Chicken & Pumpkin Waffles

Chicken & Pumpkin Waffles

INGREDIENTS

• 6 frozen chicken tenders

• ½ cup green onion for garnish

Waffle

• 1/3 cup pancake or waffle mix

• 1 egg

• 1/8 cup vegetable oil

• ½ cup pumpkin puree

• ½ Tbsp cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger

Syrup

• 1 cup honey

• 1 cup maple syrup

• 1 tsp granulated garlic

• 1 tsp paprika

• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

• ¼ tsp salt

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Cinnamon Crunch Praline Pecans

• 1 egg white

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 lb pecans

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

• 1/2 tsp ginger

• 1/2 tsp allspice

• 1/4 tsp cloves

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Candied Bacon

• 4 pieces of bacon

• A sprinkle of brown sugar

• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Cream Cheese

• 8 oz cream cheese

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• 1 Tbsp maple syrup

• 1 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the batter: Add the pancake mix, egg, oil, pumpkin puree and spices to a bowl with water and mix until smooth, then sit to the side.

2. Make the syrup: Add the honey, maple syrup, granulated garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and apple cider vinegar to a sauce pot then bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and pour into a container and place in the fridge to cool.

3. Make the pecans: Add the egg white and vanilla to a bowl and whip until light and frothy. Add the pecans, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves and salt to the bowl and mix together. Then place on a lined baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.

4. Make the bacon: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place your bacon down. Sprinkle bacon with brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Cook at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until bacon is cooked to your liking. When cooled, chop bacon and set aside for assembling.

5. Make the cream cheese: Place cream cheese in a kitchen aid mixer with powdered sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon. Whip till light and fluffy, then set aside for assembling.

6. Make the chicken: You can bake or air fry the chicken tenders. Cook according to the package or 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

7. Time to assemble! Preheat the waffle iron to 350 degrees. Cook until the timer goes off and the waffle is nice and crispy. Cut the waffle in half and place in the following order: waffle, chicken tenders, candied bacon, candied pecans, syrup, cream cheese and finish with green onions.

By Jason Anderson, Boone Health Chef