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Crispy Hot Honey Chicken and Waffles4

Crispy Chicken and Waffles with Homemade Hot Honey Sauce

Double-dredged fried chicken thighs on fluffy Belgian waffles, finished with a buttery homemade hot honey sauce. The wire rack trick keeps every bite crispy from plate to fork.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • - 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • - 1 cup buttermilk for marinade
  • - 1 tsp garlic powder
  • - 1 tsp onion powder
  • - 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • - 1 tsp kosher salt
  • - ½ tsp black pepper
  • - ½ cup all-purpose flour for dredge
  • - ½ cup cornstarch
  • - 1 tsp baking powder for dredge
  • - 2 cups neutral oil for frying vegetable or canola
  • - 2 cups all-purpose flour for waffles
  • - 2 tbsp sugar
  • - 1 tbsp baking powder for waffles
  • - ½ tsp salt
  • - 2 large eggs separated
  • - 1¾ cups buttermilk for waffles
  • - ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • - 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • - ½ cup raw honey
  • - 2 tbsp unsalted butter for sauce
  • - 1 tbsp hot sauce Frank's RedHot or Cholula
  • - ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • - ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • - Pinch of kosher salt for sauce

Method
 

  1. Combine buttermilk and all spices in a bowl. Add chicken thighs, coat thoroughly, and marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes or overnight in the fridge.
  2. Whisk waffle dry ingredients in one bowl. In a second bowl, whisk egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla. In a third bowl, beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Mix wet into dry until just combined (lumps are fine), then gently fold in the egg whites.
  3. Heat oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet. Mix flour, cornstarch, and baking powder in a shallow dish. Pull each thigh from the buttermilk and dredge twice through the flour mixture. Fry for 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Drain on a wire rack.
  4. Preheat your waffle iron. Pour in batter and cook until steam stops escaping, about 4–5 minutes per waffle. Keep finished waffles warm in a 200°F oven on a wire rack.
  5. Combine honey, butter, hot sauce, cayenne, red pepper flakes, and salt in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until butter melts and sauce is smooth. Do not boil.
  6. Place waffle on the plate, top with fried chicken, and drizzle generously with hot honey sauce. Finish with flaky salt or fresh thyme if desired.