Hot Honey Chicken and Waffles

While the fast food restaurants fight over who has the best spicy chicken menu item, we were in our Test Kitchen perfecting a chicken and waffle recipe that we would (not-so-humbly) suggest is even better. Typically, southern chicken and waffles features milder, buttermilk-battered bird. But for this modern twist, we top the crispy cornmeal waffles with fried or air-fried chicken that delivers a pleasant dose of sweet heat. The key ingredients: A pinch of cayenne in the batter and a bit of hot honey to finish.

Whole Grain Waffles

Keeping with the high-protein theme, this sneakily-healthy waffle recipe tastes like something you’d find at a popular brunch restaurant. It’s actually easy to DIY in just 30 minutes, and is totally nutritious enough to eat every morning. Cottage cheese, egg whites, and nut butter stoke every serving with 17 grams of satisfying protein.

Waffles

Your search for the best easy waffle recipe stops here. BHG reader Roberta says, “I have been making waffles for 50 years, using this very basic, never fail recipe!” Calling for just seven baking staples, this breakfast can be yours in 10 minutes flat—and likely with no special supermarket runs required. The only way to make these better, according to another fan? Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the batter.

Stuffed Waffles

Whether the flavor comes from herbs, less sugar than usual, a unique grain, or a bonus dose of breakfast meat, we can’t resist a savory waffle. Say “batter up” to BLT flavors in this creative waffle recipe that’s hiding fresh basil, tomato, cheese, bacon, and pepper inside two layers of buttermilk waffle batter. 

Test Kitchen Tip: To hint at the flavors in the center of these Stuffed Waffles, garnish with more bacon, tomato, and basil, plus sweet pepper jelly, if desired.

Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Pecan Cream

Canned pumpkin is one of our favorite anytime pantry staples, but this waffle recipe really shines as summer shifts into fall. “Everyone in my family RAVES about the waffles,” BHG home cook Eshe says, thanks to the naturally-sweet, moist pumpkin. Make them even more irresistible with a luscious maple pecan cream crown.

Buttermilk-Banana Waffles

Similar to the role that canned pumpkin or sweet potato has played in the earlier renditions, this easy waffle recipe scores some extra moisture and sweetness from mashed banana. The flavor reminds us of banana bread!

Cornmeal Buttermilk Waffles with Honey Butter

Soggy waffles are a surefire brunch buzzkill. This easy waffle recipe turns out crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside every time thanks to a one-to-one mix of flour and cornmeal in the base. Inspired by the cornbread-like flavor, we recommend serving this with a schmear of honey butter.

Chocolate Waffle Cake

In other ultra-easy waffle recipe news, this short stack (okay, tall stack of layer cake!) starts with boxed cake mix. To give the chocolate mix even more rich flavor, prepare it with chocolate milk. Pour ½ cup batter into the waffle iron, cook, and repeat until the batter runs out. Then the real fun begins: Constructing a tower with alternating layers of chocolate waffles and banana whipped cream.

Chocolate-Peppermint Waffle Cookies

Admittedly, calling this a "waffle recipe" is a bit of a stretch. But we guarantee that's what everyone will think of when they see these chocolate-peppermint cookies as part of the dessert spread. Instead of baking them on a sheet pan, keep that waffle iron out after breakfast and use it to press the cookie dough into pretty checkerboard-patterned chocolate cookies.