If you haven’t already invested in a waffle maker, these recipes may convince you to splurge. Not only can a waffle maker help you create waffles filled with deep pockets for your syrup, but it can also serve similar functions as a panini press, skillet and more, making it an essential item to have in your kitchen.
Considering your waffle maker can make everything from breakfast items to dinner and snack options, this kitchen appliance will quickly become part of your regular routine. Get ready to put that waffle iron to good use with any of these unexpected recipes:
1. Omelet
Say goodbye to scrambled eggs and make way for easy-to-make omelets. According to this recipe from Slimming Eats, whisking together eggs and your favorite veggies, such as peppers and onions, can create a batter that’s ready to be poured straight into a greased waffle iron and cooked up in no time!
Getting crispy hash Browns has never been so simple. A recipe from Recipe Girl points out that shredded potatoes, fresh rosemary and a little salt and pepper can be added to a waffle iron to create hash browns that are golden and cooked to perfection. And just in case you’re more of a fan of sweet potatoes, you can easily make hash browns with this sweeter version of a potato, as well, Buy them pre-shredded or shred them yourself— you can’t go wrong, no matter which way you choose.
But my favorite method is using tater tots! All you have to do it put the tater tots on the waffle iron, and let the machine do the rest. You’ll have a perfectly shaped potato waffle when you’re done with little to no effort, and I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of that.
3. Cornbread
You won’t even have to preheat the oven to serve up some delicious cornbread. Thanks to this recipe from The Country Cook, you may never eat cornbread the same way again. Cooking it up in a waffle iron gives it the perfect shape for, well, a lot. You can top your cornbread with chili to make a Mexican sope-style dish. You can dunk it into soups. You can slather it with butter and honey and eat it with a fork. The possibilities are practically endless!
4. Quesadilla
Satisfy all of your late-night cravings with minimal clean-up now that you can cook a quesadilla in your waffle maker. This video from the Buzzfeed Food Facebook page shows how simple it is to cook a quesadilla in a waffle iron instead of a skillet. They even loaded theirs with more than just cheese, adding refried beans and salsa before topping the whole thing with more cheese and another tortilla. Game changer!
5. Zucchini Fritters
Whether you’re making appetizers to suit a crowd or meal-prepping for lunch, these zucchini fritters are going to come in handy. This recipe from SweetAsHoney points out how easily these can be made in your waffle iron by combining ingredients such as grated zucchini, parmesan cheese, milk and flour to create a batter and letting your waffle iron take care of the rest!
Two of your favorites have been combined into one ooey, gooey delicious treat. A recipe from Damn Delicious proves that you can majorly upgrade your grilled cheese situation by adding jalapeño slices, bacon and cream cheese into the mix. If that wasn’t impressive enough — you can get this nice and toasty in the waffle iron and devour it in a matter of minutes.
7. Mac ‘N Cheese
Take your mac ‘n cheese up a notch by pouring prepared macaroni and cheese into a waffle iron until it’s nice and toasty and golden brown. The recipe from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom points out that this is a great lunch option for kids, but it’s also perfect for adults with late-night cravings or those who need a convenient and delicious dinner.
These are just some of the ways you can have a waffle iron serve a major role in your kitchen. So warm it up and get cooking!
About the Author
Augusta Statz
I have a B.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I’m an avid writer with a genuine sense of curiosity. I feel the best way to absorb the world around you is through fashion, art and food, so that’s what I spend most of my time writing about.
Cooking in the waffle iron instead of deep-frying means less mess and quicker set-up and clean-up. The imprinted waffle pattern increases the surface area of the cheese, which translates to more crunch and fried-cheese flavor. Waffling the cheese creates divots, which capture and hold sauces quite well.
If your waffle iron or pan has a nonstick surface, you should not use cooking spray. Cooking spray builds up on nonstick surfaces and eventually becomes tacky–rendering the non-stick coating useless.
You must double the amount of fat you use for the pancake mix. For example, you use 1 tablespoon of butter per cup of dry pancake mixture. Instead, add 2 tablespoons of butter to ensure the crispiness of the waffle. However, we recommend using oil over butter.
Their process of operation works as follows: When you pour the batter onto the waffle maker, it starts to spread and cook on the bottom plates. Then you have to flip the machine over allowing direct contact so that the batter pours onto the top plates. This ensures both sides of the waffle brown evenly and cook faster.
Tired of seeing your waffle iron only at breakfast? Use it here, to make these fun and festive cookies. It's quick and easy, and provides and bit of a crisp bite to the outside and a softer cookie inside.
It'll work for sandwiches, but if efficiency is a priority, go for a waffle maker with four grids like this one from All-Clad, once dubbed “the Cadillac of waffle makers.” It can press four standard white bread sandwiches at once.
The top and the sides become too hot when baking. This is normal for Belgian Waffle makers made of stainless steel. It lacks browning control but you can compensate that by adjusting your baking time.
✔️ Classic waffle makers have thinner plates than Belgian waffle makers and yield thinner waffles that are crispier throughout. The main difference between a regular, classic waffle and a Belgian waffle is that classic waffles don't have that thick, fluffy interior.
Another surprising use for parchment paper? It works beautifully in helping to keep your kitchen clean as you bake and cook, says Tomlan. Simply add a small piece to the top of your kitchen scale, panini press, waffle maker, or any other kitchen gadget to avoid scrubbing that innards of that item later.
Nonstick waffle makers should only need a light coating of cooking oil before the first time they're used for the day (not before each waffle is made). It's better to use cooking oil either in a refillable spray bottle like a Misto or to brush it on with a pastry brush.
Cover cheese layer with a second bread slice, creating 2 whole sandwiches. Place 1 sandwich in the waffle iron, taking care not to push down all the way. Wait until the bread begins to soften from the heat before starting to gently close the waffle iron, about 2 minutes.
Stick your leftover french fries in the waffle iron for an awesome, crispy, pull-apart waffle snack. Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Heat your waffle maker as hot as it will go. Heavily salt both sides of your burger patty, then smash it in between the plates of your waffle iron. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the burger is cooked through. Put it on a bun and eat it.
While they are still relatively easy to use, they do not offer the same convenience as a waffle maker and must be monitored to ensure consistent heating. While their simple design makes waffle irons easy to clean, it also results in less uniform waffles.
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