Waffle Iron Mozzarella Sticks

I found another use for the waffle iron!! These incredible mozzarella "sticks" are insanely easy to make, and you dodge the fat, calories and mess of a deep fryer.

Gooey cheese, nestled under a crisp, golden brown crust, dunked in marinara sauce. It's pure bliss.

Waffle Iron Mozzarella Sticks 

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs
Salt and ground black pepper
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into eight equal pieces
Cooking spray
1 cup warm marinara sauce

Place the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in three separate shallow dishes. Season each dish with salt and pepper and mix to combine.
Place the mozzarella pieces in the flour and turn to coat. Shake off the excess flour and transfer the cheese to the egg. Turn to coat. Now transfer the cheese to the breadcrumbs and turn to coat, pressing in the crumbs gently.
Coat your waffle iron with cooking spray and preheat.
Place the breaded cheese on the waffle iron, like this:

Close the lid and cook for 2 minutes, until steam starts to escape from the sides of the waffle iron and the crust is golden brown. The cheese will melt out a little and that's OK.

Let the cheese set a moment before gently removing the cheese sticks from the waffle iron (I turned the heat off between batches - it only takes a moment for the cheese to set up).
Serve the cheese sticks with the warm marinara sauce on the side.

Makes 8 cheese waffle "sticks"