this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2025
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I love Southern fried chicken, and I'm pretty fond of waffles (savoury with bacon and maple syrup, or sweet) but I cannot imagine the combination as working at all.

They're both a little dry on the outside and soft on the inside. It feels like they really don't complement or contrast with each other. I'm sure I'd eat it if I had so alternative, but I can imagine how it is a classic American paring. I'd much rather have fries, slaw, or potato salad which all seem to offer a creamy or crunchy contrast.

Am I missing something? People who like it, what's good about it? Is the secret lots of maple syrup? Are the waffles different that usual? Is it not actually that popular? I'm a decadent European, so I can't just go somewhere and try them myself.

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

You don't need to imagine it. Just try it. It's good.

But if you need more convincing: Have you ever had honey glazed fried chicken (they do that in the south, too, but also some Asian dishes used fried chicken glazed with honey)? It's basically that but with maple syrup instead of honey, while being on or with a waffle.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 53 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I didn't get it either until I tried it. It's a combination of sweet and fat and heat and salt and acid but also fluffy-crispy waffle texture and crunchy-silky fried chicken texture. It's almost everything good about eating in a single bite.

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I assume it works, otherwise it wouldn't be a thing! Just trying to understand how... Are the waffles the same texture as Belgian style waffles? Or more like a potato waffle? Were they sweet? Did it have a sauce?

If I can figure out what's meant to be good about it, I can try making my own!

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 24 points 4 days ago (4 children)

It works best with a savory batter in a Belgian-style deep waffle iron. You need both real maple syrup and a vinegary hotsauce. Bone-in fried chicken is best, especially thigh. Put the hotsauce on the chicken and the syrup on the waffle, cut a bit of each and eat all four components together in one bite... it's transcendent.

[–] TheMinions@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 4 days ago

From the American South, can confirm.

Thanks for your description - it makes me wanna give it a go.

[–] jpreston2005@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 5 points 4 days ago

Something like Crystal or Frank's is about right. I find that McIlhenney's and Cholula don't have the right flavor profile I'm looking for.

[–] MyBrainHurts@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 days ago

This is such a good description that I am almost salivating.

Personally, I've enjoyed it everytime I've been eating them but felt very sick afterwards. Which is fair. If there weren't consequences I would soon have difficulties fitting into a vehicle.

[–] match@pawb.social 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The fqct that the chicken breasing and the waffles have somewhat similar textures is the point - they both get paired with some third thing like maple syrup, or gravy, or hot sauce, providing a contrast with each other

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

That's an intresting take! Maybe the contrasting flavor is more noticeable when the textures are kinda similar? Thanks!

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Made no sense to me before I moved down south for a bit. It's delicious.

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Intriguing... Can you expand on what was good? Or how it was different from what you expected?

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 days ago

It's the salt/meat plus sweetness combo.

[–] makeshiftreaper@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

is the secret lots of maple syrup?

Yeah that helps quite a bit. I don't know if you've ever had a maple bourbon chicken or maplewood smoked chicken but chicken and maple does work well together. Obviously maple syrup goes well with waffles too. The syrup really does tie the room together

I will say that fried chicken is easier to fuck up than people think. As a resident of the US south I have it with regularity and a lot of it is pretty dry which sucks. Waffles however are pretty hard to fuck up. So what I'm saying is the chicken really makes or breaks the dish. Also if you have the opportunity to do it with cornbread waffles then it's a even better

[–] PokerChips@programming.dev 6 points 4 days ago

Nice PR stunt for Big Chicken & Waffle \s

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yes. It's tasty.

I'd liken it to salted caramel. Sometimes opposites just blend well.

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

That's the thing, they don't seem opposite enough to me. Iove salty sweet: salty caramel, bacon and cheddar on pancakes, I even dip chocolat chip cookies in hummus if I'm in the mood.

The texture of the waffles (crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle) seems not that far away from the chicken (crispy / crunchy on the outside, juicy in the middle). Both are fatty, but also dryish - obviously still moist, but dry in a crispy way. I could imagine having chicken curry on waffles, the saucy texture would be a nice contrast, but fried chicken...

I guess I'll just have to try it!

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Ok your chicken shouldn't be dry, that's never good. Waffles are bread, so I guess they're dry, but that's why syrup. I don't know european waffles from normal but I can't expect much difference, and of course none of that HFCS syrup, real maple only, but I'd expect nothing less from europe who isn't tied to HFCS like we are. I really couldn't tell you without recipes or at least seeing something in a pic, but you've got something off.

