25 Waffle Iron Recipes That Are Easy and Fun

These easy waffle iron recipes are the perfect excuse to dig out your dusty waffle iron! Believe it or not, you can use it for so much more than just breakfast.

And you’re not alone! As much as I love Sunday morning waffles, it’s nice to know you can use an appliance more than once a week. 

Now, some of these might leave you feeling skeptical. What’s a wafflewich, anyway?

But trust me, you’ll love these dishes!

From tasty potato sides to recreating some incredible chicken and waffles at home, you can use your waffle iron for any meal of the day.

1. Mac and Cheese Waffles

When you make your mac and cheese, do you like to broil the top? Do you look for the crispy cheese sections that give your creamy pasta a wonderful crunch?

Then you have to try this! Imagine that amazing crunchy flavor in every single bite.

Just make your favorite mac and cheese and spoon some in the middle of the waffle iron. Don’t forget to spray it with cooking spray to stop anything from sticking. 

Once it’s cooked, you’ll have a toasted edge and tender middle. Try using this as a side for tomato soup.

2. Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese

I love having a thick slice of bread for my grilled cheese, but I often find it starts to burn before the cheese is totally melted. 

Enter: the waffle iron grilled cheese. 

You can have an ultra-thick slice, and then the griddle lines will toast the edges just right.

And cooking it encased in the waffle iron will guarantee melted cheese from the middle to the edges. 

When I make grilled cheese, I go all-out. Brush your bread with some garlic butter mayonnaise and fill it with freshly grated mature cheddar or Gruyere.

Cheese is the star of this show, and you’ll want something that tastes great and will melt just right. 

3. Western Omelet Waffles

I was pleasantly surprised at how this omelet came out. It was tender and fluffy, with a lovely edge that provided some great texture.

You’ll need the waffle iron nice and hot for this one, so you can pour the eggs into the iron and not make a mess. 

As the eggs cook, make yourself some toast and butter liberally. Lay the finished omelet on top and add a drizzle of hot sauce. 

4. Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles

Did that title catch your eye like it did mine? Omg, this is one helluva recipe!

These are an excellent little snack or work perfectly as a side to pretty much anything. With beef, pork, eggs, or even fish, I dare you not to love these. 

By using mashed potatoes, you’ll end up with an incredible crust and fluffy interior that is going to be your new favorite.

Goodbye, French fries. So long hash browns. From now on, it’s mashed potato waffles for me.

5. Pizza Waffles

These waffle iron pizza pockets are a thing of beauty.

Using crescent rolls is such a great way to make a shortcut crust that’s tasty and flaky and requires zero prep time. 

The only thing you might struggle with here is to not overfill these babies. Sure, you’ll want lots of filling, so every bite is better than the last. But resist, if you can.

The good news is, you should only add the cheese and any topping to the middle. By keeping the pizza sauce on the side, you’ll saving yourself any mess.

6. Bisquick Waffles

Bisquick is a fantastic ingredient to work with. If you didn’t catch my post 18 Easy Bisquick Recipes, I suggest you check it out for some more amazing ways to use Bisquick. 

As for the waffles, these come out fluffy and tender every time. Even with the added sugar, this mix can be used for savory dishes, too. 

7. Waffle Cheeseburger

You’ve probably had chicken and waffles, but what about burgers and waffles?

This is so easy to make, using that Bisquick waffle mix, and some shredded cheese.

The cheese will melt into the waffle, adding amazing savory flavor, and the texture is to die for. 

You might find a Belgian waffle to be too big for this, but a normal waffle iron would be perfect.

8. Waffle Iron Quesadillas

Do you make your quesadillas in the microwave, like a monster? Or do you use a pan to get that toasted edge?

Well, how about using a waffle iron instead? It seems crazy, but I know you’ll want to try it out!

Just add your mix to the machine and layer in your fillings. Some will seep into the batter, but most will heat through and melt in the middle. 

Serve with a generous helping of spicy guacamole and some fresh salsa. 

9. Waffle Iron Hash Browns

My favorite part of the hash brown is the edges. Golden, crunchy, and hard to resist, this recipe guarantees plenty of crunch. 

The worst thing is a mushy hash brown, and when cooking them in a pan, it’s too easy to turn the edges and leave the middle soggy.

The waffle iron takes all the guesswork out and leaves you with crunchy pockets of salted potato that are perfect for holding a little cheese. 

10. S’mores Waffles with Nutella and Toasted Coconut

There’s no denying that these waffles are a little extra. I mean, a waffle sandwich with marshmallow would be sweet enough!

But if you’re going to indulge, why stop half-way? Adding Nutella provides all the nutty, rich goodness you’ll need to make these a true s’mores explosion.

I like to change out the toasted coconut for chopped nuts.

11. Waffle Iron Cinnamon Apples

Grilled fruit is such an underrated dish. By cooking your fruit slices, you’ll help to release the natural juices, and the longer they cook, the more they can caramelize. 

All you’ll need for this recipe is some sugar and cinnamon.

I like to dip each side of the fruit slice in the cinnamon sugar, so you know the whole thing will have a sweet coating. 

Serve them with a scoop of ice cream or with some crumbled store-bought meringue and whipped cream.

12. Waffle Iron Brownies

I don’t think I have to explain that these won’t be the fudgy brownies you’re used to.

By cooking them in the waffle iron, you’ll cook the whole thing into more of a cake-like brownie.

