Chicken and Waffle Sliders with Spicy Maple Spread – Enjoy the big game with this truly unique appetizer that’s bound to be the most talked about dish at the party!
The Super Bowl is just a few weeks away. Being the most-watched American TV event of the year, it’s like the national holiday for couch potatoes.
Normally I enjoy Super Bowl Sunday at my parent’s house and typically my mom, sisters, and I feign interest in the game, only popping our heads into the living room to check the score and watch the really funny commercials. Instead of cheering for some team from another city, we spend most of our time in the kitchen making yummy apps while we gab about everything but football.
This year’s going to be different, however, because the Eagles are going to the Super Bowl! It’s kind of a big deal in the Philadelphia area (and in my family), so it’s time to think about throwing an awesome Super Bowl Party!
One of my favorite game day snacks are sliders. I decided this year’s game deserved some extra creativity and yumminess, and that’s where I came up with Chicken and Waffle Sliders with Spicy Maple Spread. They’re sweet and savory and this recipe goes beyond the predictable with a kick of cayenne and the added crunch of pickles and onions. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, yet it’s perfectly balanced and delicious. They’re sure to be the most surprising, and I dare say tasty, appetizer at your party!
- 16 breaded chicken nuggets
- 1 box of toaster frozen mini waffles*
- 16 bread and butter pickle slices
- ¼ C thinly sliced red onion
- 1 C cold water
- ⅓ C mayo
- ⅛ C extra dark pure maple syrup
- 4 tsp dark brown sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
- cayenne powder to taste**
- Bake 16 breaded chicken nuggets in the oven per package instructions.
- While the chicken nuggets are cooking make the Spicy Maple Spread by whisking all of the ingredients together in a small bowl and then setting aside.** Also cut the red onion into 1 inch thin slices and place them in the cold water for 10 minutes. After the onions have soaked, drain them and pat them dry with a towel. This will make the onion flavor more subtle so that it complements the sliders, rather than overpowering them.
- About five minutes before the chicken is ready to come out of the oven begin toasting the frozen toaster mini waffles per package instructions. Then cut them into their individual mini waffles once toasted.
- To assemble the Chicken and Waffle Sliders, spread a layer of Spicy Maple Spread on one side of two mini waffles. Then make a sandwich of waffle, onion, chicken nugget, pickle, and waffle. For the final touch, hold the slider together with a toothpick. Continue doing this until all 16 sliders are made. Plate the sliders and then garnish by drizzling the Chicken Sliders with the remainder of the Spicy Maple Spread. Serve immediately.
** I used just under ⅛ tsp of cayenne and the sauce had a nice heat that stuck with you. Carefully add your cayenne a little at a time until the heat meets your preference.
Note: I used organic chicken nuggets and Earth’s Best Organic Mini Waffles to make this recipe less processed for my family and we all thought they were great!
More game day appetizers…
Fried Green Tomatoes
Sticky Chipotle Cauliflower Wings
Baked Reuben Egg Rolls
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
What a cute little appetizer. Fun to make and fun to devour. I could almost make a meal eating a bunch of these.
Rachel says
It’s become a new favorite dinner in my home!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
Love the kick of heat you have here with the sweetness from the maple syrup. These sliders are so stinkin’ adorable – I”d love any party that these were a part of!
Rachel says
Thanks Ashley! 🙂
Patti @Patty Cake's Pantry says
I think that you may be my new hero. I looked at this recipe and thought, “Wow. My hubby would love those.” Then, I thought, “It’s probably hard to do and I’ll have to buy a waffle iron.” Then, I read the recipe and saw that you used frozen chicken nuggets and frozen waffles. This is my kind of appetizer. I love bread and butter pickles, and all of the flavors in your spicy maple spread. I can’t wait to make this.
Rachel says
lol! I’m to hear that you appreciated glad the semi-homemade-ness of this recipe! Who has time for lengthy recipes on game day?!
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says
I love chicken and waffles, what a great idea to serve the as sliders! Definitely trying these out for game day!
Rachel says
Thanks Carrie! Enjoy!
Anne Murphy says
Those sound fun! I’ve never much liked sliders – the buns always seem mushy, to me, but with a crisp waffle, that’s worth trying! And maple anything is delicious, of course…
Rachel says
The toaster waffles held up pretty well in this recipe, so this just might be the chicken and waffle recipe for you. I think turning the maple syrup into more of a spread really helped. If you’re especially adverse to sogginess, you can also dab your pickles with a paper towel before assembling your sliders.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
These sliders are adorable. When my niece first told me that chicken and waffles together were a ‘thing’ I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t sure I would like it but when I tried it, I realized how wonderful the combination is! I absolutely love your little sliders and will be making them real soon! And sorry, but Go Pats! (Bostoner here!) 😉
Rachel says
It really is a surprising combination! I won’t rub in the results of the Super Bowl… 😉
Analida @ ethnicspoon.com says
I love the sweet and savory flavors in this! I would make a meal out of these tasty bites!
Rachel says
That’s exactly what I did! The kids are already asking me to make them again!
Christine says
These are SO adorable! Would love to have these at a baby shower or birthday party. So cute!
Rachel says
The baby shower is a cute idea. Tiny food in honor of a tiny person.
Tamara Andersen says
Your Chicken and Waffle sliders are so clever! I can totally imagine these would be devoured in a flash at any Super Bowl party… Love the spicy maple spread too!
Rachel says
My boys did just that!
Sharon says
You have upped the slider game exponentially with these little chicken and waffle sliders. The sauce sounds like a great way to top these off.
Rachel says
Thanks Sharon! As always, the secret is in the sauce! 😉
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
This might be the cutest thing I have seen all day. LOVE chicken and waffles!
Rachel says
Thanks Cathleen!
Jenni LeBaron says
I love chicken and waffles so I would eat this whole tray!
Rachel says
I almost did!
Tina says
Wow, these look like fun. I still haven’t had chicken and waffles even though I lived in the south for 20 years. Maybe I need to finally dive in. They look great, especially with the pickle.
Rachel says
I think it’s time! They sound so wrong, but they taste so right!
Isadora Guidoni says
First of all, these sliders look adorable! And also, they look delicious! Can’t wait to get cookin’ here =)
Rachel says
Thanks!
Billy says
This is an absolutely genius idea. I love the way these look and imagine they taste just as good. Thank you so much for sharing! Love that you included a little pickle in there to cut out the sweetness of the waffle and syrup. Can’t wait to try!
Rachel says
Thanks Billy! I hope they turned out well for you!
Adina says
Lovely idea for a children birthday party! Only things that the children love to eat.
Rachel says
Haha! Yep! Waffles and chicken nuggets! 100% kids food!