Taco Chicken Waffles
This easy chicken waffle recipe is a healthy, protein-packed toddler lunch! Made with canned chicken, cheddar, egg, and taco spices, these savoury & flavour packed waffles are ready in just 7 minutes.
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Taco? Chicken? In a waffle iron??!
I hope you're intrigued and willing to take a step of faith with this one, because it's going to become your new go-to quick toddler lunch idea!
Taco chicken waffles are a savoury, flourless waffle made from canned chicken, egg, cheddar, ground flax, and taco spices. They take 2 minutes to prep and 5 minutes to cook, and the recipe makes 4 waffles with 21 g of protein each. They suit toddlers (and the whole family), with a crisp cheese crust outside and a soft inside.
If you're still feeling hesitant, you're not alone! Jessica's school-aged kids stared at the taco chicken waffles on their plates for a couple of minutes, and she was sure they were going to reject them without even the tiniest of tastes. Then one boy, and then the other, took a tentative bite and was instantly hooked. Both were disappointed when the savoury waffles were gone. They've done this before with the lentil and beef meat buns we make every few months!
Learn from us, consider doubling the batch for these chicken taco waffles! But if you don't, and your family winds up wanting more, it only takes about seven minutes to prepare another batch. We call that a win!
But listen, if you're in need of a waffle recipe that's also on the sweet side, make space for the one bowl banana waffles our kids are also all over.
Recipe Overview: Taco Chicken Waffles
⏱️ 2 minutes to prep, 5 minutes to cook
💪 21 grams of protein to help keep little tummies full
🥑 Kids love to dip them! Think salsa, sour cream, greek yogurt, and guacamole🛒 No hard-to-find ingredients, just trusty staples
💰 Budget friendly (here are 11 more tips to save on groceries when feeding your kiddo)
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Key ingredients
Canned chicken breast chunks
A shelf stable and often more affordable way to buy chicken. We love keeping it on hand for quick meals packed with protein. The soft texture also works so well for little eaters.
Looking for a substitute? You can also use 300g of rotisserie chicken, chopped into small pieces/shreds.
Egg
A nutrition powerhouse we love to include in recipes for babies and toddlers. In this waffle recipe it helps bind everything together and bumps up the protein a bit too!
Ground flaxseed
These serve as a source fibre and healthy omega 3 fats, two nutrients that important for growing children.
Don't hesitate to buy a big bag of ground flaxseed either! We sprinkle it in smoothies, on oatmeal, and add it to recipes like our viral "softest pumpkin cookies for toddler and kids" and toddler friendly healthy carrot zucchini muffins.
Cheddar cheese
We're fans of the flavour cheddar cheese lends here (not to mention the crispy outside and cheesy interior - seriously yum!!). Mozzarella cheese would also work well.
Allergen information and substitutes
Eggs and dairy are the only top allergens in this waffle recipe. If you are looking to avoid eggs you could substitute with a 'flax egg' by mixing 1 tablespoon of flaxseed with 2 ½ tablespoon of hot water. For full 'flax egg' instructions check out our dietitian's comprehensive guide to feeding a baby who doesn't eat eggs.
If you're navigating a cow's milk allergy at home, instead of cheese made from dairy, you can look for a cheese alternative that's already working for your family!
If you're feeling unsure about allergens for your baby, we got you too! We have an entire lesson on introducing allergens in our *5-star* Start Solids Confidently ecourse that will leave you feeling empowered to feed your baby all the things!
How to make Taco Chicken Waffles
The full recipe is below and we strongly encourage you to watch the video too, but here are a few key steps to visualize the process.
Step #1. Preheat waffle maker. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
Step #2: Scoop batter evenly, to get 4 waffles. Use a muffin scooper for ease and equal-sized waffles.
Step #3: Cook until crispy on both sides.
Step #4: Plate and serve up to your family with salsa and sour cream.
Serving suggestions for each age & stage
4-12 months: Not recommended. The crispy texture is hard for babies to manage, and canned chicken and cheddar are higher in sodium than what we advise for a baby. Each waffle has about 538 mg of sodium, and the recipe has no added salt so it can't be omitted. For baby lunches that suit this stage, try our sweet potato lentil fritters or veggie black bean burgers.
Toddlers (1-3 years): Slice the waffles into finger-sized strips or bite-sized pieces so they're easy to grab. The cheese crust is thin, and the canned chicken keeps the inside soft.
Older kids and the rest of the family: Serve them whole. The cheese crisp makes them sturdy enough to hold with one hand, which our kids think is silly!
A note on the dips: Salsa, sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt, and guacamole are half the fun, and they add extra nutrition. Check the salsa label, since store-bought versions vary a lot in sodium. Plain Greek yogurt is a good lower-sodium pick.
Taco Chicken Waffles FAQs:
We've tested this recipe out by substituting 300g of finely chopped/shredded rotisserie chicken, and it worked well!
When the cheese crisps and releases from the waffle maker they're done, as long as the coating on your waffle maker is intact. If you try to open your waffle maker and the top doesn't release, they need a bit more time.
As long as the non-stick coating on your waffle maker is intact there's no need to grease your waffle maker. The fat released from the cheese cooking should be enough to prevent sticking.
Use about ⅓ cup of batter for each waffle. We like to use a ¼ cup muffin scoop and fill it extra full when scooping this batter. We've linked one below! Tbh - these muffin scoops are G.O.A.Ts in our kitchens. They make scooping healthy carrot zucchini muffins, pumpkin cookies, fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes a dream.
We don't often have leftovers with chicken waffles (they're that good!). When we do, we've found an air fryer is the best way to reheat them. It avoids burning that could happen in the toaster and sogginess that the microwave can cause.
While we haven't frozen them ourselves, it should be just fine. For best results we'd recommend cooling them completely prior to freezing, thawing them in the fridge, and then air frying to reheat. If you try this we'd love to hear how it goes :).
Yes! These waffles add a fun twist to nutrient-packed lunches. Our kids love getting them and we love sending them - a win-win!
One tip? Make sure to cool them completely before putting them in the fridge. This will keep the crust as crispy as possible for lunches later on.
Play + books that match this recipe
The concept of a savory waffle might be new to you...and your child! To help warm them up this recipe we recommend weaving in reading books about food and imaginative play that is strategic so they become more comfortable with the food, and are more likely to want to eat what you serve.
Here are some ideas for you:
More toddler lunchbox recipes
If you tried these Taco Chicken Waffles or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Taco Chicken Waffles
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (354g or 12.5 oz) can chicken breast chunks, water drained *see note below for substitution
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoon ground flax seed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Preheat waffle iron to medium.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients with a fork.
- Scoop batter evenly to make four waffles.
- Cook until crispy on both sides. The waffle should release easily from the waffle iron. If it doesn't, cook a little longer.
- Serve with salsa, sour cream/plain Greek yogurt, or guacamole - or all three!
