Sandy’s Kitchen

The crispy fried chicken. The fluffy little waffles. The maple syrup dripping into every crunchy bite. If you need a brunch recipe that’s guaranteed to impress everyone at the table, this is it.

I got a mini waffle maker for my birthday and honestly didn’t realize how much more fun waffles are when they’re tiny. Watching the little waffles turn perfectly golden and crispy made me even more obsessed with this thing.

For the chicken, I used boneless chicken thighs so they stayed juicy on the inside with the crispiest coating on the outside. I’ve made a lot of fried chicken recipes before, but this one became an instant favourite. Perfectly seasoned and paired with the waffles? Unreal.

And yes, I drenched the whole thing in maple syrup because that sweet-and-salty combo is exactly what makes chicken and waffles elite.

You could totally add fruit on the side for a brunch moment, but I made tater tots and fully leaned into comfort food mode.

This is one of those meals that’s fun to make, looks impressive, and somehow tastes even better than you expect it to. Safe to say both the mini waffle maker and this recipe are officially in heavy rotation now.

Belgian Waffles

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 eggs, separated
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat waffle iron.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
3. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
4. In another bowl, whisk egg yolks, oil, milk, and vanilla.
5. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients, then gently fold in egg whites.
6. Cook waffles until golden and crisp. Keep warm.

Southern Fried Chicken

Ingredients

• 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Buttermilk Brine

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• ½ tbsp garlic powder
• ½ tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp chilli powder

Seasoned Flour

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Whisk together all brine ingredients and add chicken. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
2. Heat oil to 350°F.
3. In a bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Remove chicken from brine and coat in seasoned flour.
5. Fry chicken for 8–9 minutes until golden, crispy, and cooked through. Drain on a wire rack.

Top warm waffles with crispy fried chicken and serve with butter and maple syrup, if desired.