Crispy fried chicken and waffles are an iconic Southern dish served for breakfast, brunch, and supper, typically drizzled with maple syrup or honey. Serve this shortcut mini version of chicken and waffles for game day and as a last minute appetizer for parties with the kick of hot honey!
This 3-ingredient, 15-minute recipe starts with chicken nuggets and frozen waffles you may already have in your freezer.
This creative, sweet and savory appetizer will appeal to all ages. Kids can help assemble them although they may prefer pancake breakfast syrup to the hot honey.
Homemade Hot Honey is easy to make yourself, but the shortcut version is now sold at larger grocery stores. Mike's is the brand I've seen the most. It's fun to drizzle the slightly spicy honey over the chicken right in front of your guests for the "Wow" effect!
Shortcuts
- No battering, dredging or frying of chicken pieces.
- An air fryer heats up the chicken quickly while the waffles brown in a toaster. You can also heat both the chicken nuggets and waffles in the oven on a baking sheet.
- Chicken nuggets and frozen waffles are staple freezer ingredients in many homes. If not, they are easily available and store in the freezer over a month.
- If you don't want to make your own hot honey, it's convenient to buy it. It's sold online and next to the honey in grocery stores.
Ingredients
Scroll down to printable recipe for ingredient quantities.
- Bite-size chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken
- 24 mini waffles (I used Eggo)
- Hot honey (honey, maple syrup, breakfast syrup, agave syrup)
Tip: If you can't find mini frozen waffles, you can make your own or purchase regular size waffles. Cut each square into 4 squares and they are the perfect size.
Can I make my own mini waffles?
Yes. You don't need a mini waffle iron. To make your own round, mini waffles, prepare waffle or pancake mix according to package directions. Spoon batter by about 1 tablespoonfuls or so onto a hot waffle iron. Close the lid and cook just until browned.
How to make Mini Chicken and Waffles
For complete, detailed directions scroll down for the printable recipe.
- Cook chicken nuggets in an air fryer, oven, or toaster oven.
- Toast the frozen waffles in a toaster, toaster oven, or air fryer if it has a toasting feature.
- Place chicken nuggets on the waffles and secure with a wooden pick or decorative party pick.
- Drizzle with my Shortcut Hot Honey, honey, or maple syrup.
It's really that simple! Easiest appetizer ever! You'll impress your family and friends with very little effort on your part!
Hint: Assemble right before serving to keep chicken warm.
Substitutions & Variations
Sometimes you just want a snack for your family or maybe serve up something a bit on the healthy side. And maybe you want a bit more fancy hors d'oeuvres? Here are a few suggestions.
- Trade out the fried chicken nuggets with grilled nuggets.
- Melt my Freezer Green and Red Pepper Jelly to drizzle in place of hot honey.
- Make little sandwich sliders by topping them with an additional mini waffle and removing the party pick.
- Cut up raw chicken breasts into cubes and bake, grill (in grill pan), or pan-fry them.
- For a low-carb option, place the chicken nuggets on waffle-cut carrots. Why not? Chicken and carrots are eaten together in pot pie?
Trade out the traditional waffles with waffle fries! Check out the picture below! Now you won't see this up the street anywhere! You saw it first, here.
I guarantee you'll be making your own "chicken and waffle fries" the next time you visit Chick-fil-A!
Fix it Faster
Stop by your local fast food restaurant and order a tray of chicken nuggets to-go and skip heating up the frozen chicken nuggets.
Equipment
I use my air fryers every day. For this recipe, I used Instant brand Vortex Pro 10-Quart Air Fryer Oven. It has two racks to cook all 24 nuggets at one time.
If you use the basket style air fryer, just cook the chicken in batches.
Make Ahead
Assemble mini chicken and waffles and keep warm in a low oven about 170F. Drizzle with honey right before serving.
What to serve with chicken and waffles appetizer
To make your own Homemade Hot Honey in less than 20 minutes, check out my shortcut recipe. I even have a shortcut to the shortcut which only takes 1 minute!
Whether it's game day, backyard BBQ, or holiday party time, this simple finger food goes with so many other quick-fix recipes. Here are a few of my favorites.
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Shortcut Mini Chicken and Waffles with Hot Honey
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 24 small frozen chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken
- 24 mini frozen waffles (I used Eggo)
- 1/2 cup hot honey or honey or maple syrup (Mike's Hot Honey or make your own)
Instructions
- Meanwhile, cook chicken nuggets in an air fryer or oven according to package directions. Toast mini waffles in a toaster until browned, then separate into individual waffles.
- Reheat the honey mixture in the microwave at HIGH for 10 seconds. Strain through a fine metal sieve. Discard pepper flakes or stir them into other recipes.
- Right before serving, arrange the waffles in a single layer on a platter. Place one chicken nugget on top of each waffle and secure them together with a toothpick.
- Drizzle each nugget with about 1 teaspoon of hot honey, honey, or maple syrup.
Notes
- Trade out the fried chicken nuggets with grilled nuggets.
- Melt my Freezer Green and Red Pepper Jelly to drizzle in place of hot honey.
- Make little sandwiches by topping them with an additional mini waffle.
- Cut up raw chicken breasts into cubes and bake, grill (in grill pan), or pan-fry them.
- For a low-carb option, place the chicken nuggets on waffle-cut carrots. Why not? Chicken and carrots are eaten together in pot pie?
- Trade out the traditional waffles for waffle fries.
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
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