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Fried Chicken and Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup

To hell with Roscoe…this is the best fried chicken and waffles recipe.

Who doesn’t love fried chicken? Who doesn’t love a big buttery waffle? Throw them together and you’ve got something rather special that only fans of the salty/sweet can truly appreciate. If you think you’re afraid of chicken and waffles together, think of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s truly the same principle 😉 I encourage you to try it at least once in your life before you write it off.

For the fried chicken, I knew I wanted juicy pieces with a crispy coating. I had nothing but time, so the night before frying I soaked a couple of fat chicken wings in a buttermilk brine. Most people use just plain ol’ buttermilk alone, but I like to add a bit of seasoned salt to it so that the actual chicken meat itself is juicy and flavorful. The buttermilk is acidic, so it penetrates the chicken and tenderizes it. But if you add salt to this, it then flavors it by further breaking down it’s molecular structure of the chicken. You absolutely do not have to brine your chicken if you don’t want to. I don’t always do it, especially when frying up chicken wings quickly on the go. I will admit though, whenever I do brine chicken wings, they always come out insanely juicy and tender and literally falling off the bone. It’s heaven in your mouth. Be careful not to brine your chicken for too long or it’ll become too salty.

You don’t have to use my fried chicken “recipe”…and I am kinda shy about calling this a recipe because this is another one I never measure. It’s one of those things I’ve been cooking for years and have just mastered the art of “eyeballing”. I will try my best to explain what I did though.

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup

The waffles are a modified version of the Yeasty Waffles from Food & Wine. It’s one of those “prep-ahead” recipes that you can do the day before or at least 2 hours before you’re ready to eat. Here’s an even easier, faster waffle recipe just in case this one is too intimidating. You’ve gotta make this UH-MAY-ZING Bourbon Maple syrup that I created. It’s so effing delicious, I can’t even begin to explain. I just threw together some ingredients I knew would be great and it came out so damn good. I’d pour this all over french toast, pancakes, waffles…you name it. Anyway, the next time you want chicken and waffles, use this syrup…it’ll make your world spin a bit softer 😉

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
active yeast for the waffles

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
waffle batter all mixed together

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
i transferred it to a porcelain bowl that would absorb some heat

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
chicken hanging out in a seasoned buttermilk brine

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
all battered up! chillin in the fridge for a good half hour so the flour really sticks

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
real maple syrup!

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
the beginning stages of the bourbon maple syrup

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
bring this baby to a boil…

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
I let this proof in a warm oven for 2 hours and look at how big it is LOL!

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
that yeast is so happy, ready for the waffle iron 🙂

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
plate it up!

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
…OMG

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
…drizzle that syrup all over it, and watch your life change…

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
sooooo good!

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
this chicken was smack-ya-mama juicy, and seasoned perfectly!

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
so many amazing flavors going on here

Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup
Paula Deen would be proud 😉

You’ll enjoy this, I promise. Everything comes together and will make you close your eyes with pure delight. Delicious.

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Fried Chicken and Waffles with Bourbon Maple Syrup


  • Author: Resha
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 mins
  • Yield: 4

Description

Juicy, crispy fried chicken and tender waffles with bourbon maple syrup


Ingredients

Units
  • 8 to 12 large chicken wings (you can remove the tips if you’d like)
  • Oil for frying (canola, vegetable or peanut)

Buttermilk brine:

  • 1 qt. low-fat buttermilk
  • about 1/4 cup seasoned salt (I used Lawry’s, you can use regular salt)

Flour mixture (these are approximate measurements, use your best judgement):

  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 12 tbsp seasoned salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper

For the Yeast Waffles:

  • 1 3/4 cups whole milk, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted, plus more melted butter for the waffle iron
  • 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast (from 2 envelopes)
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons agave nectar or honey
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tbsp sugar

For the Bourbon Maple Syrup:

  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 to 2 tbsp light brown sugar

Instructions

  1. In a bowl large enough to hold all of your chicken wings, pour in the buttermilk and whisk in the seasoned salt until dissolved.
  2. Rinse each chicken wing under cold water then place inside of the buttermilk mixture. Allow this to sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours, up to 8.
  3. To prepare for frying, heat the oil to 375 degrees using either an electric deep fryer, or large heavy bottomed pot.
  4. In either a shallow dish, large bowl, or paper bag, mix together the flour and seasoning until combined.
  5. Take each piece of chicken out of the buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip off and place into the flour mixture. Toss around until coated evenly. I usually press the flour into the chicken to assure it’s properly coated. Repeat until every piece is coated. Then arrange each piece on a plate and refrigerate for about 10 to 20 minutes — this just helps the flour really stick onto the chicken. Remove from the fridge, and toss into the flour mixture one more time. Shake off the excess and stick into your hot oil. Fry up to 4 pieces at a time for about 12 to 14 minutes or so. Don’t overcrowd the fryer because the temperature of the oil will drop down too drastically and it just won’t fry the way it should. You start with 375 degrees, but once the 4 pieces of chicken are added, it will drop down to between 350 and 365 degrees, which is ideal. I always know when the chicken is ready to come out of the oil when it gets “quiet” in the fryer and is a beautiful caramel brown color and kinda floating to the top of the oil.
  6. Drain and repeat until each piece is fried.