In fact, they’re essentially brownie waffles and are perfect for breakfast! It’s the same great flavor in the waffle texture we all love.

These are a great way to step up your breakfast game. They would make the perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast!

Add some whipped cream and fresh strawberries, and you’re in for a real treat.

13. Doughnut Waffles with Maple Glaze

Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, these doughnut waffles are the cutest!

I love the smaller serving for these, and the thick glaze just sets the whole thing off to perfection. 

Of course, you can make these full-sized, but with the glaze, you might struggle to finish a whole one.

14. Waffle-Iron Cookies

If you can make brownies and doughnuts in a waffle iron, why not a batch of cookies?

These start with a good creaming of the butter and sugars. I’m talking more than 5 minutes until they’re super fluffy and light.

Finish how you would a normal cookie recipe, but be ready for a pretty thick dough.

Spray your waffle iron, and place a big ball of the cookie dough right in the middle. Don’t flatten it down. Let the iron do that.

After about 5 minutes, they should be just right. 

15. Wafflewich

Have you ever heard of the Elvis sandwich? That amazing concoction of peanut butter, banana, and bacon?

This is close, and you’ll need a nap after it’s done.

You can use frozen waffles for this recipe if you have them. Place one on the bottom and fill with sliced bananas and mini-marshmallows.

On the other half, smear a decent amount of peanut butter before sandwiching it all together. 

At this point, you can add in some bacon too. Why not?

Once you cook this, everything will be ooey-gooey, messy, and perfect. Enjoy!

16. Cornbread Waffles

Just close your eyes and picture this: perfectly tender pulled pork sitting on a cornbread waffle with lots of crunchy slaw and some spicy BBQ sauce drizzled over the top. 

Are you already in the kitchen?

If you have a go-to recipe for cornbread, or like to use a boxed mix, go for it. Otherwise, this recipe can be altered easily to make just the right amount.

17. Birthday Cake Mix Waffles

What’s better than breakfast waffles? Funfetti breakfast waffles!

Using a cake mix might seem a bit odd, but when you think about it, it’s essentially the same as using Bisquick.

Cake mixes will just have a little more sugar inside.

You can use a Funfetti mix if you have it, or just add some rainbow sprinkles to your mix.

Don’t be shy with those, as they will melt into the batter as it cooks. 

Top these with hot fudge sauce and whipped cream. And don’t forget the candle!

18. Waffle Cake

I think we all have that one friend that doesn’t “like” cake. But I’ll bet they love a stack of waffles. 

So, what better way to celebrate their big day than with a waffle cake? It’s not overly sweet, and the filling is super creamy. 

You can use any kind of waffle here. The Funfetti, especially, would make a colorful option.

19. Falafel Waffles

Not only does this rhyme, but it’s also savory and vegan!

I love making falafel, and having them in waffle-form makes them the perfect base for everything from hummus to salad and even roasted pork.

The base for these is ground chickpeas, giving the waffles a great flavor along with wonderful texture.

The best part is that it can all be made in a food processor, making your prep-time nice and short. 

If you’re a cilantro hater, substitute for parsley, and don’t over-mix the batter. You’ll want it a little chunky. 

20. Bacon & Cheddar Waffle Biscuits

This one might be a bit controversial. Although I absolutely LOVE these bacon and cheese waffle biscuits, I get that some of you might be thinking I’m nuts. 

Biscuits are supposed to be light and fluffy! The waffle iron will crush all that air out!

Yes, yes, it will. But it’s ok. You’ll still get that great flavor, and the crust is truly something special. 

21. Homemade Chicken and Waffles Recipe

It’s a combination that works any time of the day. I fell in love fast with chicken and waffles and will order it often.

I still remember one particular meal in Tallinn, Estonia, where they served fried duck and waffles with a sweet hoisin sauce. It was so good!

If ever there was a recipe for you to try making fried chicken at home, it is this one. 

The two key components of fried chicken are buttermilk and seasoned flour. These are essential to getting that tender and flavorful chicken. 

22. Savory Zucchini Waffle Fritters

Paleo, grain-free, and gluten-free, these are an awesome side dish or quick snack. 

Between the zucchini, spinach, onion, and coconut aminos, there’s no lack of flavor or nutrients. 

I usually make these to go along with pork chops or roasted chicken, and they add a nice touch of color to any plate.

23. Homemade Waffle Ice-cream Sandwiches

Sometimes, I forget that I’m a grown-up who can make waffle ice cream sandwiches at 3 pm on a Tuesday.

Needless to say, I had to stop writing this list and make myself a snack. It was so worth it!

I think those Funfetti waffles would make an excellent option for this, or the brownies, too.

The trick to getting that perfect looking sandwich is to gently pull the whole block of ice cream out of the container and slice off a portion. 

24. Sweet Potato Waffles

We like sweet potato pie so much, why wouldn’t we like sweet potato waffles? Not only are they wonderful flavorful, but they’re super vibrant.

You will need to cook your potatoes first – either boil or bake them – and mash them up nice and smooth.

Let the potatoes cool a little before adding them into the blender with the other ingredients. You’ll want everything blended well. 

They will need at least 4 to 5 minutes to cook, and then top them with some maple syrup and chopped pecans. 

25. Blueberry Waffles

Classic, sweet, colorful, and absolutely delicious, blueberry waffles are always going to be some of my faves. 

When I make blueberry waffles, I always double the recipe and freeze half.

That way, you can pull out a portion whenever you need it. They usually fit into a toaster just right!