Food trends come and go, but while they’re in town, man, do they go to town! At one point, there was the crock-pot obsession. Then, it was all about kale, followed by a legit cauliflower craze. Now, we’re moving from veggie mania and turning to waffle ironing.
Yes, waffle ironing. It’s the next food craze and here’s what to expect from the waffle-ironing trend.
From waffles to whatever!
Waffle irons evoke cozy thoughts of weekend brunches. There’s just something irresistible about pouring a ladle of running batter into a piping hot iron. You wait a few minutes and voila! Your waffle is perfectly golden brown on the outside, and warm and soft on the inside.
What better place to melt butter and drizzle your favorite maple syrup?
It’s hard to imagine ever getting bored with just-ready waffles, but it seems that’s exactly what happened.
How else did we end up with so many creative waffle iron ideas that are a far cry from the traditional, tried-and-true waffles.
But we’re not saying the waffle-ironing food craze is a bad thing. In fact, these recipes look pretty darn good. And if these 11 ideas aren’t enough incentive to dust off your neglected waffle iron, we’re not sure what is!
Ready to jump on the waffle-ironing wagon? Here are top quality waffle irons from Amazon!
11 crazy (good) waffle-ironing recipes
Waffled Falafel with Tzatziki and Lemon Rice
Woah! You didn’t see this one coming, did you? If you love falafels but want something slightly healthier, you get all the savory goodness of a falafel, minus the fried aspect. Yum!
Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwiches
Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this sandwich is what would happen if Thanksgiving and Sunday brunch had a baby.
It’s safe to say that the Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich is a major upgrade on any grilled cheese sandwich you’ve ever had. It’s an amazing combination of waffles, the bite of Swiss cheese, sweet raspberry jam, savory ham and more.
Sweet Potato Hash Browns Made with a Waffle Iron
Potatoes are tricky. You can either fry them and end up with a greasy mess. Or you can try the healthier, baking option. But then, most of us over-bake and even burn them.
No thanks, right? With a waffle iron, you get perfectly crispy sweet potato hash. Groundbreaking!
Waffle BLT with Fresh Herb Spread
Sure, these take a little more time than your average BLT, but we say it’s totally worth it. Warm waffles are the perfect place to layer in crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and tomatoes. A refreshing herb spread, made with basil and dill, brings it all together.
Waffle Churro French Toast Sticks
Deep frying traditional churros can be dangerous, time-consuming and an unsuccessful attempt at this tasty dessert. So, skip the frying and try your waffle iron instead.
The best part?
These churros are batter-free. Instead, you get to use bread slices, bread crumbs, a cinnamon and sugar topping, and of course, a dipping sauce that’s to die for.
Spicy Tuna Melts with Sriracha
Why not bring your love for tuna melts to the waffle iron? It’s a great way to spice up your lunch and dinner menu. And here again, you can forget about using a messy batter. Instead, make your tuna melts with traditional bread slices before placing them in the waffle iron.
S’mores Waffles with Nutella and Toasted Coconut
S’mores are what make summer nights so special. And for most of use, we have to leave behind these summer favorites behind when winter rolls around.
But this recipe lets you enjoy S’Mores all year long. Start with a traditional batter, and go to town with Nutella, mini marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers.
Egg Waffles
Change how you do brunch with this quick and easy egg dish. Throw in your favorite pre-cooked sausage and cheese for something that’s sure to impress.
Pepperoni Pizza Waffles
If pizza is a favorite dish for you and your family, this is a natural next step – especially if you like to roll up your sleeves and spend time in the kitchen. The pizza dough is an Italian-infused batter, filled with homemade sauce, your favorite pepperoni, and cheese.
It’s such a delicious way to do pizza you have to wonder why you never thought of it before.
Easy Mac and Cheese Waffles
Mac and Cheese is a staple meal and probably a favorite among your kids. But let’s face it. Kids get bored. Yes – even for the gooey goodness of macaroni and cheese.
If that’s the case, this recipe comes to the rescue. All you do is make the Mac and Cheese just as you normally would. But before you serve it, heat up your waffle iron and fill it with your ready-made Mac and cheese.
After about five minutes, dinner is ready and your kids will be so happy. Just be sure to make some for yourself – this isn’t just kid food!
Spicy Chicken and Cheddar Waffle Sandwich
Even one of America’s favorite home chefs, Rachael Ray, got on the waffle iron mania, and her recipe doesn’t disappoint.
Her waffles are infused with sharp white cheddar cheese, chopped scallions and even a surprising sprinkle of nutmeg. Buttermilk batter for spicy fried chicken cutlets and a homemade maple mustard sauce will make you reach for seconds – and probably even thirds.
Dark Chocolate Waffles
Simply delicious, these decadent dark chocolate waffles use unsweetened cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate (at least 70 percent cacao), and tangy buttermilk, giving you the perfect solution for your chocolate cravings.
When you need something a little extra special, top with butter, ice cream, whipped cream, fresh berries or even maple syrup.
Flourless Peanut Butter Waffles
If these waffle recipes have made you worry about your waistline, we thought we’d finish it off with a healthy, protein-rich waffle recipe.
What’s more, these fluffy waffles are gluten-free and dairy-free and made with a host of healthy ingredients, like unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon and your favorite plant-based milk alternative, such as almond milk.