I just searched and found this recipe, I sort of skimmed, but it looks on the level. It should be something like this, health be damned. Fruit optional.

https://www.butterbeready.com/chicken-and-waffles-recipe/

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thanks for the recipe! those waffles look quite similar to how I make them, but with buttermilk instead of normal milk.

The chicken looks basically the same, I always do a buttermilk marinade. Obviously, friend chicken shouldn't be dry it should be juicy and moist on the inside, and crispy on the outside. But the outer crispness is going to be a bit on the dry side, fatty and rich, but crunchy. The fact that people often have fried chicken with sauce or dip suggests it's partially on the 'dry' end of spectrum.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

If the gauge is soups and friuits V dry then sure, but it should be juicy and moist inside (I'd say enough so that it can be eaten sauceless if you wanted). The inclusion of sauce is not necessarily indicative of dryness, they're also used for flavor.

That said, seems you're pretty close from this description, and yes the "sauce" here would be the syrup. And buttermilk is great too, didn't notice the type they used but you can do either no problem!

[–] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

It’s delicious. Use the real maple syrup. Also Pennsylvania “chicken and waffles” is a culinary abortion.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Get high and it justifies itself.

[–] TheHalifaxJones@lemm.ee 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You just need to go to the right place and try them. There is a spot in Oakland Ca that I used to go to and I constantly miss those chicken and waffles.

To me it’s all about the combination of spices for both the chicken and the waffles. They mix em so well that it blends really nicely together.

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

If anyone has any good recommendation for soul food places in celtic France, let me know!!

Do you mean the waffles are spiced too? That's interesting!

[–] TheHalifaxJones@lemm.ee 1 points 4 days ago

Oh ya of course it is. It’s not just plain chicken and plain waffles. They have a mixture of spices. Like cinnamon, they use those spices in both the chicken and the waffles.

Also I don’t think you’ll find a good chicken and waffle spot in France

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I was skeptical at first, but then I saw the option added to the menu of the breakfast place I go to. Didn't regret it, was delicious.

The combination of sweet and salty flavors, and the fluffy and crunchy textures was 👌

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

I'm a Northern American, and it never made sense to me either. I have tried it, but it didn't do much for me. I doubt that wherever I tried it was the best representation of the dish, so, maybe I have yet to experience the real magic of it, but the idea of sticky syrup all over something I usually eat with my hands is not appealing to me.

[–] Iamsqueegee@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Y’all’re missing the gravy. It’s not just fried chicken on a waffle with maple syrup. There’s a pan gravy, too.

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Is that dark gravy in the meat juice + stock + flour sense or that crazy white paste from "biscuits" & "gravy"? Some sort of sauce makes sense, because I'm concerned it's all a bit dry...

[–] Iamsqueegee@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago

Like the biscuits and gravy. It’s using milk instead of stock and a roux from flour and whatever fat you’d like. Ideally, render some of the trimmed chicken fat to make your roux. Thin out with more milk if needed and just add pepper for seasoning. It’s basic and doesn’t require anything fancy. Add Tabasco or similar hot sauce to your liking.

[–] theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

I normally love southern food but chicken and waffles is one that I don't love as much. I normally just eat the chicken and then eat the waffles separately

I enjoy each item individually, so that's how I sometimes eat it, like a chicken dinner with waffles for dessert.

[–] qkalligula@my-place.social 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

@Acamon

I hear this is a simple dish that is really easy to fuck up... I spent a couple months south for work... And everyone there was complaining on the catered meals being ass... It was chicken and waffles every few days and it was never good. But the locals were like 'yeah this isn't it'

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, that's why I'm trying to learn what the appeal is. If it's good, I want to try making it, but I can make decent chicken and good waffles, and I really can't imagine eating the together. So maybe the waffles need to be a bit different? Or something?

[–] qkalligula@my-place.social 3 points 4 days ago

@Acamon no clue... sadly i apparently never had it good as well :D

[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

your love handles yearn for the calories

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 2 points 4 days ago

It’s just a deconstructed chicken sandwich to me. What I was actually weirded out with was the combination of sweet syrup and savory chicken. When I actually tried it, it kinda works. Just as a chicken sandwich with a honey-something type of sauce would.

[–] thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 4 days ago

sweet and savory

it's a winning combo

I'm not into it but I understand the appeal