Best Waffle Chicken Fingers Recipes

BUTTERMILK WAFFLES WITH BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• For the waffles: Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
• In a second bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth, then whisk in the buttermilk and butter until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until the batter comes together; there will be lumps. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Set a baking rack over baking sheet and place on the center rack. Preheat a waffle maker according to manufacturer's instructions and brush with melted butter.
• For each waffle, ladle about 1/3 cup of the batter onto the iron. Cover and cook until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes; the waffles will be a little misshapen--not perfectly square, with rounded corners. As you go, transfer the cooked waffles to the baking rack in the oven and hold there while you fry the chicken.
• For the fried chicken: While the waffle batter rests, place the chicken tenders in a resealable plastic bag. Add 1 cup of the buttermilk and the hot sauce, then seal the bag and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour with the garlic powder, onion powder, chile de arbol, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Transfer half of the flour mixture to a second bowl. In a third bowl, put the remaining 1 cup buttermilk.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 inches of oil in a high-sided skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium heat until it registers 360 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, dredge the chicken in the first dish of seasoned flour, then dip in the buttermilk, letting excess drain off, and finally dredge in the second bowl of seasoned flour, tapping off excess. Fry until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt.
• To serve, put two waffles on each of four plates. Top them with three tenders and drizzle all with hot sauce, if desired, and honey.

CHICKEN & WAFFLES

Steps:

• Bake chicken strips according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix honey and pepper sauce., Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces; serve on waffles. Drizzle with honey mixture.

CLASSIC CHICKEN & WAFFLES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually whisk in broth and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in chicken; heat through. Keep warm., Preheat waffle maker. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and melted butter; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened., Bake waffles according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. Top waffles with chicken mixture and, if desired, green onions.

CHICKEN AND WAFFLES ON A STICK

Steps:

• For the chicken: Fold together the chicken tenders, buttermilk, tarragon, thyme and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish until thoroughly combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the chicken and buttermilk mixture from the refrigerator. Sift the flour, garlic powder, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and onion powder into a separate shallow dish.
• Preheat the oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat to about 350 degrees F. Thread each tender onto a skewer.
• Dredge each skewered tender in the flour mixture, coating completely and shaking off any excess. Dip each back in the buttermilk mixture and again in the flour mixture, gently shaking off any excess.
• In small batches, gently drop the skewers into the oil and fry, about 5 minutes. Flip and fry until golden brown, an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
• For the waffle batter: Place the flour, milk, oil, sugar, vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda, salt and eggs in a large bowl and whisk until no lumps remain. Dip the fried tenders in the batter, coating completely. In batches, gently drop the skewers back into the oil and fry, about 4 minutes. Flip and fry an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Just before serving, brush with a light coating of melted butter and drizzle with maple syrup. Serve warm.