Sweet n Spicy Chicken and Waffles
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Pop the bubbly and gather your friends for a memorable brunch featuring sweet and spicy chicken and waffles. This elevated take on the classic pairs crispy, flavorful chicken with soft, golden waffles for the perfect balance of heat and sweetness. Ideal for weekend brunches or special occasions, this chicken and waffles recipe is bold, comforting, and guaranteed to be a crowd favorite.
Why You’ll Love Sweet n Spicy Chicken and Waffles
- Perfect sweet and savory balance with crispy chicken and soft, golden waffles
- Just the right amount of heat without overpowering the dish
- Great for brunch, dinner, or special weekend meals
- Feels indulgent but still approachable and comforting
- A crowd-pleasing recipe that always gets people talking
Ingredients Needed To Make Sweet n Spicy Chicken and Waffles
- Chicken tenders
- Milk
- Hot sauce
- Kosher salt
- Pretzels
- Pecans
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Waffle mix and ingredients needed to prepare it
- Orange zest and juice
- Honey
How To Make Sweet n Spicy Chicken and Waffles
- Marinate the chicken tenders in milk, hot sauce, and salt to build flavor and tenderness.
- Pulse pretzels and pecans until finely crushed, then coat the marinated chicken evenly.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet and fry the chicken until golden brown and crispy.
- Prepare the waffles according to package directions, mixing in orange zest, orange juice, pecans, and honey.
- Serve the crispy chicken over warm waffles and finish with your favorite sweet or spicy toppings.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make the chicken ahead of time?
Yes. The chicken can be fried ahead and reheated in the oven to keep it crispy.
What kind of waffles work best?
Classic waffles work great, but any waffle you love will pair well with the sweet and spicy chicken.
Is this recipe very spicy?
It has a gentle heat that balances with the sweetness, but you can easily adjust the spice level to your liking.
Can I bake the chicken instead of frying?
Yes. Baking works, though frying gives the crispiest texture.
What toppings go well with this dish?
Honey, maple syrup, hot honey, or even a drizzle of extra hot sauce all work well.
Sweet n Spicy Chicken and Waffles
Equipment
- 2 shallow bowls
- 1 Waffle maker
Ingredients
Pretzel Fried Chicken
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp hot Sauce
- 2 tsp kosher salt, divided
- 2 cups pretzels
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1-2 cups vegetable oil Should have 1" in the bottom of your skillet
Gluten Free Waffles
- waffle mix plus the ingredients to make them
- juice and zest of 1 orange
- 1/3 cup pecans, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
Pretzel Fried Chicken
- Add your pretzels and pecans to a food processor. Pulse until they form a fine, sandy crumb. Pour the crumb mixture into a shallow dish.
- Add the milk, 1 tsp of kosher salt, and hot sauce to another shallow dish and whisk to combine.
- Add the chicken tenders into the milk mixture and toss so they are all coated. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the milk mixture and add it to the pretzel mixture. Make sure they are fully coated.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Carefully add the chicken tenders into the hot oil, careful not to crowd. You can fry in batches.
- Cook each side for about 3 minutes before flipping, allowing them to get golden brown.
- When they are golden and the internal temperature is 165 degrees, remove them to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
- Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp kosher salt.
Waffles
- Mix your waffles according to the package directions with the addition of the orange juice and zest, honey, and pecans.
- Cook your waffles.
- To build your Sweet n Spicy Chicken and Waffles add crispy fried chicken to the top of a waffle. Drizzle on extra hot sauce.
- Enjoy!
