11/07/2026
Nashville Hot Chicken & Waffles 🧇 Howlin’ Ray’s at Home Part 3/3
Legitimately one of the best dishes I’ve ever made. If you’re going to make ONE thing from this series, it needs to be this 🤤
Parts 1 & 2 were posted earlier this week! Check them out if you missed them.
Get all of my full detailed recipes in bio 🔗
—
CONDENSED RECIPE 👇
1️⃣ MARINATE: Whisk 2 cups buttermilk, ½ cup pickle juice, 2 tbsp hot sauce, 1 egg, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, paprika, white pepper, cayenne & optional MSG. Add 6 chicken tenders, cover & refrigerate at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
2️⃣ SYRUP: Gently warm butter, honey, maple syrup, & apinch of salt, whisking until melted & combined. Rewarm before serving.
3️⃣ FIRST DREDGE: Mix 3 cups flour, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 tbsp baking powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, paprika, white pepper, cayenne & optional MSG. Drizzle in 3–4 tbsp chicken marinade and mix to create craggly bits. Dip chicken in marinade → press into flour → rest on a rack 10 minutes.
4️⃣ WAFFLES: Mix 3 cups flour, ¼ cup cornstarch, ¼ cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda & 1 tsp fine salt. Separately whisk 4 egg yolks, 2½ cups buttermilk, ½ cup melted butter & 2 tsp vanilla. Stir wet into dry just until combined. Beat 4 egg whites to soft peaks & gently fold in. Cook in a greased waffle maker until golden, about 4–6 minutes each. Keep uncovered on a rack in a 200°F oven.
5️⃣ SECOND DREDGE & FRY: Dip chicken back into marinade, then press into flour again. When the waffles are nearly finished, fry chicken in batches at 350°F for about 3–5 minutes, until crispy & 165°F internal. Drain on a clean rack.
6️⃣NASHVILLE HOT OIL: In a heatproof bowl, combine cayenne, paprika, dark brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, black pepper, kosher salt & optional MSG. Carefully ladle in 1–1½ cups hot fry oil & whisk for 1-2 minutes to let bloom. Dunk or brush onto chicken.
7️⃣ STACK & SERVE: Stack 2–3 waffles, top with 3 tenders & drizzle with warm honey-maple butter syrup. Add butter, powdered sugar & dill pickles if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy, friends :)
—