Get out the mini waffles, add fried chicken, spicy sauce, maple syrup, and briny pickles and you have pretty much the best party app ever.

Spicy buttermilk chicken and waffle bites: Inspired by the Academy Awards Best Picture nominated film, Fences.

Here’s a spin on chicken and waffles: A bite-sized take on the American favorite, with a mini waffle, topped with a crunchy buttermilk chicken bite, a tangy-sweet-spicy sauce, and a briny pickle on top.

This is a GREAT recipe for a party if you have a bit of time to prep.

Spicy buttermilk chicken and waffle bites: A perfect party appetizer (shortcut ideas included!)

About The Recipe: Buttermilk Fried Chicken And Waffle Bites

These appetizer bites are full of great flavors:

  • Crispy mini waffle base
  • A drizzle of maple syrup
  • Buttermilk fried chicken
  • Spicy sriracha mayonnaise
  • A bread and butter pickle on top

Each bite has crunch, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors.

Spicy buttermilk chicken and waffle bites: With a touch of maple syrup and a spicy sriracha mayonnaise. These flavors compliment each other perfectly!

Although I recommend making the chicken yourself (it was my first time making buttermilk fried chicken and it wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated), you can buy ready-made chicken tenders and cut them into bite-sized pieces. I’m all about shortcuts when you’re throwing a party!

Love fried chicken? Check out this Cholula hot chicken.

Other Academy-Award Inspired Recipes

Spicy buttermilk chicken and waffle bites: A perfect party appetizer (shortcut ideas included!)

Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffle Bites

Yield: Serves 8
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Short on time? Want the super simple version of this recipe? Purchase fried chicken strips instead of making them from scratch.

 

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Canola or vegetable oil, for frying (enough to submerge chicken in... 1 to 2 cups for a small pan)
  • 1 package mini frozen waffles (I used Udi's Gluten Free mini waffles)
  • Bread and butter pickles
  • Maple syrup
  • Sriracha mayonnaise (2 parts mayonnaise to 1 part sriracha sauce)

Instructions

  1. Marinade chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half the long way, and cut each half into approximately 9 pieces. You want chicken nugget-size pieces of chicken. Combine chicken pieces with buttermilk and spices, and place in a zip-lock bag. Marinade in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
  2. Fry chicken: Remove chicken pieces from buttermilk marinade. In one bowl, beat egg and buttermilk; add half the spices. In another bowl, combine flour with the remaining spices. Heat oil over high heat. You'll know that the chicken is ready to fry when it sizzles when dipped in the oil.
  3. Take one piece of chicken, dip it in the egg mixture, and then dip it in the flour mixture. Place chicken into the hot oil and fry for about 2 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Fry 4 or 5 pieces of chicken at the same time. Repeat until all the chicken is fried. Place fried chicken on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. If you aren't immediately assembling the waffle bites, keep chicken warm in a 300-degree oven.
  4. Assemble waffle bites: Toast mini waffles according to package directions. Drizzle a small amount of maple syrup on waffles. Top each waffle with a piece of fried chicken. Drizzle with sriracha mayonnaise. Top with a pickle and serve.

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