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!
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 763kcal
Equipment
- Waffle Maker
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
Waffles
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup milk
- 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.4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs, salt and black pepper to taste, 1 cup buttermilk
- 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.½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 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.1.5 cups all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 cup milk
- 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.cooking spray
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.2 tablespoons butter, ½ cup maple syrup, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder
Assembly
- Serve 1-2 waffles with 1-2 pieces of chicken and pour maple butter sauce on top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use boneless thighs or tenders to speed things up; just reduce the air fryer time.
- No waffle maker? Toast frozen waffles or use toasted brioche in a pinch.
- Spray the chicken with oil and don’t crowd the basket.
- Leftovers keep for 2–3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the air fryer to keep everything crispy.
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
