These Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles are golden, crunchy, and perfectly paired for breakfast or brunch. Whether you’re using a homemade waffle and chicken from scratch or cooking frozen favorites, this recipe delivers a quick, foolproof meal with maximum flavor.
If you love crispy chicken and fluffy waffles, this recipe is about to become your new go-to brunch or dinner favorite. We’re showing you two easy ways to make it in the air fryer—one from scratch for that homemade touch, and one using frozen chicken and waffles when you’re short on time.
Both methods deliver golden, crunchy chicken paired with perfectly cooked waffles, making every bite irresistible.
Whether it’s a weekend treat or a quick weeknight meal, this recipe proves you don’t need a restaurant to enjoy this classic comfort food combo.
More Easy Air Fryer Waffle Recipes
How To Make Homemade Waffles In Air Fryer (Crispy From-Scratch Recipe)
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Easy First Watch Waffle Recipe
Air Fryer Breakfast Pizza Waffles
There’s just something different about Southern food– it’s hearty and wholesome in every bite. I’m absolutely in love with my Cracker Barrel Southern fried chicken, Air Fryer Southern style shrimp and Southern deviled eggs.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Crispy and flavorful: Air frying gets the chicken to have that perfect crispness and crunchiness on the outside.
- Quick recipe: It takes less than 20 minutes to make the perfect flavorful and crunchy chicken.
- Versatile: The recipe is super versatile- there’s lots of ways you can enjoy it. You can also play around with the mix-ins and seasonings to give it a different flavor.
- Easy cleanup: It’s an easy, mess-free cooking method in contrast to deep frying, which creates all those oil splatters that are a task to clean up.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken: Choose any cut of chicken you prefer. Chicken breasts and thighs are perfect, but you could use chicken tenders too, if that’s what you have at hand.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is the base of the marinade. It is what tenderizes the chicken, making it soft and juicy, and also lends a lot of moisture to it.
- Flour: All purpose flour is perfect. It gives the chicken that nice and crispy exterior when air fried.
- Seasonings: I used a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, white pepper, black pepper, dried basil, dried oregano and kosher salt to marinate the chicken.
- Hot sauce: This one’s optional, but I highly recommend it. It lends an amazing kick of heat to the chicken.
- Egg: To help the coating stick to the chicken, and also to keep the chicken moist.
- Cornstarch: To help crisp up the coating.
- Frozen waffles: I used frozen waffles, because they’re perfect to put together quickly, when I’m in a time crunch. You can scratch-make the waffles if you want to. Refer to my post about how to air fry frozen waffles to make it easier.
- Buttermilk waffles mix: Use this if you’re looking to make waffles from scratch, and don’t prefer frozen waffles.
Variations & Substitutions
- To make gluten-free chicken and waffles, swap the all purpose flour for gluten-free flour and use gluten-free waffles.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, just add some pickle juice or the juice of half a lemon into some milk, and use this mixture to marinate the chicken.
- To get a super crunchy exterior on the chicken, you can do a double dredge too!
- Another great idea to get a nice bit of crunch on the chicken is to add a bit of baking soda to the flour mixture.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles
Step One: In a bowl, combine all the spices and olive oil and give it a mix. Now add the chicken and use your hands to coat all the chicken pieces nicely in the marinade. Set this aside.
Step Two: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt and pepper.
Step Three: In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, hot sauce, eggs and some water.
Step Four: Dip the marinated chicken into the flour mixture and ensure that it is well coated. Shake off the excess. Now dip it in the buttermilk mixture and recoat it in the flour mixture.
Step Five: Transfer the coated chicken to the Air Fryer basket in a single layer, and generously spray olive oil spray over the chicken on both sides, and also inside the Air Fryer basket. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and serve with waffles
Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles Recipe Tips
- Top the chicken with a drizzle of hot honey, maple syrup or some hot sauce to give it a bit of extra flavor. I love topping it with some of my nacho cheese sauce or Hooters chicken wing sauce.
