• For the Chicken
  • 4 boneless chicken breast, cut in half
  • 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
  • 4 garlic cloves smashed
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 cups seasoned unbleached all-purpose flour (flour plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper)
  • 2 large eggs
  • Canola or peanut oil
  • For the Waffles
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • Vegetable oil, for waffle iron
  • For the sweet and spicy maple syrup
  • 1 c. pure maple syrup
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
  • 2 Chipotle peppers

Is it breakfast or is it dinner? Crispy Fried Chicken served over hot buttermilk waffles drizzled with a Chipotle Maple Syrup…now doesn’t that sound FUN? A great recipe to cook with the kids, this type of meal dates back to the Pennsylvania Dutch who first served stewed chicken over waffles and the folks in New Orleans, Louisiana who enjoy a crispy fried chicken over their buttermilk waffles. There’s nothing better than some sweet and spicy. Wouldn’t you agree? I added Chipotle peppers to some pure maple syrup for kick! If you are not a fan of sweet and spicy try the Cream Gravy with it!

I’ll be the first to say that this is a long ingredients list, but it well worth it! I first discovered this combination when researching recipes by state for a Cooking across America class that I began teaching ten years ago. Looking for a recipe original to Pennsylvania, I found a similar recipe for Chicken and Waffles there. Although the waffles are typically serve with stewed chicken, I thought fried chicken would be a nice contrast in flavor and texture. It sure was a hit among my students as well as my son Alexander who tried some that evening.

Speaking of Alex, last week we got our hands dirty together making these waffles again. As we cooked together, we decided to add some herbs to our waffle batter. Alex began smelling all of the spices in my Dean and Deluca Spice Rack (which we LOVE) to see which spices he thought would go nicely with the waffles. As he smelled each spice he would comment on how allspice made him think of my French Meat Pie, how Chili Powder made him think of my Chili or how the dill made him think of my Spanikopita! Can I just tell you how much joy this brought me? LOTS!

Get the kids in the kitchen, wash those hands and roll up those sleeves, because this recipe will make the whole family smile.

For the chicken

Marinate chicken in a plastic bag with first nine ingredients. Store in the refrigerator for at least one hour. When ready to fry, drain the chicken. Dip chicken in egg and then in seasoned flour. Fry in a shallow frying pan with canola or peanut oil 1/3 of the way up your pan. Be sure to use an oil with a high smocking point. It should take about seven to ten minutes for the chicken to get nicely browned. Allow it to then cook in the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes while you make your waffles, maple syrup and gravy.

For your waffles

Mix wet ingredients in a large bowl. In another bowl combine dry ingredients and add them to the wet; stir until just combined. Heat your waffle iron. The amount of batter used will depend on the size of your waffle iron. Be careful not to spill over. The batter will bubble up fairly quickly.

Once the waffles are ready to eat, choose one of the following recipes to top off your Chicken and Waffles:

Sweet and Spicy Maple Syrup

In a blender combine maple syrup, butter and Chipotle peppers.

Creamy Gravy

Leave 2 tablespoons of the fat from the skillet. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons flour; blend and cook until golden brown, scraping browned bits from bottom of skillet. Gradually stir in 1 cup milk and 1 cup hot water. Stir until smooth and thickened; add salt and black pepper to taste.