Cheesy Hot Chicken and Waffles

This Cheesy Hot Chicken and Waffles recipe is a spicy twist on an American classic! Southern fried chicken breasts are served over habanero-cheddar chive cornbread waffles, then drizzled with cayenne maple syrup for a surprisingly spicy kick!

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken and waffles

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Marinating time 4 hours

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings

Calories 923kcal

Author Erica

Ingredients

Buttermilk Chicken

2 chicken breasts cut in half and pounded to ½-inch thickness
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon salt divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper divided
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon dried herbs thyme, parsley, oregano
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 large egg

Cheesy Cornbread Waffles

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
1 1/2 cups shredded Cabot Fiery Jack cheese plus more for sprinkling
1/4 cup fresh chives chopped, plus more for sprinkling

Maple Hot Sauce

1 cup maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon hot sauce plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus more to taste
2 teaspoons bourbon whiskey optional

Instructions

Buttermilk Chicken

Place chicken pieces in a gallon-sized plastic bag along with buttermilk, garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black and cayenne peppers. Seal and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat air fryer (or oven) to 400 degrees F.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, remaining salt and peppers, Old Bay, herbs, and seasoning salt. In a separate bowl, whisk egg well.
Drain the chicken and discard buttermilk. Dredge chicken through flour mixture, then into egg, then back into flour mixture again. Shake off excess flour.
Spray each piece of chicken lightly with oil. Arrange pieces in a single layer in air fryer basket, close, and cook 13-15 minutes (or bake 15-16 minutes), flipping halfway to ensure both sides get crispy. Internal temperature of chicken should be at least 165 degrees F.

Cheesy Cornbread Waffles

Preheat the waffle iron on high. In a large bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add the buttermilk and eggs and whisk well to combine. Stir in the butter, then fold in cheese and chives.
Pour ½ to ¾ cup batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook until lightly browned. Transfer the cooked waffles to a baking sheet in a low oven to keep warm.

Maple Hot Sauce

In a small pan over medium heat, combine the maple syrup with hot sauce and cayenne pepper. Stir until dissolved and combined. Whisk in bourbon if desired. Reduce to low heat and keep warm.

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