- Allow the chicken to marinate in the buttermilk for at least 30 minutes, ideally overnight. This helps it soak up all those delicious flavors and also gets it nice and tender.
- Make sure you preheat the Air Fryer before adding the chicken in. This helps the chicken cook quickly and have that perfect crispiness on the outside.
- Flip the chicken over halfway during the cooking time. Also remember to cook in batches and avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer basket.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes once it is out of the Air Fryer. This helps it soak up all the juices, and you’ll get the perfect moist chicken.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigeration: If you have some leftovers, allow them to cool down and transfer them to airtight containers. Store the chicken and waffles separately, and they should stay fresh for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: This dish is freezer-friendly too! You can store both the chicken and the waffles in the freezer, and they should last for up to 3 months. Just use freezer-safe bags or containers to prevent freezer burn.
- Reheating: You can reheat the chicken and waffles in the Air Fryer or the microwave.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
I love serving these chicken and waffles with my Instant Pot cheesy grits or some classic Mac and cheese. You could also pair them with some Instant Pot collard greens, creamy mashed potatoes and Air Fryer potato salad.
And of course, you can always enjoy them as-is. They’re absolutely delightful on their own too!
Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles Recipe Faqs
How will I know the chicken is done cooking? The easiest way to check if the chicken (or any kind of meat that you’re cooking) is done, is to check its internal temperature using a meat thermometer. If the thermometer reads 165 degrees, it is cooked.
Which cut of chicken is the best for this recipe? I would highly recommend using boneless chicken thighs or breasts to make the Air Fryer chicken and waffles. They have the perfect meatiness and are affordable too.
Can I make chicken and waffles in the oven? You can! It should take about 20 minutes for the chicken to cook in the oven preheated to 400 degrees.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Croque Madame Sandwiches
- Air Fryer Eggs Benedict
- The Easiest Air Fryer Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Don’t Forget To Pin!
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Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken and Waffles (2 Ways: From Scratch or Frozen)
Description
Ingredients
Buttermilk Brine:
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 2-3 tablespons hot sauce, optional
Flour Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Ingredients Needed For Homemade Air Fryer Waffles
- 2 cups Waffle Batter
Ingredients For the Mix–Per your mix, every box is different
Ingredients Needed For Frozen Air Fryer Waffles
- 1 package frozen waffles
Ingredients Needed For Chicken:
- 1 pound chicken, thighs or legs
Instructions
How to Prepare Fried Chicken:
- In a small bowl, mix all of the spices.
- Add the olive oil into the spice mixture.
- Use your hands and rub the spices and olive oil into the chicken.
- In another small mixing bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. (about a teaspoon each)
- Then in another mixing bowl, add the eggs, hot sauce, water, and buttermilk. Mix well.
- Dredge the chicken into the flour mixture, use your hands to really coat the chicken.
- Then shake the excess off.
- Soak the chicken in the buttermilk mixture.
- Then recoat it in the flour mixture
- Spray your basket with olive oil spray.
- As you coat the chicken for the second time, place it in the air fryer basket.
- Then GENEROUSLY spray the chicken with olive oil (this helps it crisp up)
- Set the temperature to 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
How to Prepare Air Fryer Homemade Waffles
- Start by making your waffle mix, as directed on the box.
- Then spray your mold with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil spray.
- Fill your mold (I found it easier after my 1st batch) to put the mold directly on the baking sheet, so it wouldn’t spill while moving it.
- Put the tray into the air fryer oven, and set the temperature to 330 degrees F for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, check and add about 3-4 minutes more.
How to Prepare Air Fryer Homemade Waffles
- Start by placing your frozen waffles into the air fryer.
- Use a pastry brush and spread the melted butter over the frozen waffles.
- Set them into the air fryer and set the temperature to 350 degrees for 4-6 minutes. (air fryer setting)
- Plate, serve, and enjoy!
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Notes
Nutrition
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