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This Chicken and Waffles Recipe is such a cute and delicious appetizer. I’ve taken seasoned and breaded chicken breasts, fried so they are crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and paired them with crispy, sweet homemade waffles. Threaded onto sticks, they are the perfect combination of flavor and texture, perfect for game day, weekend gatherings, or even just a quick weekday meal.
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Pin ItEasy Chicken and Waffles Appetizer Recipe
I love this creative Chicken and Waffles Recipe. The first time I had chicken and waffles, I was living in Jacksonville, Florida, dining out for brunch with friends. I can still remember how pleasantly surprised I was at how great they tasted and how the toasty waffles were layered with crispy chicken smothered in maple syrup. Who knew this combination would taste so great?
Since then, I’ve been whipping up this recipe to serve to family and friends, not just for brunch but for game days, holiday gatherings, and whenever the mood hits. I take seasoned breaded chicken breasts and fry them so they are soft and juicy with a little crunch, and then pair them with homemade sweet waffles. Though you could eat them together on a plate, I find cutting them into bite-sized pieces and threading them onto sticks makes it that much more fun to eat and dip into maple syrup. I can easily pull these sticks together in about 40 minutes, so if I am serving them for brunch, I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to prepare them.
Tips for Beginners
- Let the chicken drain. I like to let the chicken drain on the cooling rack so any excess oil drips off. This also allows the juices inside the breast to redistribute, keeping the chicken juicy and tender.
- Make sure the oil is hot. You want to add the chicken so it starts to cook right away. If you place the chicken in the oil before it is hot enough, it won’t crisp up as well, and it will absorb more oil.
- Cut to your preferred size. I like to cut both the chicken and waffles into fourths, but if you find the pieces too big, cut them smaller. If you are serving the sticks to kids, smaller pieces may be better.
- Do not place the sticks in the oven. I am always cautious about reheating these sticks in the oven, as wooden sticks can burn or catch fire. Reheat the pieces and rethread, or use oven-safe sticks.
Mini Chicken and Waffles on a Stick
Ingredients
For the Waffles
- 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- 2 cups cultured lowfat buttermilk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 large egg whites
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Chicken
- canola oil for frying
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 4-6 chicken breast tenders skinless & boneless
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- ¼ tsp ground garlic or garlic powder
- ½ tsp sweet paprika
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¾ cup cold soda water*
For Serving
- maple syrup for dipping or drizzling
Instructions
For the Waffles
- Set the waffle iron to medium.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, powdered sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add buttermilk, melted butter, egg whites, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.1⅔ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup powdered sugar, ¾ tsp kosher salt, ¾ tsp baking soda, ¾ tsp baking powder, 2 cups cultured lowfat buttermilk, ¼ cup unsalted butter, 3 large egg whites, 2 tsp vanilla extract
- For a 9-inch waffle maker, use about half of the batter. Follow the instructions for your waffle maker. Close the lid and cook until the waffle is golden brown and steaming. Repeat with the remaining batter.
For the Chicken
- Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet.
- Heat 2 cups oil in a heavy skillet to 375°F.canola oil
- Season the chicken, on both sides, with salt & pepper.1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, 4-6 chicken breast tenders
- In a medium dish, whisk together flour, mustard powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and soda water.½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp mustard powder, ¼ tsp ground garlic or garlic powder, ½ tsp sweet paprika, ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper, ¾ cup cold soda water*
- Dredge the chicken in the batter and let the excess drip off.
- Fry until the chicken is golden brown on one side, then flip the chicken using tongs, and fry on the other side until it is golden brown and cooked through. Internal temperature should read 160°F. (The chicken breasts will continue to cook after being removed from the heat.) Transfer the chicken to the cooling rack to drain.
To Serve
- Cut each waffle square into fourths. Cut each chicken tender into fourths.
- Skewer one piece of chicken between two mini waffle squares onto an appetizer skewer.
- Serve immediately with a side of maple syrup (or drizzle the syrup over the chicken waffle appetizers). Enjoy!maple syrup for dipping or drizzling
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Store
If possible, only assemble what you think you will eat and then store the chicken and waffles in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm both in the oven and then assemble the sticks. You can store assembled sticks in the fridge as well, but I don’t suggest putting the sticks in the oven to reheat. You can take the chicken and waffles off the sticks, warm them, and then reassemble the sticks. If you have used oven-safe sticks, then reheating in the oven should not be a problem.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these mini chicken and waffles on skewers or appetizer picks with a drizzle of maple syrup or hot honey for the perfect sweet-and-savory bite. They’re always a hit for brunches, game day spreads, holiday parties, baby showers, or casual weekend gatherings when you want something fun, comforting, and easy to grab and eat. For sides, I’ll make either a fresh strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing or a grilled peach salad, both of which offer a nice contrast to the fried chicken and waffles.
More Stick Recipes To Try
- Pizza Sticks feature pizza dough, pepperoni, and cheese all on an easy-to-eat from stick.
- These Fried Mozzarella Sticks are filled with string cheese, coated in breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried to crispy perfection.
- In this recipe for Fish Sticks, I’ve breaded tender pieces of cod and then baked them for a kid-friendly meal.
