Air Fryer Nashville-Style Hot Chicken and Waffles

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Enjoy this brunch favorite at home! Spicy cayenne maple syrup makes the perfect topping for air-fried crispy chicken thighs and homemade cinnamon waffles.

About a year ago I developed this Nashville-Style hot chicken recipe and it came out so good, the perfect mix of spicy, sweet and crispy. My boyfriend loves getting chicken and waffles at brunch, so I decided to recreate it at home while we're in quarantine.

I mean who doesn't like fried chicken?! Using the air fryer for this recipe cuts down on the oil used and makes this recipe a tiny bit healthier than traditional chicken and waffles. Just look at how crispy the chicken is! You will love it.

Jump to:

• Equipment
• Alternative Cooking Method
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Toppings
• Storage
• Recipe

Equipment

I use the 6qt. air fryer from Nuwave and love it, it works really well. Honestly, I was skeptical when I purchased this, wondering if it was worth space it took up in my apartment that has no storage. I can say it was 100% worth it, I use it at least once a week, if not more.

For the waffles, I used a mini waffle maker I got at Target. It makes the cutest waffles, is cheap and takes up no space when stored. Of course, you can use any waffle maker for this recipe.

Alternative Cooking Method

If you don't have an air fryer, you can also make this recipe in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake on a baking sheet for 20-30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

Ingredients

What you need for the chicken:

• Chicken thighs- you want bone-in, skin on chicken for this recipe.
• Milk- I used oat milk because it's what I had on hand, but any non-dairy, dairy milk or buttermilk will work.
• Flour- all-purpose flour, gluten-free flour, either will be great.
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Chili powder
• Thyme
• Cayenne

What you need for the waffles:

• Flour- I used all-purpose, but use gluten-free if necessary.
• Baking powder
• Cinnamon
• Eggs
• Maple syrup
• Milk

What you need for the maple butter saue:

• Butter
• Maple syrup
• Cayenne pepper
• Chili powder

Instructions

Chicken

1. Marinate or brine chicken in salt, pepper and milk for at least 1 hour, but preferably overnight.
2. Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
3. Mix flour and spices in a medium-sized bowl or container, then dip a piece of chicken in the flour mixture, making sure it is coated on all sides.
4. Air fry for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through (time depends on your individual air fryer).

Waffles

1. Add all waffle ingredients to a large bowl and whisk until combined and batter is smooth.
2. Preheat waffle maker and once ready, spray with cooking spray. Add about ¼-1/3 cup of waffle mix to the waffle maker (depending on the size of your waffle maker) and cook until slightly browned on both sides.

Maple Butter Sauce

1. Add butter, maple syrup and spices to a small saucepan and heat on medium-low until butter is melted, stirring to combine. Turn off heat.

Assembly

1. Serve 1-2 waffles with 1-2 pieces of chicken and pour maple butter sauce on top. Enjoy!

Toppings

I highly recommend the maple butter sauce recipe but you can use regular maple syrup if you prefer.

You can also make your own hot honey by combining honey with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes or buy pre-made hot honey.

Storage

The chicken can be stored in the fridge for a few days and reheated in the air fryer or oven to maintain crispiness. Waffles can be stored in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for a few months, similar to store-bought waffles.

Other Breakfast and Brunch Recipes:

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes

Healthy Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Gluten-Free Oat Flour Honey Olive Oil Cake

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Recipe