Chicken and waffles didn’t cross my path until adulthood. Travel for work—especially through the South—introduced me to the irresistible pairing, and I quickly became a fan.
Turning the classic into a sandwich felt like a revelation. No fork or knife—just bite into the full combination of textures and flavors for a perfect mouthful.
The waffles are a standout on their own—crispy on the outside, tender inside thanks to the cheese, with a sweet-savoury lift from green onions and bacon. Pair that with crunchy buttermilk-fried chicken and a bright maple-sriracha aioli, and you get a sandwich that balances richness, heat, and freshness.
Making both waffles and fried chicken from scratch may seem like a project, but it’s straightforward and well worth the effort. I’d happily eat this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
This post contains affiliate links (when you buy we make a little money at no cost to you). See our disclosure for more information.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Bacon Cheddar Waffle Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- Serves 2
Bacon Cheddar Waffles:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/8 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 8 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
- Cooking spray for waffle iron
Buttermilk Fried Chicken:
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut in half
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
- Canola oil for frying
Maple Sriracha Aioli:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sriracha hot sauce
Toppings:
- Lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese slices (or other toppings you prefer)
Instructions
Maple Sriracha Aioli:
- Combine mayonnaise, maple syrup and sriracha in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and set aside.
Waffles:
- Preheat your waffle iron and lightly grease with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Make a well in the center.
- Beat the eggs, then add them to the dry ingredients with the melted butter and buttermilk. Stir gently until just combined; the batter should be slightly lumpy. If too thick, add a little more buttermilk to reach a pourable consistency.
- Fold in the crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar, and sliced scallions.
- Pour about 1/2 cup batter (adjust for your waffle iron) into each cavity and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 4–5 minutes depending on your iron.
- Transfer cooked waffles to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet and keep warm in a 200°F oven until ready to assemble.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken:
- Pour canola oil into a deep fryer or deep pan and begin heating to frying temperature.
- Place the chicken in a bowl, cover with buttermilk and add hot sauce if using. Toss to coat, then refrigerate, covered, for at least 30 minutes (longer makes the chicken more tender).
- In a shallow dish, combine cornstarch, flour, salt, cayenne, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, let excess drip off, then press into the dry mixture to coat. Return to the buttermilk, then coat again in the dry mixture for a twice-battered crust. Place coated pieces on a rack over a baking sheet and rest for 10 minutes.
- Fry chicken in the hot oil (working in batches if needed) until cooked through and golden, about 7 minutes per piece. Drain on a cooling rack.
The Sandwich:
- Place a slice of cheddar on the hot fried chicken and warm briefly in the oven until the cheese melts.
- Arrange the chicken on one quarter of a waffle, top with tomato and lettuce.
- Spread the maple-sriracha aioli on another quarter of the waffle and place it on top to form the sandwich.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Nutrition
Calories: 1100kcal (55%)