Crispy Fried Chicken and Waffles
A delightful Southern dish that combines crispy fried chicken with fluffy waffles, perfect for any meal.
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet Ideal for frying chicken.
- Waffle Maker For cooking the waffles.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp Hot sauce
- 3 cups Buttermilk
- 3 units Eggs
- 3 cups Flour
- 3 tsp Kosher salt
- 2 tsp Garlic powder
- 8 Tbsp Butter
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 1.5 tsp Cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Sweet paprika
- 0.5 tsp Chili powder
- 0.5 tsp Kosher salt
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper
- 2.25 cups Flour
- 1 Tbsp Baking powder
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 tsp Kosher salt
- 0.5 tsp Cinnamon
- 0.5 cup Vegetable oil
- 2 units Egg yolks
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and cut them into ¼-inch thick strips. In a large bowl, season the chicken with 1 Tbsp Kosher salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for 2 hours to marinate.
- In another large bowl, whisk together 1½ cups buttermilk, 3 eggs, and 1 Tbsp hot sauce. In a separate bowl, mix 3 cups flour, 3 tsp Kosher salt, and 2 tsp garlic powder.
- Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Dip each chicken strip first in the flour mixture, then in the buttermilk mixture, and back into the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- In a large cast iron or heavy-bottomed pan, pour in enough oil to reach about 2 inches high. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully add about 8 pieces of chicken to the hot oil. Fry the chicken for about 6-7 minutes, turning every 1-2 minutes, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C).
- In a saucepan, combine 8 Tbsp butter, 2 Tbsp honey, 1½ tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp sweet paprika, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp Kosher salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Heat over medium-high until the butter melts.
- Preheat your waffle maker and spray it with nonstick oil. In a stand mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2¼ cups flour, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 3 Tbsp sugar, ½ tsp Kosher salt, and ½ tsp cinnamon.
- In another bowl, mix 2 cups buttermilk, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 egg yolks, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Gently whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then fold in the beaten egg whites.
- Pour about ½ cup of batter into each waffle mold and cook according to your waffle maker's instructions. Serve the waffles immediately topped with hot fried chicken, maple syrup, and pickle slices.
Notes
For a spicier kick, adjust the cayenne pepper in the hot sauce to your taste. You can also add some chopped herbs to the waffle batter for extra flavor.