Waffle and Fried Chicken Plate with Maple Hot Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-11 · Updated 2026-05-11

Golden waffles paired with crispy fried chicken and drizzled with a spicy maple hot sauce, bringing together savory, sweet, and heat in a classic Southern brunch favorite. This Southern American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, combines all-purpose flour (waffles), baking powder, sugar (waffles) 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 6, 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

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (waffles)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp sugar (waffles)
• 1/2 tsp salt (waffles)
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (waffles)
• 2 large egg (waffles)
• 6 chicken thighs, bone-in skin-on
• 2 cups buttermilk (for chicken marinade)
• 2 tbsp hot sauce (for marinade)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (for dredging chicken)
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt (chicken dredge)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper (chicken dredge)
• 3 cups vegetable oil (for frying chicken)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp hot sauce (for maple hot sauce)

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tbsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt for the waffles. In another bowl, beat 2 large eggs with 1 3/4 cups milk and 1/4 cup vegetable oil.
2. Step 2: Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until just combined; do not overmix. Preheat your waffle iron and cook the batter in batches until golden and crisp.
3. Step 3: Meanwhile, marinate 6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs in a mixture of 2 cups buttermilk and 2 tbsp hot sauce for at least 2 hours or overnight in the fridge.
4. Step 4: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off, then dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour.
5. Step 5: Heat 3 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F. Fry chicken thighs for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the crust is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on paper towels.
6. Step 6: To make the maple hot sauce, mix 1/4 cup maple syrup with 1 tbsp hot sauce in a small bowl.
7. Step 7: Serve the fried chicken on a plate with waffles on the side. Drizzle the maple hot sauce over the chicken and waffles for a sweet and spicy finish.