Spiced Chicken and Waffles Recipe with Blueberry Lime Jam

A Southern-inspired chicken and waffles recipe from South Bay chef Matthew Ignacio, featuring crispy spiced fried chicken, golden waffles, and homemade blueberry lime jam.

Recipe at a Glance

Recipe: Spiced Chicken and Waffles
Serves: 4
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: Southern-inspired / American
Main ingredients: Fried chicken, waffles, blueberries, lime

What makes this chicken and waffles recipe different?

This recipe pairs crispy fried chicken seasoned with paprika, garlic, cayenne, rosemary, and black pepper with fluffy lemon-zested waffles and a sweet-tart blueberry lime jam. The recipe was created by South Bay chef Matthew Ignacio as his take on a classic chicken and waffles dish.

The Sonder LA Team has collaborated with local innovative Chef Matthew Ignacio for its first guest recipe entry! His irresistible Spiced Chicken and Waffles is featured above on our Motley board; check out the full recipe below.

Chef Matthew Ignacio has been professionally cooking for over 17 years. He is currently operating The Hook and Plow Restaurants in the South Bay - Los Angeles. His style of cooking is centered around utilizing entire products from root to flower/tail to snout, while bringing nostalgia, curiosity, and adventure to the plate.

This recipe was created as an overhaul of the chicken and waffles that were being served when he took over The Hook and Plow kitchen. For more recipes, check out his blog here.

Fried Chicken
3 pieces of Mary's organic chicken (breast or thigh)
2 cups of buttermilk
2 cups of flour
1 Tablespoon of paprika
1 Teaspoon of onion powder
1 Tablespoon of garlic powder
1 Teaspoon of cayenne
1 Teaspoon of salt
1 Teaspoon of black pepper
1 Tablespoon of fresh rosemary

Waffles
1 ⅔ cups of all purpose flour
2 Tablespoons of sugar
1 Tablespoon of baking powder
2 Teaspoons of salt
1 ¼ cups of whole milk
4 ounces of melted butter
½ of a lemon, zested

Blueberry Lime Jam
1 cup of blueberries, fresh or frozen
¼ cup of sugar
¼ cup of lime juice
1 pinch of salt

Gluten and Dairy Substitutions: You may substitute the all purpose flour out for any gluten free flours. You might need to add a little more flour to get the consistency of the batter correct for the waffle iron. You may also sub out any dairy for non dairy substitutes.

1. Cut the chicken in equal size pieces and soak in the buttermilk for at least 15 minutes.
2. While the chicken is soaking, mix together your flour and spice mixture.
3. After 15 minutes, carefully pick up the chicken and drain off any excess buttermilk. Dunk the chicken in the flour mixture and evenly coat.
4. Place the chicken in a fryer (or pot filled with oil) that is consistently holding a 350 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
5. Fry for approx. 8 minutes. Check the internal temperature with a thermometer to make sure the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the chicken sit on paper towels to drain any excess oil. Salt and pepper all sides and sprinkle with freshly chopped rosemary.

1. Turn your waffle iron to the "4" out of "6" setting. If your waffle iron has more than 6 heats, turn it to whatever ¾ of the hottest temperature is.

2. Mix together all dry ingredients in a bowl. Make sure everything is evenly mixed.
3. Add your wet ingredients in the center and mix until evenly combined.
4. Spray or butter your waffle iron generously. Spoon in batter to completely cover the surface of the waffle iron. Use a wet spatula to easily and evenly spread the waffle batter across. Spray generously on top of the batter and close the waffle iron.
5. Check waffle approx. 6 minutes into cooking. It should be a nice brown color without looking too brown. See picture for reference.
6. Remove waffle from iron and trim off any excess pieces around the waffle. Use the natural lines to cut into 4 pieces.

1. Heat together the sugar, salt, lime juice, and blueberries until there is a thick syrup coating the blueberries.
2. This process is best on low heat over the course of an hour. The bigger the batch, the longer the cook time.
3. Once finished, cool in a container without a lid. Serve cold.

Tips for Perfect Chicken and Waffles

How do you keep fried chicken crispy?

Getting that satisfying crunch comes down to a few key techniques. First, maintain your oil at a consistent 350°F throughout - if the temperature drops, the coating absorbs oil instead of crisping up. Avoid overcrowding the fryer or pot; adding too many pieces at once drops the oil temperature significantly. After each batch, give the oil time to return to 350°F before adding more. Once cooked, drain the chicken on paper towels to remove excess oil, and season immediately while still hot. For best results, serve within 15-20 minutes of frying - the longer it sits, the more steam softens the crust.

How do you keep waffles crispy?

The biggest mistake is stacking freshly cooked waffles - trapped steam is the enemy of crispiness. Instead, place each waffle on a wire rack in a single layer so air can circulate underneath. If you're making multiple batches, keep finished waffles in a 200°F oven on the rack to stay warm without going soggy. Serve as soon as possible after cooking for the best texture.

What goes well with chicken and waffles?

Chicken and waffles are endlessly versatile when it comes to toppings and sides. Chef Matthew's homemade blueberry lime jam is the star here - its sweet-tart brightness cuts through the richness of the fried chicken beautifully. Other great pairings include:

• Maple syrup for a classic sweet-savory combination
• Hot honey for a spicy kick
• Fresh fruit like sliced strawberries or peaches
• Powdered sugar dusted over the waffles
• Bread and butter pickles for a tangy contrast
• A drizzle of spicy sauce or sriracha for heat lovers