Chicken and Waffles

• 150 g raw Chicken breast (5.3 oz raw)
• 30 g (1 egg white) Egg white (1 large egg white)
• 25 g Cornflakes (0.9 oz)
• 1 g Smoked paprika (½ tsp)
• 1 g Salt (⅛ tsp)
• 4 g Vegetable oil spray (¾ tsp)
• 50 g All-purpose flour (6⅓ tbsp)
• 15 g Vanilla or unflavored whey protein powder (0.5 oz (about ½ scoop))
• 3 g Baking powder (⅔ tsp)
• 50 g raw (1 large egg) Egg
• 80 g Nonfat milk (⅓ cup)
• 20 g Maple syrup (1 tbsp)
• 5 g Hot sauce (0.2 oz)

You'll need: Air fryer (or oven and baking sheet), Waffle iron, Zip-top bag, 2 bowls, Whisk, Small bowl.

Method

1. Coat the chicken

   Heat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Cut the chicken into 3 strips. Crush the cornflakes in the zip-top bag and mix in the smoked paprika and half the salt. Dip each strip in the beaten egg white, then press it into the crumbs.

   Pat the chicken dry before the egg white. The coating sticks better.

2. Air-fry the chicken

   Spray the chicken with the oil and air-fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and 74°C (165°F) in the thickest strip. No air fryer? Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) at the start and bake on a lined baking sheet instead, turning halfway; each batch takes about 5 minutes longer.

   Make the waffles while the chicken cooks so both are hot at the same time.

3. Make the waffles

   Heat the waffle iron. Whisk the flour, whey, baking powder and the rest of the salt in a bowl, then whisk in the egg and milk until just smooth. Brush the iron with a little of the oil, pour in the batter and cook for 3–4 minutes, until golden and it stops steaming. You'll get 2 waffles.

   Don't open the iron early. When the steam stops, the waffle is ready.

4. Stack and drizzle

   Stir the hot sauce into the maple syrup. Stack the waffles, lay the crispy chicken on top and drizzle the spicy maple over everything.

   Sweet-and-spicy maple is what makes chicken and waffles. Add more hot sauce if you like heat.

Swaps

• Whey protein powder → 2 more tablespoons of flour and 1 egg whiteNo protein powder needed, about 8 g less protein.
• Maple syrup → Hot honey, same weightA classic Southern twist; skip the hot sauce.