Description
Indulgent chicken & waffles delight brings Southern comfort to your plate with crispy golden chicken nestled atop fluffy buttermilk waffles. Drizzled with maple syrup and a hint of hot sauce, this classic dish promises a mouthwatering journey through rich, savory flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying
Waffle Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
Serving Ingredients:
- Maple syrup
- Butter (optional)
Instructions
- Immerse chicken thighs in buttermilk and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour to enhance meat tenderness and flavor absorption.
- Create a seasoned coating by blending flour with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a shallow container.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, thoroughly dredge each piece in the spiced flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350°F, maintaining a consistent medium temperature for optimal frying.
- Carefully place coated chicken pieces into hot oil, cooking approximately 12-15 minutes, turning once to achieve a crispy, golden-brown exterior and fully cooked interior.
- Transfer fried chicken to a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil and maintain crispiness.
- Prepare waffle batter by whisking dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, salt) separately from wet ingredients (milk, vegetable oil, eggs).
- Gently combine wet and dry ingredients, mixing until just incorporated to prevent overmixing and maintain waffle lightness.
- Preheat waffle iron and lightly grease cooking surfaces to prevent sticking.
- Pour batter into waffle maker, cooking until edges are golden and crisp, typically 3-4 minutes.
- Plate a freshly made waffle, crown with a perfectly fried chicken piece, and cascade with warm maple syrup for a decadent finish.
Notes
- Use bone-in chicken thighs for extra juiciness and flavor, ensuring they reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken by breaking down proteins, creating an incredibly soft and moist texture that elevates the entire dish.
- Experiment with spice blends in the flour coating like adding cayenne for heat or smoked paprika for deeper complexity, making each bite more exciting.
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or rice flour, and use gluten-free baking powder in waffle batter to accommodate different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg