Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles with Spicy Honey Butter Sauce Recipe

Introduction

Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles is a beloved comfort food that brings together crispy, flavorful chicken with golden, tender waffles. This dish offers the perfect balance of savory and sweet, making it a delightful meal any time of day.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce (adjust to taste)
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine buttermilk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper if using. Add the chicken thighs, ensuring they are fully submerged, and marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
2. Step 2: In another bowl, mix the all-purpose flour and cornstarch. Remove the chicken from the marinade and dredge each piece thoroughly in the flour mixture, pressing lightly to coat.
3. Step 3: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Fry the coated chicken pieces for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Drain the fried chicken on a paper towel-lined plate.
4. Step 4: For the waffles, whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
5. Step 5: Combine the wet and dry ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the batter. Preheat your waffle iron and cook the batter according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the waffles are golden and crisp.
6. Step 6: To make the spicy honey butter sauce, whisk together honey, melted butter, hot sauce, and a pinch of cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Adjust the amount of hot sauce to your preferred heat level.
7. Step 7: To serve, place a waffle on a plate, top with a piece of fried chicken, and drizzle generously with the spicy honey butter sauce.

Tips & Variations

• For extra crispy chicken, let the coated pieces rest for 10 minutes before frying to help the flour adhere better.
• Substitute the chicken thighs with breasts if you prefer leaner meat, but thighs remain juicier.
• Try adding a pinch of smoked paprika or dried herbs to the waffle batter for additional flavor.
• Use maple syrup instead of honey for a classic sweetness in the sauce.
• If you like it spicier, increase the cayenne pepper in both the chicken marinade and the honey butter sauce.

Storage

Store leftover fried chicken and waffles separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the chicken in an oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to retain crispiness. Warm waffles in a toaster or oven to keep them from getting soggy. The spicy honey butter sauce can be refrigerated and reheated gently before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, but make sure to fully thaw the chicken before marinating and cooking to ensure even cooking and the best texture.

What can I use if I don’t have buttermilk?

To make a buttermilk substitute, mix 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using. This adds the acidity needed for tenderizing the chicken.

Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles with Spicy Honey Butter Sauce Recipe

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This Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles recipe combines crispy, juicy fried chicken with fluffy, golden waffles topped with a spicy honey butter sauce. The chicken is marinated in a flavorful buttermilk brine, coated in a seasoned flour and cornstarch mixture, and pan-fried to perfection. Paired with classic sweet and fluffy waffles and a drizzle of spicy honey butter sauce, this dish offers a perfect blend of savory, sweet, and heat — perfect for brunch or any comfort food craving.

• Author: luca
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Southern American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)

For the Waffles

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Spicy Honey Butter Sauce

• 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1–2 teaspoons hot sauce (adjust to taste)
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine buttermilk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper if using. Add the boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or ideally overnight, to tenderize and infuse flavor.
2. Coat the Chicken: In a separate bowl, mix the all-purpose flour with cornstarch. Remove each piece of chicken from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off, then dredge thoroughly in the flour and cornstarch mixture, pressing lightly so it adheres well.
3. Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable or canola oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Fry the coated chicken pieces for 5-7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy with an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C). Drain the fried chicken on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
4. Prepare the Waffle Batter: Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in one bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until combined. Carefully combine wet and dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated to avoid overworking the batter.
5. Cook the Waffles: Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook until waffles are golden brown and crisp, typically 4-5 minutes depending on your appliance.
6. Make the Spicy Honey Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together honey (or maple syrup), melted butter, hot sauce, and an optional pinch of cayenne pepper. Adjust the heat level to your preference by varying the hot sauce and cayenne pepper quantities.
7. Assemble and Serve: Place a freshly cooked waffle on each plate, top with a crispy piece of fried chicken, and generously drizzle the spicy honey butter sauce over the top. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor experience.

Notes

• You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs, but thighs tend to remain juicier and more flavorful.
• Marinating chicken overnight enhances flavor and tenderness, but 30 minutes is sufficient if short on time.
• Adjust cayenne pepper and hot sauce levels for desired spiciness in both the chicken seasoning and sauce.
• For extra crispy chicken, double dredge by dipping back into buttermilk then flour mixture once more before frying.
• If you don’t have a waffle iron, you can bake pancakes or French toast as an alternative base.
• Use a thermometer to ensure chicken reaches safe internal temperature (165°F) for best results and safety.

Keywords: southern fried chicken, chicken and waffles, fried chicken recipe, waffle recipe, brunch recipe, spicy honey butter sauce