Pioneer Woman Chipotle Honey Chicken and Waffle Sliders

Pioneer Woman chipotle honey chicken and waffle sliders are an easy appetizer made with crispy chicken strips, jalapeno corn waffles and chipotle honey glaze, ready in 50 minutes. Save this easy game day appetizer for Super Bowl parties, potlucks or weeknight dinners, because it uses frozen strips.

Toss the hot chicken strips in the honey sauce right before you build the sliders, because the glaze clings best to crispy chicken. Wait too long and the coating softens, so the sliders lose their crunch.

Corn muffin mix and a diced jalapeno turn the waffles into sweet, spicy little buns that crisp up as they cool. Lifting them out with a chopstick or skewer keeps them from tearing, so each slider stacks neatly without a bun to buy.

Pioneer Woman Chipotle Honey Chicken and Waffle Sliders

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: AppetizerCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

35

minutes

Calories

520

kcal

Crispy chicken strips get coated in a sticky chipotle honey glaze, then stacked between golden jalapeno corn waffles. The waffles firm up as they cool, so every bite stays crunchy with a sweet, smoky kick.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. Frozen Crispy Chicken Strips
  

• 2 boxes (8 1/2 Oz. Size) Corn Muffin Mix
  

• 2 Large Eggs
  

• 4 tbsp. Butter, Melted
  

• 1 c. Buttermilk
  

• 1 Jalapeno, Or More To Taste, Seeded And Diced
  

• 3/4 c. Honey
  

• 2 tbsp. Chipotle Adobo, Or More To Taste
  

• 1 tbsp. Lime Juice
  

• 3 tbsp. Water
  

• 1 clove Garlic, Pressed
  

• 1/2 tsp. Salt
  

• Fresh Cilantro For Garnish
  

Directions

• Bake the chicken strips: Heat the oven to 400°F and spread 1 1/2 lb. frozen crispy chicken strips on a baking sheet. Bake them for 20 minutes or until crispy, and heat your waffle iron while they cook.
• Mix the waffle batter: Combine 2 boxes corn muffin mix, 2 large eggs, 4 tbsp. melted butter, 1 cup buttermilk and 1 seeded, diced jalapeno in a large bowl. Mix until well combined, so no dry pockets of muffin mix are left.
• Cook the waffles: Spray the waffle molds with nonstick spray, then pour 1/4 cup of batter in the center of each mold. Close the waffle maker and cook until the steaming stops.
• Cool the waffles: Lift the waffles out with a chopstick or skewer and set them aside to cool. They crisp up as they cool, so don't rush to assemble.
• Simmer the honey sauce: Combine 3/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp. chipotle adobo, 1 tbsp. lime juice, 3 tbsp. water, 1 pressed garlic clove and 1/2 tsp. salt in a small saucepot. Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Toss the chicken: Add the baked chicken strips to the pot and toss until they are coated in the sticky honey sauce. Do this right before serving so the coating stays crisp.
• Build and garnish: Stack a glazed chicken strip between two waffles to build each slider. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve right away.

Tools for this recipe

• Nordic Ware half sheet pan, Pyrex 3-piece glass mixing bowl set, Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 3-quart saucepan. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I use homemade fried chicken instead of frozen strips?

Yes, homemade or store-bought fried chicken tenders work just as well. Cut them to roughly the size of your waffles so the sliders stack neatly, and toss them in the sauce right before serving.

How do I store leftover chicken and waffle sliders?

Store the waffles and chicken separately in airtight containers in the fridge. The glaze softens the coating, so I'd only toss the chicken in the sauce right before serving. Reheat everything in a 375°F oven rather than the microwave.

Can I make the waffles ahead of time?

You can cook the waffles a day ahead and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm them in the oven for a few minutes to bring back the crispness before you build the sliders.

What if I don't have a waffle maker?

A waffle maker gives the sliders their shape, so I'd borrow one if you can. If not, the same batter can be cooked as small pancakes in a skillet, though you'll lose the crisp waffle texture.

How do I keep the waffles from sticking or tearing?

Spray the waffle molds well with nonstick spray before every batch. Then lift the waffles out with a chopstick or skewer, and let them cool, since they firm up and crisp as they sit.