Can’t decide what to make for breakfast? This Savory Waffles Recipe is perfect for an impressive brunch or make-ahead busy school morning. Cornmeal waffle batter is enhanced with bacon, cheddar cheese, chives, and cornstarch for the best crispy texture! Pair these easy homemade waffles and with an egg and a drizzle of maple syrup for a sweet-and-savory meal.
The exact inspiration for this somewhat unconventional breakfast dish escapes me, but somehow I was inspired to cook up a SAVORY waffle.
A homemade waffle recipe with bites of crispy bacon, cheddar cheese and chives…
Made with a mix of cornmeal and flour…
And then served with a sunny-side up egg.
Ahhh. I think I remember now. It must have been while I was sleeping because these waffles are literally a dream come true!!
Drizzle on a bit of pure maple syrup and you’ve got the most epic sweet-and-savory flavor explosion that is worthy of the haughtiest (or hungoveriest) of brunches.
Double or triple the batch and freeze a bunch for quick and easy weekday breakfasts on-the-go! (Totally guilty of just eating these straight out of my hand! lol)
Ingredients
Savory waffles use the same basic ingredients as a traditional waffle recipe, plus a few extra items which include:
- Flour. Either regular all purpose flour, or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend works in this recipe.
- Cornmeal. This helps to give a chewier bite and subtle corn flavor. Opt for a medium or fine-grit.
- Starch. Cornstarch is used, but tapioca or arrowroot may also be substituted.
- Milk. Buttermilk tastes the best and offers a fluffier texture. Unsweetened oat, cashew, or soy milk are other good options.
- Bacon. Previously cooked and crumbled, you can cook bacon in the oven, make air fryer bacon, or fry it up in a skillet. You want to finely chop it so you get a little bit in every bite.
- Cheese. Shredded cheddar pairs really well with the bacon. Make sure you look for finely shredded instead of thick-cut so it disperses throughout the batter.
- Chives. Cut them smaller so they spread throughout more easily. You can also swap them out for green onion.
- Butter. While a vegan butter substitute or oil may be used, butter gives them the best flavor.
How to Make Savory Waffles
The basic steps for making savory waffles are simple to follow:
- Mix the dry ingredients.
Make sure the leavening agents and and seasonings are well integrated.
- Whisk together the wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
Let the butter cool slightly before pouring in so it doesn’t cook the eggs.
- Add the wet ingredients into the dry.
Stir until just combined. Try not to over-mix as it will prevent the waffles from fluffing up.
- Toss in bacon, cheddar, and chives.
Fold in well so you get a little of everything in each bite.
- Pour waffle batter into a waffle iron that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and cook for 4-6 minutes.
This depends largely on your iron’s instructions. For each one of my 4-inch square waffles it takes about ½ cup of batter.
Serving
You can eat these fabulous savory waffles by themselves, or serve with any of the following:
- Fried or sunny side-up egg
- Dollop of sour cream
- Drizzle of pure maple syrup
- Homemade Guacamole
- Sriracha Mayo
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: Mix up the batter and cook the waffles then save for quick meals later.
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- To Freeze: Place in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3-4 months.
- To Reheat: Pop them in a toaster oven at 350° until warm, in a skillet with a bit of butter, or microwave for 45-60 seconds.
Dietary Modifications
Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help this recipe fit your dietary requirements:
- Gluten-Free – Use a gluten-free flour and cornmeal.
- Dairy-Free – Swap out butter for a vegan butter substitute or oil. And, either leave out the cheese or use a dairy-free cheese.
- Vegetarian – Leave out the bacon or choose a veggie bacon.
FAQs
Try mixing it up with different herbs, various cheeses, bacon, ham or sausage.
Savory waffles are tasty topped with an egg and either syrup or sour cream.
It depends on your waffle iron and the settling, but the cook time ranges anywhere from 3-6 minutes.
Using cornstarch in the batter helps to give the perfect crispy texture to waffles.
Belgian waffles are larger and thicker than American waffles, and have bigger crannies. They also use yeast as a leavening agent, whereas American waffles use baking powder.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Chop it small. Tiny bits of chives and bacon ensure you get some in every bite.
- Finely shredded. This way the cheese disperses more evenly.
- Cook until golden. For the perfect crispy crust don’t undercook them.
- Sweet and savory. Drizzle on some pure maple syrup to take these over-the-top!
- Freeze for later. Make extra and save for easy grab-and-go breakfasts.
More Brunch and Breakfast Recipes
Start your day off the right way with any of the following delicious recipes:
- Dutch Baby Pancake
- Pumpkin Pancakes | Paleo + Gluten Free
- Healthy Baked Oatmeal with Berries
- Breakfast Potato Hash with Eggs
- Corn Flour Pancakes
- Pancakes without Milk
- Easy Mexican Breakfast Casserole
- Air Fryer Bacon
- Savory Dutch Baby
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Savory Waffles Recipe with Bacon & Cheddar
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Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups flour or a gluten free 1-to-1 blend
- ½ cup cornmeal medium grind
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 3 Tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 ¼ tsp. salt to taste
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk regular milk or a plant-based milk
- ¼ cup butter melted and cooled
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 6 oz. bacon cooked and crumbled
- ¼ cup chives chopped
Instructions
- Turn on waffle iron and allow it to heat up for at least 5 minutes while preparing the batter.
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cornmeal, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add eggs, milk, and melted and cooled butter to a separate large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl and mix by hand until well incorporated.
- Stir in shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, and chopped chives until combined.
- Spray the waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray and pour in the waffle batter. Cook according to your waffle iron’s instructions.*
- Serve savory waffles with an over-easy egg, additional fresh chives, and either a drizzle of pure maple syrup -OR- a dollop of sour cream. Enjoy!
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Notes
- I use about ½-⅔ cup of batter for one 4-inch square waffle.
- My waffle iron takes about 5 minutes on medium heat.
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- To Freeze: Place in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3-4 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
