Enjoy Nashville-Style Hot Chicken and Waffles from the comfort of your own home! The spicy chicken thighs are made hot and crispy in the air fryer, then served over homemade buttermilk waffles and drizzled with maple butter sauce. You'll be sorry you didn't try air fryer fried chicken sooner!
In 2019, I developed this Nashville-Style hot chicken recipe and it came out so good. The perfect mix of spicy, sweet and crispy. My fiance loves getting chicken and waffles at brunch, so I decided to recreate it at home.
If you love classic breakfast foods, be sure to try my Oat Flour Pancakes, Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes, Blueberry Waffle Recipe, and Brioche French Toast Casserole.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Ultimate soul food brunch. Bring restaurant-quality hot Nashville chicken home to you using your air fryer and waffle maker. It's so easy to make, you'll be craving these spicy air fryer chicken and waffles every weekend.
- Only 11 ingredients. It may seem overwhelming and complicated to make homemade waffles, air fryer Nashville hot chicken and homemade maple butter sauce, but it's made with minimal ingredients - many of which you probably already have in the kitchen right now.
- Amazing for hosting guests. Nothing impresses better than Southern fried chicken and waffles. Try this spicy air fryer recipe for holiday brunch, birthdays, celebrations, and breakfast for dinner.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Chicken Ingredients
- Flour - I typically use all-purpose flour when making air fryer Nashville Hot Chicken, but if needed, you can use an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend.
- Chicken - You'll want to use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs for the best chicken and waffles.
- Buttermilk - Buttermilk is a classic when brining fried chicken. If needed or preferred, you can use another milk of choice.
- Spices - A simple blend of salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne and paprika makes this chicken perfectly spicy.
Waffle Ingredients
- Flour - Just like with the chicken, you can use gluten-free all-purpose flour if needed or preferred.
- Maple syrup - Naturally sweetens the homemade waffles. You can use another liquid sweetener like agave nectar or honey.
- Eggs - Eggs are used as a binder in these buttermilk waffles and help keep the waffles soft and fluffy.
- Spices - I like to use cinnamon, chili powder and cayenne to make a sweet and spicy homemade maple butter sauce. Adjust the amount of chili powder and cayenne to adjust the heat.
Variations
- Use air fryer Eggo waffles! If you don't have a waffle maker or simply want a quick shortcut, serve your Nashville hot chicken over the classic freezer Eggo waffles. Follow this super easy recipe to learn how to make Eggo waffles in the air fryer.
- Oven-baked fried chicken option. If you don't have an air fryer, you can also make the Nashville hot chicken 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.
- Substitute chicken tenders for a boneless chicken option! Try making my Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with the spices and flour for easy chicken tenders and waffles.
- Maple Butter Sauce substitutions. I highly recommend using my maple butter sauce, but you can substitute regular maple syrup or a simple homemade hot honey. You can also buy pre-made hot honey.
- Make gluten-free chicken and waffles. This spicy Nashville hot chicken and waffles recipe can be made completely gluten-free. Simply swap the all-purpose flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour. I have not tested this recipe with other gluten-free flours such as almond flour, cassava flour, or oat flour and cannot recommend.
Instructions
How to Make the Nashville Hot Chicken
- Marinate the chicken. Marinate or brine chicken in salt, pepper and milk for at least 1 hour, but preferably overnight.
- Dip the chicken in flour and spices. After the chicken has marinated sufficiently, dip the chicken in the flour mixture, making sure it is coated on all sides.
- Air fry the Nashville hot chicken. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F, flipping halfway through.
How to Make Homemade Buttermilk Waffles
- Add all waffle ingredients to a large bowl. This includes all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, eggs, maple syrup, buttermilk (or milk of choice), and cooking spray.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Add ¼-1/3 cup batter to waffle maker. Preheat waffle maker and once ready, spray generously with cooking spray. Add buttermilk waffle batter to the waffle maker and cook until slightly browned on both sides. Continue until all of the mix has been used.
Recipe FAQs
Is air fryer fried chicken healthy?
Air fryer fried chicken is healthier in the sense that it's made with significantly less oil! It's also low in sodium and is a great alternative to classic fried chicken.
Can I make air fryer fried chicken without buttermilk?
Yes, you can brine the chicken in any milk you prefer.
Do you put syrup on chicken and waffles?
Yes! I highly recommend my spicy maple butter sauce, but your favorite syrup or honey will do.
Top Tips
- Spray the chicken with oil to make it extra crispy! Some air fryers will have difficulty getting the chicken that beautiful color and crispiness fried chicken is famous for. If when you flip the chicken it is not appearing to brown at all, generously spray both sides of the chicken with cooking spray. This will help it brown easily!
- Space the chicken thighs so they aren't touching. If the chicken is touching or overlapping in any way, it will not get completely crispy.
- Use skin-on chicken. If you use skinless chicken thighs, the flour and spices will have difficulty sticking to the meat and therefore will not be as breaded or crispy.
- Timing is going to need to be adjusted according to your air fryer model. I use the 14qt. air fryer from Nuwave and love it, it works really well. I use it to make tons of healthy air fryer recipes. I can even cook an entire Rotisserie Chicken in it. The timing for this air fryer fried chicken is what works for my air fryer. Use it as a guide for your own, but don't be afraid to cook longer as needed.
