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    Home » Recipes » Main Courses

    Chicken and Waffle Tacos

    Published: Dec 28, 2021 · Modified: Sep 11, 2024 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

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    Chicken and waffle tacos combine two of our favorite guilty pleasures into one great recipe. Crispy chicken is cradled in a crispy, fluffy waffle taco and topped with maple honey mustard sauce.

    Chicken and waffles is one of my all-time favorite foods. It's a breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it's always delicious. I gave it a new twist by turning it into tacos!

    Overhead shot of chicken and waffle tacos in taco mold

    Chicken and Waffle Taco

    This was inspired by my Crock Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos and my other creative taco recipe on this site, and pairs well with this amazing nacho fries sidedish recipe.

    Chicken and Waffle Taco Ingredients

    It only takes some basic ingredients to make both the tacos and the maple honey mustard sauce. You can find them all at your local grocery store.

    For the Tacos

    • Water
    • Pancake mix
    • Vegetable oil
    • Pepper
    • Brown sugar
    • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
    • Flour
    • Granulated garlic
    • Eggs
    • Panko bread crumbs
    • Garlic pepper

    For the Maple Honey Mustard Sauce

    • Maple syrup
    • Honey
    • Spicy brown mustard
    • Brown sugar

    How to Make Chicken and Waffle Tacos

    There are a few steps to this recipe, but don't let that scare you away. When you break it down, it's all very easy. Even beginners can make this!

    Step 1: Prep

    Measure out all of your ingredients and dice the chicken breasts. Set up a dredging station of one bowl of flour and garlic, one bowl of eggs, and one bowl of panko and garlic pepper for the chicken. Preheat your waffle iron. Then, fill a pot with 3 inches of vegetable oil. Heat it to 375 degrees.

    Step 2: Make the Waffle Batter

    In a medium bowl, combine the water, pancake mix, vegetable oil, brown sugar, and pepper and whisk until smooth.

    Step 3: Make the Waffles

    Add 2 tablespoons of the waffle batter to the waffle iron and cook for 1 - 2 minutes until golden. Place the waffles on a kitchen towel and cover them to allow the steam to keep them soft.

    Step 4: Bread the Chicken

    Dredge the diced chicken in flour, eggs, and then panko, thoroughly coating each piece in each station.

    Step 5: Fry the Chicken

    Add the chicken carefully to the hot oil and fry for 3 - 4 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

    Step 6: Make the Maple Honey Mustard Sauce

    While the chicken is frying, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well.

    Step 7: Make the Tacos

    Uncover the waffles and place them in taco molds or between the cups of an upside-down muffin tin to create the taco shape. Then, add 3 - 4 pieces of chicken to the tacos and drizzle them with the maple honey mustard sauce. Garnish with fresh chives and enjoy!

    Hint: If you don't have a taco mold, I highly recommend it. It's perfect for this recipe and to hold your traditional tacos, as well.

    Chicken and waffle tacos in taco mold. This tacos are garnished with chopped chives.

    Substitutions

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this waffle taco recip.

    • Chicken Nuggets - Save time by using frozen chicken nuggets for this recipe.
    • Syrup - If you don't have or don't like maple syrup, syrups like Mrs. Butterworth will also work.
    • Brown Mustard - If you don't like heat, use regular brown mustard in place of the spicy variety.

    Variations

    Want to personalize this chicken and waffle tacos recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

    • Extra Spicy - Add chili pepper flakes or cayenne to the flour mixture for a spicy kick.
    • Add Cheese - Believe it or not, a little melted cheese on top of these tacos is amazing.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy the best fried chicken and waffles recipe.

    Storage

    You can store the chicken for this recipe in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 days. The waffles will last for 5 - 7 days in the refrigerator. However, I recommend only making as many of these as you'll eat at one time. They're so much better fresh.

    What to Serve with Chicken and Waffles

    • If you're wondering what to serve with chicken and waffles you have definitely come to the right place. Have a look at our post What to Serve with Chicken and Waffles with all of our favorites listed. I think you'll be glad you did!

    Chicken and waffles is a delicious meal, but a side dish would take it to the next level. Check out What to Serve With Chicken Marsala  to find the perfect one.

    Tips

    While this recipe is very easy, I have a few tips that will make this the best recipe it can possibly be.

    • Remove your waffles as soon as they become golden. You need them soft to mold them into a taco shape.
    • If you do store these tacos, refrigerate the chicken and the waffles separately.
    • Let the waffle batter rest for about 5 minutes to achieve the fluffiest interior possible.
    Closeup shot of chicken and waffle taco with more fried chicken in background

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about this waffle taco recipe? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about chicken and waffle tacos.

    How long are these good for?

    These will last for 3 - 4 days in the refrigerator, but I recommend only making as many as you'll serve.

    Can I freeze these?

    You can freeze the chicken for up to 2 months, but I don't recommend it. The coating will lose all its crispiness.

    How do I reheat these?

    The best way to reheat them is to place them in the microwave at 30-second intervals until warm.

    Why did my waffles break when I tried to bend them?

