Oven‑Fried Chicken with Waffles and White Gravy

When I make Baker by Nature’s Oven‑Fried Chicken with Waffles and White Gravy, it’s comfort food elevated—crispy, oven-baked chicken coated in crushed kettle chips perched atop tender buttermilk waffles and drizzled with creamy white pepper gravy. It’s indulgent without deep‑frying and perfect for brunch or dinner.

Why I’ll Love This Recipe

I love that I get all the crispy, savory satisfaction of fried chicken without the mess of frying. The kettle‑chip crust is surprising fun and adds crunch and flavor. Paired with soft buttermilk waffles and lush white pepper gravy, each bite is rich, balanced, and totally crowd‑pleasing.

Ingredients

(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

Chicken

• Boneless skinless chicken breast, halved lengthwise

• Mayonnaise

• Finely crushed salt-and-pepper kettle-cooked potato chips

Waffles

• Egg white

• Granulated sugar

• All-purpose flour

• Baking powder

• Baking soda

• Salt

• Unsalted butter, melted

• Buttermilk

White Pepper Gravy

• Unsalted butter

• All-purpose flour

• Whole milk

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Optional: chopped scallions

Directions

1. I preheat the oven to 400 °F. I line a baking sheet and lightly oil or use parchment.

2. For the chicken, I rub the breast halves with mayonnaise then coat thoroughly in crushed kettle chips. I arrange them on the prepared sheet and bake until cooked through and the coating is golden, about 15–17 minutes. I keep them warm while I make waffles.

3. I preheat the waffle iron. Meanwhile, I beat egg white with half the sugar until soft peaks form, and whisk the flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl. I stir in melted butter and buttermilk, then gently fold in the egg whites. I cook the waffles until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes each.

4. For the gravy, I melt butter in a saucepan, stir in flour and cook briefly, then whisk in milk, salt, and pepper until thickened—about 5 minutes. I remove from heat and stir in scallions if using.

5. To serve, I place a waffle on each plate, top with chicken, and finish with a generous pour of white pepper gravy. Garnish with scallions if desired.

Servings and Timing

• Prep time: about 30 minutes (chopping, coating, waffle batter prep)

• Cook time: ~1 hour total (chicken ~17 min, waffles ~10 min, gravy ~5 min)

• Total time: around 1 hour

• Serves: 2 people (can scale up as desired)

Variations

• I’ve swapped crushed crackers or seasoned breadcrumbs for kettle chips if unavailable.

• I sometimes add a touch of cayenne or hot sauce to the gravy for a kick.

• I’ve substituted plain waffles with whole‑wheat or flavored (e.g. cornmeal) batter when I want variation.

• For dairy-free, I use plant-based milk and margarine in the gravy and vegan butter in the waffles.

Storage/Reheating

• I refrigerate leftover chicken, waffles, and gravy separately in airtight containers for up to 3–4 days.

• To reheat, I warm chicken in the oven at low heat to maintain crispness, reheat waffles in toaster or oven, and gently warm the gravy on the stovetop.

• I avoid freezing waffles or chicken as texture can suffer, but leftover gravy freezes reasonably well.

FAQs

Can I use regular breadcrumbs instead of potato chips?

Yes—I’ve used finely crushed crackers or panko seasoned with salt and pepper for a crunchy crust.

Will the chicken stay crispy if made ahead?

If I bake chicken ahead, I reheat it briefly in the oven on a wire rack—this helps restore crispness.

Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely. I cook chicken in batches and make waffles in turns. Just scale ingredients accordingly.

Is the gravy very peppery?

I use about ¼ teaspoon of black pepper—just enough warmth without heat. I can always add more to taste.

Can I substitute milk in the gravy?

Yes—whole milk gives the creamiest consistency, but low-fat milk or non-dairy milk can work too, though the texture may be lighter.

Conclusion

I truly enjoy making this Oven‑Fried Chicken with Waffles and White Gravy because it brings together crunchy, comforting textures and flavors into one glorious plate. It feels indulgent yet approachable—and the best part is a forkful of crispy chicken, waffle, and creamy gravy all together. It’s become my favorite decadent weekend brunch or dinner treat!

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