This chicken and waffles recipe is all the way legit, boos! I dredge and fry that chicken up perfectly making sure to get that crispy, golden brown crunchy crust with a juicy inside. Then I pile the fried chicken on my light, fluffy from scratch waffles. Drizzle on syrup and get that savory, salty and sweet combo guaranteed to make you weak in the knees. Roscoe’s betta scoot over!
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How to Make Chicken and Waffles
Make the Waffle Batter
- Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk together.
- Add the egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter, and a splash of vanilla extract to the bowl and mix until combined.
PRO TIP: Most of us ain’t got buttermilk just lying around. Make your own by grabbing some milk and adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk. Let sit for about 10 minutes and it is ready to go for this chicken and waffles recipe!
Beat the Egg Whites for Fluffy Waffles
- Place the egg whites in a clean bowl.
- Beat them until those stiff peaks develop. This is gonna keep those waffles nice and light.
- Add the fluffy egg whites to the batter.
- Gently fold the whipped whites into your batter. Be gentle!
Cook Your Waffles
- Preheat your waffle maker, give it a good spritz of non-stick spray.
- Cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Bread the Chicken and Let it Rest
- Whisk together the eggs, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in a medium-sized bowl.
- Add the flour, cornstarch, seasoned salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to a paper bag and shake to mix everything together.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture turning to get both sides coated.
- Dip the coated chicken into the seasoned flour thoroughly covering both sides.
- Place each chicken piece to a baking sheet after it’s breaded. Let sit for 10-15 minutes to let it set up.
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Fry the Chicken
- Heat 1-1/2 inches of oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottom tall pot over medium-high heat. It should get to about 375 F in temperature.
- Fry the chicken, four pieces at a time, on each side starting with dark meat since it takes longer. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan. After each side has turned slightly golden, cover with the lid to steam the inside of the chicken ensuring doneness. After a couple of minutes remove the lid and continue to fry until the crust is crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the oil and place it on paper towels or a wire rack to drain all the excess oil. Place the chicken on a baking sheet covered with parchment and add it to the oven to keep warm while finishing the other chicken pieces.
Assemble
- Layer each waffle with 1-2 fried chicken pieces, drizzle with warm pure maple syrup and sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve!
Homemade Chicken and Waffles Recipe
Southern Chicken and Waffles Recipe with super crispy, seasoned fried chicken on top of a fluffy waffle!
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Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the Waffles
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs separated
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 6 tbsp salted butter melted
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Fried Chicken
- 8 chicken pieces
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons seasoned salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
Instructions
For the Waffles
- In one large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and ground cinnamon.
- Next whisk in egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla extract.
- Beat remaining egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold stiff egg whites into batter.
- Heat waffle maker, spray maker with non-stick spray and prepare waffles according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once you finish your waffles, you can keep them warm in a preheated oven (around 200°F/95°C) while you fry the chicken.
For the Chicken
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together eggs, hot sauce and worcestershire and set aside.
- Next add flour, cornstarch, seasoned salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to a paper bag and shake to mix well.
- Dip each piece of chicken into egg wash coating both sides then dip into seasoned flour thoroughly coating each piece. Then add piece to baking sheet to rest.
- Finish coating all chicken and let sit for 10-15 minutes until coating has set.
- While coating sets, add 1-1/2 inches of oil to a cast iron skillet or heavy bottom skillet and heat over medium high heat. Also turn on oven to 275 degrees.
- This is my test for knowing when the oil is ready: Big Mama always tossed a tiny bit of flour in the oil and if it began to fry and sizzle, the oil was ready.
- Fry four pieces at a time on each side starting with dark meat since it takes longer. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan.
- After each side has turned slightly golden, put the top on the skillet to steam the inside of the chicken ensuring doneness. After a couple of minutes, remove the top and continue to fry until the crust is crispy again and completely golden brown.
- Remove chicken from oil and place on paper towels or rack to drain. Place chicken on a baking sheet covered with parchment and add to warmed oven while finishing the other chicken pieces.
- Fry the remaining chicken pieces and drain and add to oven. Add the remaining chicken to the oven.
To Assemble
- Add butter to waffles and allow to melt.
- Lastly, layer each finished waffle with two pieces of chicken, drizzle with warm pure maple syrup and sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and parsley to serve.
Video
Notes
- Preheat your waffle iron. You’ll get waffles that are crisp outside, soft inside. Just right for this Southern chicken and waffles combo!
- Don’t overmix your waffle batter. No need to get too whisk-happy, boos. Overmixing makes them rubbery.
- Let the coating set before frying. This keeps it from slipping off in the oil. After frying, let the chicken rest 10 minutes. Helps keep it juicy.
- Keep the oil steady at 350°F. Too hot and the crust burns, too cold and it turns out greasy. Use a thermometer to stay on track.
- Keep waffles warm in a 200°F oven while frying the chicken. That way everything hits the table hot and fresh.
