Chicken and Waffles

This chicken and waffles recipe has changed my life for the better. Every bite is filled with crispy, juicy fried chicken and fluffy Belgian waffles, all covered in a sweet and spicy honey glaze. It might be the best brunch recipe ever, and I have a feeling you'll be as obsessed with this chicken and waffles as I am.

My Take On Chicken and Waffles

Chicken and waffles might be my favorite food combination ever. If you've ever had it, then you don't need me to tell you how addictive it is.

With that said, this chicken and waffles recipe is by far the best chicken and waffles I have ever had. It's even better than what I've gotten at restaurants!

My recipe brines the chicken in buttermilk, then dredges it in flour and fries the chicken until it's super crispy on the outside yet juicy and tender on the inside. The crunchy fried chicken is served on a bed of fluffy waffles with a sweet and spicy honey glaze on top. The combination of flavors and textures is incredible, and I swear it gets better each time I make it.

I love to make crispy fried chicken and waffles when I'm hosting since it's a unique brunch recipe everyone loves but not many people make at home. It's one of the more impressive recipes I have up my sleeve, and I'm constantly getting requests to make it!

I don't mind since this recipe is actually really easy, and seeing how much everyone loves the chicken and waffles makes me so happy.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's super versatile. This waffles and fried chicken recipe works equally well for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, you name it. It's a dish fit for every occasion!

The flavor is amazing. From the perfectly seasoned fried chicken to the sweet waffles and hot honey maple syrup, every element of this comfort food meal is a homerun.

Restaurant quality. This fried chicken and waffles recipe is seriously better than something you'd get at a top-notch restaurant. I'll hang my hat on that!

An instant family favorite. This may not be surprising, but my family loves this chicken and waffles recipe. I guarantee it'll be a hit in your home, too, especially with the kids!

Ingredients

As if this recipe wasn't great already, another reason I love it is it's made with really common, simple ingredients. I know the ingredient list for this chicken and waffles recipe may look long, but you'll have a bunch of them on hand already.

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make the fried chicken brine:

• 6 boneless and skinless chicken thighs
• 1 ½ cup buttermilk
• Salt, to taste
• ¼ tablespoon garlic powder
• ¼ tablespoon onion powder
• ½ tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

For the breading:

• 2 cups flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

And here's what you'll need for the sweet and spicy sauce:

• 3 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
• Salt, to taste
• Belgian waffles, to serve with

If you're looking to make waffles from scratch, check out my Krusteaz waffle recipe. It's one of my favorite waffle recipes that comes together with just a couple of ingredients. I always make those homemade buttermilk waffles to serve with the Southern fried chicken in this recipe.

How To Make Chicken and Waffles

1. Brine the chicken. Combine the brine ingredients in a large bowl. That would be the buttermilk, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Add the chicken thighs, coat them in the seasonings, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate and let the chicken marinate for 1 hour or overnight. 

2. Prepare the chicken. Heat 2 cups of oil to 350°F (175°C) in a large Dutch oven or pot. Remove the chicken from the brine. Then combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Coat the chicken on both sides in the seasoned flour mixture.

3. Fry the chicken. Once the chicken has been coated in flour, fry each piece of chicken in the hot oil for about 8 minutes until it's golden brown and crispy. Remove the fried chicken from the oil and place it on a wire rack to cool slightly. Repeat with the remaining breaded chicken.

4. Make the sauce. While the chicken is frying, in a small saucepot, combine the honey or maple syrup, chili powder, butter, and salt. Whisk until the butter is melted and everything is well combined.

5. Serve. Top the warm waffles with the Southern fried chicken, then drizzle the hot honey maple syrup sauce over top of the chicken. Serve warm and enjoy!

My Tips For Making The Best Recipe

• Make extra spicy fried chicken by adding a dash of hot sauce or one teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the chicken brine. 
• I've made this recipe with chicken breasts, and it turned out really good, so don't worry if you don't have chicken thighs.
• If you don't want as much spice, just top the chicken and waffles with pure maple syrup.
• I like to top the fried chicken and waffles with a little powdered sugar for an extra sweet touch.

How I Recommend Storing Chicken and Waffles

In the fridge: Store leftover fried chicken and waffles in separate airtight containers and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. The hot honey will last in the fridge in an airtight container or sealed jar for up to 1 week.

In the freezer: Allow the leftovers to cool completely, then transfer them to freezer-safe containers or freezer-safe bags and freeze for up to 3 months. I suggest freezing the waffles and chicken separately.

Reheating: To reheat the fried chicken, I like to transfer the leftovers to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake the chicken at 375°F for about 10 minutes till warm. I'll reheat the waffles in the toaster oven for a few minutes until crispy. Allow the frozen chicken to thaw in the fridge overnight or add more reheating time. You can just toast the frozen waffles.

FAQS About This Chicken and Waffles Recipe

Where did chicken and waffles originate?

It is said that chicken and waffles first came onto the scene in America in the Pennsylvania Dutch country. It was a different type of chicken and waffles, but the concept of putting the two together originated there. The chicken and waffles we often see on menus today originated in Harlem in the 1930s at a restaurant called the Wells Supper Club. 

Do you serve chicken and waffles with syrup?

Yes, chicken and waffles are traditionally served with maple syrup or honey. This recipe has a buttery sweet and spicy sauce for a one of a kind chicken and waffle recipe.

What Goes With Chicken and Waffles?

I like to serve chicken and waffles with other Southern dishes like million dollar bacon, sweet potato cornbread, Cracker Barrel biscuits, or Popeyes red beans and rice.

More Of My Favorite Brunch Recipes

• Baked apple French toast casserole
• Brioche French toast casserole
• Cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling
• Bisquick breakfast casserole
• Nutella crepes

Continue to Content

Yield: 6 servings

Chicken and Waffles

Print

This chicken and waffles recipe has changed my life for the better. Every bite is filled with crispy, juicy fried chicken and fluffy Belgian waffles, all covered in a sweet and spicy honey glaze. It might be the best brunch recipe ever, and I have a feeling you'll be as obsessed with this chicken and waffles as I am.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• Belgian waffles for serving (I used my Krusteaz waffle recipe)

Fried chicken brine:

• 6 boneless and skinless chicken thighs
• 1 ½ cup buttermilk
• Salt, to taste
• ¼ tablespoon garlic powder
• ¼ tablespoon onion powder
• ½ tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Fried chicken breading:

• 2 cups flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Sweet and spicy sauce:

• 3 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
• Salt, to taste

Instructions

1. Make the brine by combining all the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add chicken and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the chicken for 1 hour or overnight.
3. Heat 2 cups of oil in a large pan to 350°F.
4. Remove the chicken from the brine.
5. Combine chicken breading ingredients in a separate bowl.
6. Coat the chicken with seasoned flour and place it into heated oil.
7. Fry the chicken for about 8-9 minutes in oil until golden and crispy.
8. Remove the chicken from the oil and place it on a wire rack to cool slightly. 
9. Repeat breading and frying with the remaining chicken.
10. Make the sauce; combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepot. Whisk until the butter melts, and everything combines.
11. To serve: add chicken on top of Belgian waffles and drizzle the sauce or just maple syrup on top. Serve warm.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 piece
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 658Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 75gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 27g