Orange Blossom Honey Chicken and Chive Cheddar Waffles

Crispy, spice-seasoned chicken thighs meet savory chive-cheddar waffles in this sweet-and-savory brunch. Orange Blossom Honey flavors the buttermilk marinade and adds a bright floral finish at the table.

Makes: 4 servings
Marinate: 8 hours or overnight

Chive Cheddar Waffle Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons Weeks Honey Farm Orange Blossom Honey
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Fried Chicken Ingredients

• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon chopped rosemary
• 2 tablespoons Orange Blossom Honey
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ancho chile powder
• Vegetable oil, as needed for frying
• Additional Orange Blossom Honey, for serving

How to Make Orange Blossom Honey Chicken and Waffles

1. Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken thighs in a large nonreactive bowl or sealable container. Whisk the buttermilk, 1 tablespoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, rosemary, and 2 tablespoons honey together. Pour over the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat the waffle maker. Heat your waffle maker according to its instructions.
3. Mix the waffle batter. Combine the flour, honey, orange zest, salt, baking powder, milk, eggs, chives, and cheddar just until evenly mixed.
4. Cook the waffles. Working in batches, cook four waffles according to your waffle maker’s directions. Keep warm while frying the chicken.
5. Prepare the coating. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, remaining salt and black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and ancho chile powder.
6. Coat the chicken. Remove each thigh from the buttermilk marinade, let the excess drip away, and dredge in the seasoned flour. Shake off excess coating. Discard the used marinade.
7. Heat the oil. In a deep fryer or deep, heavy pan, heat enough vegetable oil for frying to 375°F. Do not fill a pan more than halfway with oil.
8. Fry in batches. Carefully fry the chicken without crowding the pan, about 5 minutes per thigh, adjusting as needed to keep the oil near 375°F. Cook until the thickest part reaches 175°F.
9. Drain. Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack or paper-towel-lined tray.
10. Assemble. Place the fried chicken on the warm waffles and drizzle with Orange Blossom Honey just before serving.

Brunch Tips

• Cook waffles in advance and rewarm them in a low oven before serving.
• Fry chicken in batches so the oil temperature does not drop sharply.
• Reduce the cayenne for a milder coating.
• This recipe contains dairy, eggs, wheat, and sesame-free ingredients as written, but always check packaged ingredient labels.

Why Orange Blossom Honey Works

Orange Blossom Honey adds citrus-floral sweetness that complements orange zest, sharp cheddar, chives, and the warm spices in the chicken coating.

Shop Florida Raw Orange Blossom Honey

Recipe courtesy of chef Jenny Dorsey, created for the National Honey Board. Handle hot oil carefully and keep water away from the fryer. Raw honey should not be given to infants under one year of age.