Buttermilk-Brined Fried Chicken with Spiced Waffles

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-11 · Updated 2026-05-11

Juicy fried chicken brined in buttermilk for tenderness, paired with crisp yet tender waffles enhanced by warm spices, creating a savory and sweet Southern dinner. This southern-inspired chicken ready in about 510 minutes combines bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks, buttermilk, divided salt into a breakfast that fuels the morning without the midday crash — make-ahead-friendly and balanced enough to anchor the first meal of the day. Each serving lands at about 750 calories and feeds 4, so it sits comfortably in a weekly breakfast rotation alongside fruit, yogurt, or coffee. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 8 pieces bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks
• 4 cups buttermilk
• 3 tbsp, divided salt
• 2 tsp, divided black pepper
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 cups, for frying vegetable oil
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (for waffles)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 6 tbsp, melted unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 4 cups buttermilk, 2 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Submerge 8 bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks in the brine, cover, and refrigerate for 6-8 hours to tenderize.
2. Step 2: Remove chicken from brine and pat dry. In a shallow dish, mix 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Dredge each piece of chicken in the seasoned flour, pressing to coat thoroughly.
3. Step 3: Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F. Fry chicken in batches for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on paper towels.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, preheat waffle iron. In a large bowl, whisk 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg. In another bowl, beat 2 eggs, 1 3/4 cups milk, 6 tbsp melted unsalted butter, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until just combined.
5. Step 5: Cook waffles in the preheated waffle iron until golden and crisp, about 4-5 minutes per waffle.
6. Step 6: Serve the buttermilk-brined fried chicken atop the spiced waffles for a comforting and flavorful Southern-inspired dinner.