    You either overcooked them or you didn't let them soften enough under the towel. The waffles need to be soft in order to bend.

    Why are my waffles tough?

    Overmixing the batter can make waffles tough. Also, try letting your waffle batter sit for about 5 minutes before cooking the waffle to allow the gluten created by mixing the batter to relax.

    More Fried Chicken Recipes

    Do you like fried chicken? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

    • Air Fried Popcorn Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Flavor
      Air Fried Popcorn Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Flavor
    • Nashville Hot Chicken Strips arranged in a red basket with pickle slices.
      Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders
    • A small piece of a chicken thigh being held by a fork.
      Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs - Crispy and Fast!
    • Easy Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs
      Easy Honey Chicken Thighs (Oven Roasted, Air Fryer)

    Chicken and Waffle Tacos

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Crispy chicken bites in a waffle.

    Chicken and Waffle Tacos

    Karin and Ken
    These chicken and waffle tacos are a fun take on an old favorite. Crispy fried chicken is cradles in a waffle "shell" and topped with syrup.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 187 kcal

    Equipment

    • waffle iron
    • taco mold
    • large pot or deep fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ¼ cup water
    • 1 ¾ cup pancake mix any “just add water” mix
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
    • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts diced
    • ½ cup flour
    • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
    • 1 teaspoon garlic pepper

    Maple Honey Mustard Syrup

    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoon honey
    • 2 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
    • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
      Overhead photo of all the ingredients.
    • Preheat waffle iron.
    • Fill a pot with 3” of vegetable oil and heat to 375 degrees.
    • Prepare waffle batter. In a medium mixing bowl, combine water, pancake mix, vegetable oil, brown sugar, and pepper.
      Water, pancake mix, vegetable oil, brown sugar, and pepper placed in a medium mixing bowl.
    • Whisk until smooth.
      Ingredients whisked until smooth.
    • Add 2 tablespoon of waffle batter to the waffle iron.
      2 Tablespoons of waffle batter removed from the bowl.
    • Cook 1-2 minutes each.
      2 Tablespoons of waffle batter placed inside the waffle iron.
    • Look for a golden color before removing, these will need to still be pliable so careful not to overcook.
      Cooked waffle, it is golden brown in color.
    • Immediately place waffles onto a kitchen towel and cover to allow the steam to further soften them.
      Waffles placed on a towel and covered to allow steam to soften the waffles.
    • Set up a dredging station for the chicken.
    • Combine flour and garlic in one bowl, whisk eggs in another.
      Flour and garlic added to one bowl, whisked eggs in another.
    • Combine panko and garlic pepper in the third bowl.
      Panko and garlic pepper combined in a third bowl.
    • Cut the chicken into 1” bite sized pieces.
      Chicken cut into 1 inch bite sized pieces and placed into the first bowl with the flour.
    • Dredge the chicken in the flour.
      Chicken covered in flour.
    • Then the eggs.
      Chicken placed in the bowl with the eggs.
    • Finally roll in panko crumbs.
      Chicken placed in the panko crumbs bowl.
    • Now you're ready to fry!
      Coated chicken piece ready for the fryer.
    • Repeat until all pieces are coated.
      Coated chicken pieces placed on a baking sheet.
    • Carefully add chicken to the hot oil and fry 3-4 minutes.
      Chicken carefully placed in a pot with hot oil.
    • Or until golden and crispy.
      Fried chicken removed from the oil.
    • While waiting for chicken to be done frying, prepare maple honey mustard sauce.
    • Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
      Maple honey mustard ingredients added to a small bowl.
    • Whisk until blended well.
      Ingredients whisked until smooth.
    • Uncover waffles and mold into taco shells by bending in half. We use a taco mold for this step, you can also flip a muffin tin upside down and place waffle taco shells in between the molds to hold their shape.
      Soft-cooked waffles placed in a taco mold.
    • Add 3-4 pieces of chicken to the waffle tacos.
      Fried chicken placed inside the waffles.
    • Drizzle with maple honey mustard and garnish with fresh chives.
      Maple mustard hovering over the waffle tacos.
    • Serve!
      Prepared waffle tacos garnished with chopped chives.
    • Enjoy every bite!
      Closeup photo of a half eaten chicken and waffle taco.

    Notes

    If you're wondering what to serve with chicken and waffles you have definitely come to the right place. Have a look at our post What to Serve with Chicken and Waffles with all of our favorites listed. I think you'll be glad you did!
    A side dish would take this meal to the next level. For inspiration, go to What to Serve With Chicken Marsala. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 187kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 8gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 197mgPotassium: 158mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword chicken waffle taco
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Sandra says

      April 21, 2023 at 11:34 am

      5 stars
      Who doesn't like chicken and waffles right!? To turn it into a taco dish is brilliant though! I'm so in love with the maple honey mustard sauce. I make a batch and leave in the fridge and use it for other things as well. So thanks for that!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        April 23, 2023 at 7:26 pm

        You’re most welcome. I have some sauce in my fridge right now. I love it too! These tacos are so delicious. I’m glad you enjoyed them. All the best. Karin

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    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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