Description
Southern-style chicken and waffles merge crispy buttermilk-marinated chicken with golden Belgian waffles, creating a perfect balance of savory and sweet. Comfort cuisine from the American South delivers a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
Coating and Seasoning:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Liquid and Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Submerge chicken pieces in buttermilk and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, preferably overnight for enhanced flavor absorption.
- Create a seasoned coating by blending flour with garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.
- Prepare a skillet or deep fryer, heating vegetable oil to a medium temperature around 350°F.
- Carefully drain excess buttermilk from chicken pieces, then thoroughly coat each piece in the seasoned flour mixture.
- Gently lower chicken into hot oil, frying approximately 5-7 minutes per side until exterior turns golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and maintain crispiness.
- Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer’s specific temperature recommendations.
- Combine dry waffle ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk wet waffle ingredients separately: eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
- Merge wet and dry waffle mixtures, stirring until ingredients are just incorporated without overmixing.
- Pour batter into waffle iron, cooking until exterior becomes golden and crisp.
- Assemble dish by placing crispy waffle on plate, topping with perfectly fried chicken.
- Finish by drizzling maple syrup and optionally adding butter and hot sauce for additional flavor complexity.
Notes
- Let buttermilk marinate work its magic by keeping chicken in it overnight for maximum tenderness and deeper flavor absorption.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches exact 165F, preventing dryness while guaranteeing safe cooking temperatures.
- Choose low-fat buttermilk and bake chicken instead of frying for a healthier version that still maintains crispy exterior and juicy interior.
- Experiment with gluten-free flour blend to make recipe suitable for those with wheat sensitivities, maintaining similar texture and taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg