: LETS. Hint: An enthusiastic agreement to a suggestion. 👍
  25. 38. Hot tub nozzle — Answer: JET. Hint: It shoots a stream of water for a bubbly massage. 💦
  26. 39. Green Day or Pink Floyd — Answer: ROCKBAND. Hint: Both are examples of groups built around guitars and drums. 🎸
  27. 42. "And that's that!" — Answer: SOTHERE. Hint: A firm way to signal the discussion is over. 🛑
  28. 44. Wander aimlessly — Answer: MEANDER. Hint: Roam without a destination or clear purpose. 🚶
  29. 46. Wrap up — Answer: END. Hint: Bring something to a close. 🎁
  30. 48. Singer Chappell — Answer: ROAN. Hint: This pop singer had a breakout hit with “Good Luck, Babe!” 🎤
  31. 49. Sound asleep? — Answer: SNORE. Hint: A sleeping person’s noisy nighttime soundtrack. 😴
  32. 50. 2016 prize for Bob Dylan — Answer: NOBEL. Hint: The Swedish Academy honored him in literature that year. 🏅
  33. 52. Greek letter that symbolizes an angle — Answer: THETA. Hint: In geometry, this Greek symbol often labels an unknown angle. 📐
  34. 55. That, in Spain — Answer: ESO. Hint: Use this Spanish demonstrative for “that.” 🇪🇸
  35. 57. ___ Spumante — Answer: ASTI. Hint: A sparkling Italian wine shares its name with a Piedmontese city. 🥂
  36. 58. Brontë's "Jane ___" — Answer: EYRE. Hint: Complete the title of Brontë’s famous heroine’s story. 📖
  37. 59. Enjoy a fantasy, say — Answer: READ. Hint: Lose yourself in an imagined world through a book. 📚
  38. 60. ___ buco — Answer: OSSO. Hint: Complete this Italian dish name featuring braised veal shank. 🍽️
  39. 62. Sweet potato — Answer: YAM. Hint: This starchy root is a holiday-table favorite. 🍠

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Sauce for mozzarella sticks” in the New York Times crossword is MARINARA — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 17, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 5-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Sauce for mozzarella sticks” answer

MARINARA (8 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is MARINARA.

When else has “Sauce for mozzarella sticks” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 17, 2026 (most recent) → MARINARA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on August 17, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for August 17, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Monday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Sauce for mozzarella sticks”?

The answer is MARINARA, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 17, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Sauce for mozzarella sticks”?

8 letters: MARINARA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 17, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 5-Down.

Can “Sauce for mozzarella sticks” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 17, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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