Storage
- How to store leftovers: All components of this chicken and waffles recipe can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- How to reheat Nashville hot chicken: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F, then place the chicken in the air fryer basket and air fry for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until hot and crispy again.
- How to reheat buttermilk waffles: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F, then place the waffles in the air fryer basket and air fry for 1-2 minutes.
- How to freeze waffles: Place the waffles on a parchment-lined baking sheet and stick them in the freezer to flash freeze. Once frozen solid, about 2 hours, transfer the frozen waffles to a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the toaster, similar to store-bought waffles.
Serving Suggestions
More Breakfast and Brunch Recipes to Try
🍳Recipe
Air-Fried Hot Chicken and Waffles
Enjoy Nashville-Style Hot Chicken and Waffles from the comfort of your own home! The spicy chicken thighs are made hot and crispy in the air fryer, then served over homemade buttermilk waffles and drizzled with maple butter sauce. You'll be sorry you didn't try air fryer fried chicken sooner!
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Servings: Servings
Calories: 763kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound chicken thighs, bone-in skin on
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup milk of choice, optional to use buttermilk
- ½ cup all-purpose flour, or gluten-free (if needed)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
Waffles
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, or gluten-free (if needed)
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup milk of choice
- cooking spray
Maple Butter Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
Chicken
- Marinate or brine chicken in salt, pepper and milk for at least 1 hour, but preferably overnight. Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
- Mix flour and spices in a medium-sized bowl, then dip a piece of chicken in the flour mixture making sure it is coated on all sides.
- Place chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through (time depends on your individual air fryer, check to ensure it isn't burnt and internal temperature is 165 degrees F).
Waffles
- Add all waffle ingredients to a large bowl and whisk until combined and batter is smooth.
- Preheat waffle maker and once ready, spray with cooking spray. Add about ¼-1/3 cup of waffle mix to the waffle maker and cook until slightly browned on both sides. Continue until all of the mix has been used.
Maple Butter Sauce
- 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
- Serve 1-2 waffles with 1-2 pieces of chicken and pour maple butter sauce on top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Spray the chicken with oil to make it extra crispy! Some air fryers will have difficulty getting the chicken that beautiful color and crispiness fried chicken is famous for. If when you flip the chicken it is not appearing to brown at all, generously spray both sides of the chicken with cooking spray. This will help it brown easily!
- Space the chicken thighs so they aren't touching. If the chicken is touching or overlapping in any way, it will not get completely crispy.
- Use skin-on chicken. If you use skinless chicken thighs, the flour and spices will have difficulty sticking to the meat and therefore will not be as breaded or crispy.
- Timing is going to need to be adjusted according to your air fryer model. I use the 14qt. air fryer from Nuwave and love it, it works really well. I use it to make tons of healthy air fryer recipes. I can even cook an entire Rotisserie Chicken in it. The timing for this air fryer fried chicken is what works for my air fryer. Use it as a guide for your own, but don't be afraid to cook longer as needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 763kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 263mg | Sodium: 819mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 31g
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Did you make this?Tag me @realfoodwithsarah I love seeing what you made!
Rate RecipeLet me know how this recipe turned out! Leave a comment
D Jenkins says
So my husband tells me the other day it's "waffle day". Of course I had not planned for waffles for dinner but found this recipe and had to make due with what I had on hand.
I made the waffles using Trader Joe's gluten free flour mix. I cut the recipe in half and left out the cinnamon due to food allergies, but these still turned out nice and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.
I had a rotisserie chicken that I sprinkled the spices on and just crisped it up in my air fryer, not exactly what was called for in the recipe but we still enjoyed it.
The spicy syrup was great. I would use a little more cayenne to make it a little hotter.
Sarah Holt says
Thanks for the kind words, really happy you enjoyed the waffles and the syrup! Always an option to add extra spice if you want 🙂
Patty says
It was probably my air fryer - which is a Ninja - but these chicken pieces were white and dry. They never browned and were definitely not juicy at all. I had to oil up a fry pan and grill them fast for color and some attempt at moistness because my party guests were arriving. This is not a recipe I will try again - many others turn out much better. Apologies, but thumbs down for me.
Sarah Holt says
Hi Patty, I tried reaching out to you via email. I would love to help you troubleshoot and find out what went wrong. Would you mind sharing the air fryer model you used, the temperature you cooked the chicken at and the cut of chicken you used?
Erika says
Hot chicken sandwiches are one of my favorites. I can never get enough spicy food! This chicken has the perfect amount of spice and is so delicious.
Sarah Holt says
Thanks Erika! I love anything spicy
Beth says
I love my air fryer! Can't wait to try these chicken and waffles! The combination of flavors is so intriguing!
Sarah Holt says
I love my air fryer too!
Laura says
I can't believe how crispy the chicken comes out in the air fryer. It's so much easier to make and way less splatter!
Sarah Holt says
So much easier in the air fryer! So perfectly crispy
Erica Schwarz says
I was literally wondering yesterday if I could fry chicken in the air fryer. So excited to give your recipe a try - I LOVE chicken and waffles.
Sarah Holt says
you can fry almost anything in the air fryer!
Katherine says
This is such a flavor bomb, with crispy air fried chicken on cinnamon waffles. Cinnamon is a genius addition.
Sarah Holt says
I love cinnamon, always add it when I can!