Description
Crispy Southern chicken nestles perfectly atop golden Belgian waffles in this classic comfort dish. Rich maple syrup and perfectly seasoned meat create a soul-warming meal that brings pure culinary joy to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
Breading:
- 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
Waffles:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups (420 ml) milk
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Serving:
- Maple syrup or honey
- Butter (optional, for the waffles)
- Hot sauce (optional, for extra spice)
Instructions
- Pour buttermilk and hot sauce into a spacious mixing container, submerging chicken pieces completely to infuse deep, tangy flavors throughout the meat.
- Seal the marinating container and refrigerate, allowing chicken to absorb the zesty liquid for a minimum of 60 minutes, with extended overnight marination producing optimal tenderness.
- Craft a robust seasoning blend by thoroughly combining flour with aromatic garlic powder, pungent onion powder, vibrant paprika, mineral salt, freshly ground black pepper, and fiery cayenne pepper.
- Extract chicken pieces from the buttermilk bath, carefully allowing excess liquid to cascade off each morsel, ensuring a clean coating surface.
- Methodically dredge each chicken piece through the seasoned flour mixture, applying firm pressure to create a comprehensive, textured exterior that will transform into a crispy golden shell during cooking.
- Gently pat and press the flour coating, guaranteeing maximum adherence and an even distribution of spices across the chicken’s surface.
Notes
- Marinate chicken longer for deeper flavor infusion, allowing buttermilk to tenderize meat and hot sauce to add subtle heat.
- Use a wire rack when dredging chicken to ensure even coating and prevent flour clumping, creating crispier exterior.
- For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to maintain crispy texture.
- Experiment with spice blend by adding smoked paprika or replacing cayenne with chipotle powder for a smoky, complex flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 678
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg