It's all About the Waffle

I love getting invited to a good party. The invitation itself is a gift, that's when the anticipation starts.

So when I received an email from Kim of the blog Feed Me, Seymour, I was pretty excited. She's always been passionate about waffle week but this year decided to invite some friends along for the ride. 

 Graphic by Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

Everyone was to come up with their own unique Waffle Recipe. So really it was a party AND a challenge. Yup, I'm in.

But what to make? I have to admit that a few options went through my head, but ultimately I have to admit that the idea of Chicken and Waffles stuck. I believe initially it was a southern dish and although I'd heard of it, I'd never had it. Then this past fall, when out to breakfast while visiting my son PurDude at college, he ordered it. It sure did look good. I think the seeds of this recipe were planted in my mind then. But how to change it up and make it my own?

I decided to see if I could adapt my Cheddar Mac Squares into a waffle. Either it would be crunchy and gooey and delicious . . . or a huge mess . . . a recipe-fail blog post in the making. And since PurDude was home for the summer, I'll use my Honey Bunches Chicken, which he loves, as the chicken element. 

I love the nod to breakfast through the bacon bits in the mac and cheese waffle and the chicken coated with cereal. But really, this recipe could easily be breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Perfect.

I started by adapting my mac and cheese recipe to make into the waffle. I stuck it into the fridge while prepping the chicken.

Mac and Cheese Waffle Mixture

Just a note, the chicken could easily be made a day ahead of time and reheated for this meal.

Honey Bunches Chicken

Next was the moment of truth. Whether or not I could make the mac and cheese mixture into waffles.

Mac and Cheese mixture in the waffle iron

And I could! Mac and Cheese Waffle success! Guess I'll have to save that recipe-fail blog post for another day.

Mac and Cheese Waffles

Now just to plate with the chicken and serve with a side of Maple Syrup.

Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken

I know what I'll be making again.

Be sure to check out all of the other unique waffle recipes brought to the party. Hope you try them all:

Appet-affles

• Waffled Polenta Crisps with Caponata by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Cheese & Pear Waffle Appetizer by The Freshman Cook

Breakf-affles

• Churro Waffles by A Nerd Cooks
• Coconut Flour Waffles with Macadamia Nuts and Spiced Pineapple Syrup by Aloha Flavor
• Orange and Dark Chocolate Waffles by Cookie Monster Cooking
• Buckwheat Waffles Benedict by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Honey Bacon Waffles by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Stuffed French Toast Waffles by The Spiffy Cookie
• Pumpkin Waffles with Butter Pecan Maple Syrup or Chocolate Waffles by With Salt and Wit
• Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Chocolate Pecan Waffles by Rhubarb and Honey
• Toasted Coconut Belgian Waffles by Chef Next Door
• Pumpkin Waffle Sandwiches with Apple Butter and Brie by Go Go Go Gourmet
• Potato Waffle Eggs Florentine by Eats Well With Others

Waffl-ides

• Cauliflower Cheese Waffles by Food Lust People Love
• Sweet potato waffles with horseradish sauce by Our Good Life
• Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken by Baking In A Tornado
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Belgian Waffles w/ Chili Whipped Butter & Maple Glaze by Blue Crab Martini
• Hummus Waffles with Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomatoes by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Sweet & Savoury Sausage & Apple Waffles by Fuchsia Freezer
• Brown Sugar Chicken and Waffles by GirlCarnivore
• Chicken and Spiced Sweet Potato Waffles by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Dessert Dish-affles

• Homemade Waffle Cones by Eva Bakes
• Pumpkin Pecan Waffles by Feed Me, Seymour
• Apple Pie Waffles by Spiced
• Red Velvet Waffles with Bourbon Cherry Syrup & Cream Cheese Drizzle by Cooking In Stilettos
• Pumpkin Pie Waffle Cake by Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
• Chocolate Strawberry Waffles by Dinner at the Zoo
• Banana Split Waffles by Cravings of a Lunatic

Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken

                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1# package of elbow macaroni
2 eggs
3/4 cup half and half
2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded
1/3 cup cooked bacon bits
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp paprika

Honey Bunches Chicken, recipe HERE
Maple Syrup

Directions:
*Cook macaroni according to package directions. Rinse 2 or 3 times with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Drain well.
*Mix all the rest of the mac and cheese ingredients into the macaroni. Cover and pace in the fridge while preparing the chicken.
*Make the Honey Bunches Chicken either according to the recipe or by slicing the chicken breasts into 3 fingers instead of 3 chunks. You can make the sauce to serve over the chicken and waffles or just use maple syrup as I did.
*When you put the chicken into the oven, grease and heat your waffle iron. Spread a cup and a half of the mac and cheese mixture over the face of the waffle iron. These waffles will not spread so the size of the waffle going in will be the size of the waffle coming out.
*Close the waffle maker and allow to cook. They will take longer than a batter waffle. Mine took 6 - 7 minutes cooked on medium. They're done when you lift a small section and the bottom is brown and crusted.
*Remove the mac and cheese waffle from the iron by working your way around it with a heat safe spatula until it releases. Plate and keep warm while making the rest of the waffles. Be sure to grease and fully reheat your waffle iron each time.
*Serve the Mac and Cheese Waffles with the warm Honey Bunches Chicken and Maple Syrup.