Chicken and waffles is a well-loved American classic, there’s no doubt. However, we decided to give this homey southern dish more than one fun new twist that will make it the biggest a hit at your next party or potluck. First, we made this entree into an easy-to-handle mini chicken and waffles appetizer. Then we turned up the flavor by adding two unique dipping sauces.
Simple Comfort
Did we mention this is an appetizer that is so simple you can prepare it in only 20 minutes? Yep. It doesn’t get much easier. We used frozen boneless chicken wings and pre-made waffles cut into fourths for the base of this dish. Both the chicken and the waffles can be heated up in the oven to serving temperatures in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile, you can be whipping up a collection of some amazing dipping sauces to top them off, then all that’s left to do is assemble them. Or better yet, lay out all the ingredients and some utensils and letting your guests do the work for you. They might even appreciate getting to choose or mix their own sauces.
Since this mini chicken and waffles appetizer is a classic comfort food, why not serve some other comfort food favorites, like adult mac and cheese and some mini crab puffs? You can round out the menu by serving a great iced tea such a nice maple-infused Scottish breakfast blend.
Dip It
Chicken and waffles dipping sauce is often limited to a maple syrup variation. However, we chose to make a funky honey mustard sauce and a New York style melba sauce instead. Obviously, you can serve this appetizer with all three sides if you think some of your guests would prefer the original.
The honey mustard sauce we used starts with about 2 tablespoons of grainy Dijon mustard, a half of a tablespoon of regular yellow mustard and another half a tablespoon of real honey. Mix well and serve. It’s really that simple. Looking for a sweeter sauce? Add more honey in small increments until you come to a flavor that you like.
For the New York style melba sauce, we made a quick version of the classic by starting with a simple raspberry jam. Take 2 tablespoons of jam, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and combine them well. If you are starting with a really thick jam you may want to stir in a little water so that it’s a little easier to dip with. It helps also to pop the jam into the microwave for a few seconds to help it combine with the water.
