Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles

Dig into this southern classic at home with this Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles recipe! Air fried buttermilk honey fried chicken on top of crispy cornbread waffles!

Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles

 

Things are certainly looking a little different now then they were when I was working on this recipe with most of the US is practicing social distancing and staying home as much as possible. I hope you are staying safe and healthy!

If there is anything you need please let me know how I can help. If you are wanting to make one of my recipes, but you don’t have all of the ingredients, let me know! I would be happy to help you rework the recipe with what you do have on hand! Leave a comment on the post of the recipe you want to make OR send me an email at laura@sprinklesandseasalt.com. 

 

Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles

How to make Honey Buttermilk Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer 

 

The air fryer does it once again! This honey buttermilk fried chicken comes out crispy and full of flavor without all the grease of traditional deep frying.

Prior to adding the chicken to the air fryer it is dipped 3 times. First in a flour mixture that is flavored with smoked paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Next in a frothy mixture of egg, buttermilk, baking powder and baking soda. And then back into the flour mixture. 

The chicken takes just 12 minutes, 6 minutes on each side, to get brown and crispy! 

After the air fryer, before it goes on top of the waffle, the chicken is drizzled with honey and sprinkled with a bit of smoked paprika. The honey melts into the hot chicken, making it utterly irresistible!

When you cut into the chicken it’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, just as it should be! 

Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles

How to serve Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles

 

The key to the most delicious results is making sure you enjoy this recipe when both the chicken and the waffles are hot. Waffles lose their crispness and get stale quickly, they are best straight out of the waffle maker. The chicken is best hot out of the air fryer so timing the waffles to be done around the same time as the chicken is a must.

I suggest you mix together the waffle batter prior to starting to air fry the chicken. That way, while the chicken is in the air fryer you can be making the waffles. 

The sweet honey fried chicken and the crispy cornbread waffle offer a lot of flavor on their own. If you want to take it up a notch, drizzle maple syrup over the finished product right before you dig in! 

Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles

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Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles


  • Author: Laura
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 2 large servings 1x

Description

Dig into this southern classic at home with this Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles recipe! Air fried buttermilk honey fried chicken on top of crispy cornbread waffles!


Ingredients

Scale

Fried Honey Buttermilk Chicken

1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 cup white all-purpose flour

1 tbsp corn starch

3 tsp smoked paprika, divided

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 egg

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

cooking spray

2 tbsp honey

Cornbread Waffles

1 cup cornmeal

1 cup white all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

3 tbsp white sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

maple syrup (optional)


Instructions

Pat chicken dry with a paper towel, slice the chicken thighs in half

In a shallow bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, 2 tsp smoked paprika, onion powder, salt and black pepper

In another shallow bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, baking powder and baking soda

Working one piece of chicken at a time, dip first into the dry mixture to coat, then dip into the wet mixture and then back into the dry

Repeat with all pieces of chicken

Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes

Spray the air fryer with cooking spray

Working in 2 batches, place half of the chicken thighs in the basket*

Air Fry for 6 minutes on each side, when you flip spray again with cooking spray

Carefully remove the chicken from the air fryer and place on a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil

Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with the remaining paprika

Cornbread Waffles

Before you put the chicken in the air fryer, mix together the waffle mix

In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk and vegetable oil

Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix with a spoon or spatula until fully combined

Heat waffle maker

When you put the chicken in the air fryer start making the waffles

Spray hot waffle maker with cooking spray

Add enough waffle batter to fill the waffle maker

Cook until golden brown

Serve honey chicken on top of the waffles and top with maple syrup, if desired

Notes

*you may have to do more than 2 batches depending on the size of your basket

  • Prep Time: 38 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Method: air fryer
  • Cuisine: Southern

Keywords: #honeychickenandwaffles, #chickenandwaffles, #southerncomfortfood, #airfryerrecipes

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Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles

If you make these Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles let me know how you like them! Leave a star rating and comment here! If you snap a photo, I’d love to see it – share it over on Instagram and tag me @sprinklesandseasalt!

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Looking for More Air Fryer Recipes? Check These Out: 

 

Air Fryer Egg Rolls

Air Fryer Blackened Cauliflower Tacos

 

Leave a Comment

Recipe rating

  1. Seth said:

    Ended up being pretty bland all around. All of the seasoning for the chicken comes off with the breading. I would consider remaking this and seasoning the chicken with some salt and pepper before tossing it in the dry mix, as well as adding some honey to the waffle mixture since that ended up pretty bland as well. I am typically not a fan of all of the flavor coming from things I add on top after I’ve spent all of that time prepping spice mixtures.

  2. Sydney said:

    The breading comes off easily once cooked. I was prepping dinner hours before and actually cut up my chicken and soaked it in the buttermilk for about 2/3 hours. Loved how it turned out