Homemade Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles Recipe

Fried chicken and waffles may sound like an odd combination at first. But once you try this Southern American meal, you’ll realize what you’ve been missing.

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I think fried chicken and waffles has to be one of the most Southern meals I’ve ever made! Biscuits and gravy is a close second. But fried chicken and waffles covered with maple syrup seems to have originated in the American South. There were earlier versions in other countries and in the Northern states. But this particular combination is very Southern cooking.

The first time I had chicken and waffles was at a food truck event in downtown Orlando when we were in college. I remember not being so sure about it, but I didn’t care for much at the other food trucks. I figured, if needed, I could always deconstruct the meals and have the fried chicken separate from the fluffy buttermilk waffles.

Though, after that first bite, there was no reason to separate the two foods! Crispy fried chicken and waffles is such a delicious, surprising, combination. Normally, I eat ketchup or ranch with my fried chicken. Maple syrup actually works really well with both the fried chicken and the waffles.

After having fried chicken and waffles at a few food truck events, Justin decided he really wanted to try making some at home. We already have a recipe for waffles, so we used that as our base. While I was making the waffles, he was battering and frying the chicken. Tyler and Ryan weren’t so sure about this meal. They ended up pulling it apart into two meals, but they still enjoyed both the chicken tenders and the waffles.

Serving Suggestions & Tips

• For a slightly healthier version, use egg whites instead of whole eggs and cook the chicken in the air fryer. 
• If you want spicy chicken, dip the chicken in buffalo sauce or hot sauce after cooking, or add cayenne pepper, cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, or chili powder to the breadcrumbs. 
• Instead of frying the chicken, you could place it on a baking sheet and cook it in a 425 F oven for about 10-15 minutes, until cooked through. 
• For more flavor, marinade the chicken in a buttermilk brine before frying. To do this, place the chicken pieces in a large bowl and cover them with buttermilk for a few hours before coating and frying. 
• The best chicken is chicken breast or chicken cutlets. But you could switch the chicken breast for chicken wings or boneless chicken thighs if you prefer. 
• Garnish with savory flavors by drizzling with sour cream and adding some sliced green onions, bacon bits, and shredded cheddar cheese. 
• Mix some flavor into the breaded chicken by adding garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to the flour, and then dip the chicken in the flour mixture. 

Fried Chicken and Waffles Step by Step

Ingredients

• 4 buttermilk waffles
• 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 2 cups oil
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups bread crumbs
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup

Preparation

Prepare waffles as directed. If you are making homemade waffles, get those started before the chicken. 

Meanwhile, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.

Place the all-purpose flour in one bowl, then mix the eggs in a separate bowl, and pour the bread crumbs into a third bowl.

Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs, then back into the egg, and back into the bread crumbs once more to double batter them. 

Carefully place the chicken in the hot oil. Turn after about 3-5 minutes, when it’s golden brown on the bottom. Cook another 3-5 minutes on the other side. Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and place it on a wire rack. You can place paper towels under the rack to help catch the excess oil that drips off of the chicken. 

Place a waffle on a serving plate and top with chicken. Drizzle with sweet maple syrup and serve warm.

Chicken & Waffles Leftovers

Storage: We stored the leftover waffles separately from the chicken. Both go into an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 

Reheating: Reheating the waffles is easy in the toaster or toaster oven. And the chicken reheats in either the microwave, toaster oven, or in the oven really well. Then you can put them back together.

Recipe

Fried Chicken and Waffles

Fried chicken and waffles may sound like an odd combination at first. But once you try this Southern American meal, you'll realize what you've been missing.

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Course:

Breakfast

|

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

chicken

|

fried

|

waffles

Dietary Needs:

Nut-Free

Meat:

Chicken/Turkey

Servings: 4

5 from 6 votes

Ingredients

• 4 buttermilk waffles
• 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 2 cups oil
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups bread crumbs
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup

Recommended Equipment

• Waffle Iron
• Skillet
• Wire Cooling Rack

Instructions

• Prepare waffles as directed. If you are making homemade waffles, get those started before the chicken. 
• Meanwhile, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat
• Place the bread flour in one bowl, eggs in another bowl, and bread crumbs in a third bowl
• Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, eggs, bread crumbs, then back into the egg, and into the bread crumbs once more
• Carefully place the chicken in the warm oil
• Turn after about 3-5 minutes, when it’s golden-brown on the bottom
• Cook another 3-5 minutes on the other side
• Remove from the pan and place on a wire rack
• Place a waffle on a serving plate and top with chicken
• Drizzle with syrup and serve warm

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Nutrition Facts

Fried Chicken and Waffles

Amount Per Serving (1 each)

Calories 917 Calories from Fat 369

% Daily Value*

Fat 41g63%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Cholesterol 245mg82%

Sodium 701mg29%

Potassium 742mg21%

Carbohydrates 96g32%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 40g44%

Protein 39g78%

Vitamin A 804IU16%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 251mg25%

Iron 6mg33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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