Waffle Sandwich with Fried Chicken and Maple Hot Sauce

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

A layered waffle sandwich featuring crispy fried chicken paired with a spicy-sweet maple hot sauce for a delicious Memphis diner-inspired brunch or dinner. This american-inspired chicken ready in about 50 minutes combines all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder 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 650 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

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup melted, divided unsalted butter
• 4 pieces (6 oz each) boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 tsp, divided salt

Instructions

1. Step 1: To make the waffles, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp baking powder, and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, beat 2 large eggs with 1 3/4 cups milk and 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir just until combined; batter will be slightly lumpy.
3. Step 3: Preheat your waffle iron and brush with remaining 1/4 cup melted butter. Pour batter into the iron and cook waffles according to manufacturer’s instructions until golden and crisp, about 4-5 minutes. Keep waffles warm.
4. Step 4: For the fried chicken, marinate 4 boneless chicken thighs in 1 cup buttermilk with 1 tsp salt for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
5. Step 5: In a shallow dish, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt. Remove chicken from marinade, dredge in seasoned flour mixture, pressing to coat well.
6. Step 6: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat to 350°F. Fry chicken thighs for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on paper towels.
7. Step 7: For the maple hot sauce, whisk together 1/4 cup hot sauce and 3 tbsp maple syrup in a small bowl.
8. Step 8: Assemble the sandwich by placing one waffle on a plate, topping with a fried chicken thigh, drizzling with 2 tbsp maple hot sauce, and topping with another waffle. Serve immediately while warm.