For the Yeast Waffles:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the milk, ½ cup melted butter, flour, yeast, eggs, agave or honey, salt, sugar and whisk until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand until the batter is very puffy, about 2 hours at room temperature (or refrigerate overnight).
  2. Preheat the oven to 250°. Preheat a waffle iron and brush it with melted butter, or use a butter flavored non-stick spray. Gently stir the batter to deflate it. For each batch, fill the waffle iron about two-thirds full (the batter will spread and rise); brush the waffle iron with melted butter as needed.
  3. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Transfer the waffles immediately from the iron to plates, or keep them warm in the oven. Serve the waffles with softened butter, bourbon maple syrup and fried chicken.

For the Bourbon Maple Syrup:

  1. In a small pot, pour in all ingredients and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, while stirring to dissolve the brown sugar.
  2. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and allow mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes. The syrup will reduce a little and the alcohol will burn off, leaving nothing but flavor behind.
  3. Turn off the heat but leave the pot on the stove. The mixture will cool down slowly and thicken/caramelize. Just stir it around with a spoon if you need to. While it’s still warm, pour over your waffles and enjoy.

Notes

Don’t overcrowd your fryer or pot when frying because it will cause the temperature of the oil to drop down drastically and leave you with soggy chicken. Giving the chicken a good 10 to 20 minutes to chill out in the fridge also helps most of the coating stay on while it’s being fried.

  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Category: Brunch
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken and waffles, fried chicken, waffles, brunch

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Recipe rating

  1. Miriam says:

    Love your writing style!! This recipe is exactly what I was looking for – thank you!!!

  2. Nicole says:

    Where did you purchase your waffle iron? Did you use a cast iron skillet to cook the chicken or a cast iron pot?

  3. Meka says:

    First thank you for sharing you recipes. Second, so for the long post. –>Question…on Friday 1/9 I will be preparing brunch for my mom’s surprise 60th Bday for 32 people (16 half waffles) and wanted to use your recipe. I tried using my inlaws tonight and well…we will just leave it at that. Nonetheless, I multiplied the recipe by 4 with hopes of gaining the same out come. (5c milk, 2c butter, 10c flour, 4TBSP yeast, 8 LG eggs, 8 tsp Honey, 4 tsp salt, 8TBSP sugar) If you could let me know if this looks about right I’d really appreciate it. Thank you, again!

  4. Shauna says:

    Looks amaze! Can your fried chicken recipe be used with boneless chicken? Thanks for the great blog!

  5. Jen says:

    Just came across this blog, and it’s so great!!! Everything looks amazeballs!!!!!! Can’t wait to try this recipe.

  6. Keli' says:

    Just wanted to say THANK YOU cause I am definitely beefing up my culinary skills with your recipes (my husband thanks and loves you too! LoL). I’ve never had a solid fried chicken recipe and am definitely trying yours…was just wondering what kind of deep fryer you have??

  7. Geoff says:

    I made this last night and it’s possibly the best meal I’ve ever had in my life and I’ve eaten in Michelin-starred restaurants and other fine restaurants around the world. I never post to blogs but I had to share that. Thanks for an awesome recipe that changed my culinary life!!!! 🙂

    • Resha says:

      I dunno if it’s just because I’m a girl, but this comment almost made me cry tears of joy. I’m so serious. I’m really flattered and so happy you enjoyed the dish. Hugs and kisses to you 🙂

  8. Danielle says:

    If you leave the yeast out of the recipe is the mixture ready immediately?

  9. […] is by far my favorite waffle recipe — ever. They’re a lot less fussy than the yeast waffles I made with my fried chicken a while back, so you absolutely have to make these. They’re too […]

  10. Manuel says:

    Do you always use Grade A Medium Amber syrup to cook with? Would you prefer that over Dark Amber?

  11. AmazonianOne says:

    Haven’t master fried chicken yet. Definately gonna try it your way. This looks hella good!

  12. poi says:

    this looks so good OMG im going to make it! lets hope i dont set my apt on fire with the frying of the chicken lol

  13. FawnRenee says:

    I think you are ah-mazing, woman. That is all. Thanks for sharing your gift.

  14. DatGiDamnKira says:

    Somehow I ran into your site’s link on Twitter…and baybeeeee… I am in love with everything! I guess I’m on my way to keeping a man afterall! -smiles really big- Thanks for sharing!

  15. Paulette says:

    This is CRAZY. I have a confession to make. I know I can cook, but sister girl, you Burn the hell out of that chicken and waffle. I just can’t believe this.
    You need your very own resturant.

    Crazy, just crazy. Thumbs Up all the way.

  16. Hannah says:

    This looks absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to try it. I have one question, did you sprinkle a little powdered sugar over the waffles?

  17. marie says:

    i hate you. *rolls into fetal position & weeps*