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- Fridge: For the chicken, cool leftovers completely then line an airtight container with paper towels and carefully transfer the chicken. It lasts for 3-4 days. For the waffles, cool leftovers down then add them to an airtight container with a piece of parchment between them. That helps them not stick together. They last about 3 days.
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- Freezer: For the chicken, store the same way as above and add to the freezer. It lasts up to 3 months. For the waffles, add to a freezer bag and store for up to 2 months.
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- Reheat: For the chicken, let it sit out at room temp for at least 30 minutes then preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spread out the chicken on the baking sheet and cover with another baking sheet to insulate. Heat for 20 minutes, and then let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. toaster or oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through and crispy. If frozen, no need to thaw; just add a couple of minutes to the reheating time.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 619kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 6102mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 845IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 5.1mg
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Serving Suggestions
- Drizzles: For condiments, use classic maple syrup, honey or even hot sauce. I’ve even seen folks pour on some creamy gravy for a switch up. Or you can try this cranberry maple syrup for something a bit different.
- Breakfast: Candied bacon or brown sugar bacon, grits or cheese grits and eggs are always bomb.
- Brunch: Make the ultimate carb brunch fest with fluffy pancakes, drop biscuits, and even homemade cinnamon rolls! Calories be damned y’all.
- Dinner: Want fried chicken and waffles for dinner? Serve it up soul food style with collard greens or mustard greens, baked mac and cheese, and candied yams.
- Top it Up: Add candied pecans, whipped cream, berries, or strawberry preserves for different textures in your chicken and waffles recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make my waffle batter ahead?
Not really, boos. The egg whites will deflate overnight. But you can mix the dry ingredients ahead and store them until you’re ready.
What’s the best order to cook my homemade chicken and waffles?
Make the waffles first and keep them warm in the oven while you fry the chicken.
How do I keep the breading from falling off my fried chicken?
Let the chicken rest after dredging. It REALLY helps the coating stick better.
Why is my fried chicken soggy?
The oil is likely not hot enough. Low temps let the oil soak in instead of crisping. Also, don’t overcrowd the pan! It drops the temp fast.
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Damn, I am going to have to do this recipe!!!!! I just have to get a waffle iron.
This recipe is awesome..
Hi I just read this and the recipe sounds delicious my question is if you put a lid on top of the frying pan to steam the chicken won’t water develop? I’ve never done that before which sounds great but I’m afraid of water dripping into the grease. By the way I’m a high fan I have and live you book I bake a lot but after read you book it changed the game!! Thanks
Paris
Awww thank you! It is actually something that I do just for a little bit of time (just a couple of minutes) and then I recrisp the chicken when frying without the lid on. It helps to cook the chicken throughout and then I crisp it back up afterwards.
I just wanted to thank you for sharing this recipe!! I made it tonight and it is the best fried chicken I have ever made and probably the best waffles I have ever had!! You taught me something new about frying chicken and I cannot wait to order your cookbook and try more of your recipes!! Thank you again 🙂
You just took me out of winter and warmed me straight up in the south, girl. I have been searching for the best recipe for this for a while. This is it! You nailed it! I used chicken breast strips instead of wings because it’s all I had when I found the recipe and I had to make it right away! Now I have to try the rest of your recipes! Haha #newfan
Hooray! Thank you Julee.
Hi there! I planned to make this recipe with chicken strips too. Do you recall how many tenders the batter covered?
Thanks loads
Have you tried this in the air fryer
Just commenting to say that i stumbled upon thris recipe a few years ago and it’s MAGICAL!!!! i don’t make it often because it’s definitely a southern, home cooking type recipe (which isn’t healthy), but it makes being bad feel so good. It’s worth it. I’ve made it for friends, for family who were over to visit, and just for me and my husband. Absolutely love this recipe! I can’t order chicken and waffles anywhere I go, because it won’t be THIS good. I’ve been spoiled!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Hooray this makes me so happy! Thank you so so much!
I got a Belgian waffle maker for Christmas. I had never eaten chicken and waffles before, so I googled around for a good recipe. So glad I picked this one! The chicken and waffles were fantastic! I wasn’t sure about the cinnamon and vanilla in the waffles, but combined with the flavors of the chicken, it was perfect. I used thin chicken breasts instead of the chicken wings. My family asked me to make this again next week. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.
Hooray thank you so much! I’m so so glad you enjoyed it!
Made this with one of my grandsons last night…besides drooling throughout the entire prep process…we fell off our chairs from devouring this immensely {heaven sent and divine yummy} recipe…it truly was a party in our mouths with our tastebuds doing a happy dance…needless to say ….will make it time and time again…and if anyone hasn’t tried it…just do it…no regrets!!!
I did substitute chicken strips for the wings,,thank you for sharing!!!!
My family and I just finished eating this for dinner and oh my goodness…words can’t describe how good it is. I’ve NEVER left a comment on a recipe even if I love it but I had to come let you know that this recipe goes beyond the great pictures and is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing!!
Wow thank you so so much Christina!!!! I’m so happy you left this comment. It always makes me proud when I know the recipes are working for people.