
Southern fried chicken tenders, fluffy buttermilk waffles and a delicious honey butter sauce make up this incredibly simple and delicious dish. Chicken and Waffles is a fun, sweet and savory dish that every home cook should know how to make.
Perfect for brunch or dinner, this scrumptious dish is packed with so much flavor and even makes good leftovers. Who doesn't love crispy southern fried chicken tenders, golden fluffy buttermilk waffles all covered in a delicious homemade honey butter sauce? This recipe is so easy to follow and uses just a few pantry and spice cabinet staples.
I like using chicken tenders, but both boneless skinless chicken thighs and bone-in chicken work just fine for this recipe. I always have chicken tenders on hand from raising chickens and love using them for quick meals like this one. Especially if I and cooking this for brunch. Use whatever chicken you have on hand, just adjust the cooking time if needed.
Looking for more easy chicken dishes?
How to Make Chicken and Waffles
This dish really is all about multi-tasking. Prep the chicken and waffles first then start cooking them both at the same time. While they are both almost finished cooking then you start the honey butter sauce. Do it this way ensures that everything is hot when it is served.

Season the Chicken: In a medium bowl mix together the buttermilk, hot sauce, eggs, and seasonings. Add the chicken to the bowl and toss to coat. cover and set aside until needed. Optionally you can do this 2 hours ahead of time to marinate the chicken.
Flour: In a shallow dish mix together the flour, cornstarch, and seasonings.
Heat oil: In a large cast-iron skillet heat 1"-2" of oil to 350° F.
Waffle Mix: In a medium bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl mix together the buttermilk, eggs and melted butter.
Mix together: Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Heat waffle iron
Bread the chicken: Remove a piece of chicken from the buttermilk, let the excess drip off then press the chicken into the flour mixture. Shake off excess flour and repeat.
Fry the chicken: Place the chicken in the oil and fry until golden brown, flip and fry on the other side. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F when it is done. Place on a rack and continue until all of the chicken is cooked.

Cook the waffles: While the chicken is frying start making the waffles following the waffle irons instructions.
Make the honey butter syrup: In a small saucepan over medium low heat melt the butter. Add in the remaining ingredients and cook until thickened to syrup consistency.
Serve and enjoy!
VARIATIONS
- For a spicy honey butter sauce add crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper powder to the syrup.
- Alternatively, you can add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper powder to the flour mixture.
- Maple syrup is a great substitute to the honey butter sauce.
- Use a white gravy instead of syrup for a savory variation.
Variations
- For a spicy honey butter sauce add crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper powder to the syrup.
- Alternatively, you can add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper powder to the flour mixture.
- Maple syrup is a great substitute to the honey butter sauce.
- Use a white gravy instead of syrup for a savory variation.
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📖 Recipe

Chicken and Waffles
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 Pound chicken tenders
- ¾ Cup buttermilk
- 2 dash hot sauce
- 2 Large eggs
- 1 ½ Teaspoon salt
- As Needed Pinch chipotle powder or cayenne powder
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon paprika
- ½ Teaspoon pepper
- ½ Teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ Cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
Waffles
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- 4 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ Teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cup buttermilk
- 2 Large eggs
- ½ Cup butter melted
Honey Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon water
- Pinch chipotle powder
Instructions
- In a medium bowl mix together the buttermilk, hot sauce, eggs, ½ teaspoon salt, pinch of chipotle powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon of paprika. Add the chicken to the bowl and toss to coat. cover and set aside until needed. Optionally you can do this 2 hours ahead of time to marinate the chicken.
- In a shallow dish mix together the flour, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, pinch chipotle powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika and ½ teaspoon pepper. Set aside until needed.
- In a large cast-iron skillet heat 1"-2" of oil to 350° F.
For the Waffles
- In a medium bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl mix together the buttermilk, eggs and melted butter.
- Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Do not overmix. Heat the waffle iron.
- Remove a piece of chicken from the buttermilk, let the excess drip off then press the chicken into the flour mixture. Shake off excess flour and repeat.
- Place the chicken in the oil and fry until golden brown, flip and fry on the other side. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F when it is done. Place on a rack and continue until all of the chicken is cooked.
- While the chicken is frying start making the waffles following the waffle irons instructions.
Honey Butter Sauce
- In a small saucepan over medium low heat melt the butter. Add in the remaining ingredients and simmer until thickened to syrup consistency. This should take 8-10 minutes.
- Place a few chicken tenders on top of a waffle, drizzle with honey butter sauce and enjoy!
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