Craving a delicious and satisfying breakfast that fits your keto lifestyle? Look no further than the keto waffle breakfast sandwich! This recipe combines the crispy goodness of chaffles with savory fillings for a meal that will keep you energized and full for hours. This article will guide you through making the best keto chaffles and assembling a mouthwatering breakfast sandwich.
What is a Chaffle?
If you're new to the keto world, you might be wondering, "What exactly is a chaffle?" A chaffle is a low-carb waffle made primarily from cheese and eggs. It emerged as a popular keto-friendly alternative to traditional waffles in 2021 and has since become a staple in many low-carb diets. The name "chaffle" comes from combining the words "cheese" and "waffle," perfectly describing this simple yet versatile creation.
Why Chaffles?
Chaffles are not only a quick low-carb breakfast idea but also a fantastic keto bread substitute for your favorite sandwiches. What makes chaffles so appealing is their simplicity and versatility. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a base for endless savory and sweet variations. They're perfect for those following a ketogenic diet or anyone looking for a healthier, low-carb alternative to traditional waffles or bread.
Core Ingredients for Keto Chaffles
To make a basic savory keto chaffle, you only need two ingredients:
- Freshly shredded cheese
- An egg white
Essential Equipment
The only piece of kitchen equipment you need to make these keto chaffles is a waffle maker. While a mini waffle maker like the Dash is ideal for making chaffles, you can still use a regular waffle iron if that’s what you have. Here are a few recommended waffle makers:
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- Dash Mini Waffle Maker: This is a popular choice for chaffles due to its perfect size, creating two 4-inch chaffles from one batch of batter. Its compact design is also great for saving kitchen space.
- Dash Multi Mini Waffle Maker: If you’re cooking for a crowd, this waffle maker is a lifesaver as it makes four 4-inch chaffles at once.
- Black and Decker Waffle Maker/Griddle Combo: A versatile option that can be used for both waffles and melts.
- Oster Belgium Waffle Maker: This waffle maker has adjustable heat settings, allowing you to achieve a crispier waffle.
Basic Chaffle Instructions
Here’s how to make a basic chaffle using a Dash Mini Waffle Maker:
- Preheat the Dash mini waffle maker for 3-4 minutes until hot. Brush the plates with melted butter or oil.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese on each plate.
- In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg white until foamy, then mix in ½ cup shredded cheddar. Let the batter sit for 1-2 minutes.
- When the waffle maker is ready, ladle half of the batter onto the bottom plate and spread evenly with the back of a spoon. Close the top plate gently.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes until deep golden brown. Carefully remove the crisp chaffle with a fork.
- Repeat the process with the remaining batter to make a second chaffle.
Tips for the Perfect Chaffle
Achieving the perfect chaffle texture can sometimes be tricky. Here are some tips to ensure your chaffles turn out golden brown and crispy every time:
- Use Egg Whites: Using just the egg white results in a crispier texture and eliminates that overly “eggy” taste. The yolk contains most of the fat, which can make the texture dense and the taste more noticeable.
- Preheat Properly: Make sure your waffle iron is fully preheated before adding the batter. If you are using the Dash Waffle Maker, the light will turn off when it is preheated.
- Sprinkle Cheese Directly on the Waffle Maker: This creates a crispy base.
- Don't Open Too Soon: Whenever a chaffle sticks to the waffle maker, it's most likely because you tried to open it too soon before it was ready to release. The batter hasn't finished cooking so it sticks to the waffle maker. Just close it and let it cook some more until the waffle can easily come out.
- Let Cool Slightly: Letting your chaffles cool for a minute or two before digging in makes a huge difference. This allows the steam to escape, reducing moisture and helping them crisp up.
- Double Cook (Optional): For an even crispier texture, pop the cooled chaffles back into the waffle maker for another minute or two to dry them out further.
Assembling the Keto Chaffle Breakfast Sandwich
Now that you know how to make the perfect chaffle, let's assemble a delicious keto breakfast sandwich. Here’s a recipe that combines savory flavors for a satisfying meal:
Ingredients:
- For the Chaffles:
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup almond flour
- Salt to taste
- Avocado oil spray
- For the Bacon:
- 4 slices of bacon
- For the Scrambled Eggs:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp butter
- For the Guacamole:
- ½ avocado
- 1 tsp lime juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Other:
- 2 slices of Swiss cheese
Instructions:
- Prepare the Chaffles:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place an 8x8 inch baking pan in oven to warm.
- Plug in mini waffle maker to heat.
- In a medium sized bowl, add eggs and beat lightly.
- Add almond flour and salt. Stir until completely combined. Add mozzarella cheese and stir until combined.
- When waffle maker is hot, spray top and bottom surfaces with avocado oil spray. Add approximately ¼ cup of chaffle batter to waffle maker. Close cover and heat for 3-4 minutes or until browned.
- Remove chaffle and place in pan in the oven to keep warm. Repeat process of spraying with avocado oil and heating chaffles until all batter is used. Recipe makes 4 chaffles.
- Place a slice of swiss cheese on 2 of the chaffles in the oven. Allow to melt while working on the other sandwich ingredients.
- Cook the Bacon:
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until cooked to desired doneness. Drain and cut each piece in two.
- Make the Scrambled Eggs:
- While bacon and chaffles are cooking, in a small bowl, whisk eggs with heavy cream, salt, and pepper until combined.
- In a medium pan over medium low heat, melt butter. Add egg mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until eggs are cooked through.
- Prepare the Guacamole:
- In a separate small bowl, mash avocado with lime juice, salt and pepper.
- Assemble the Sandwich:
- Place each chaffle that has been topped with cheese on a plate. Top with half of the scrambled eggs. Top this with half of the bacon. Spread half of the guacamole on each remaining chaffle and top the sandwich with this. If your cheese isn’t completely melted, microwave each sandwich for 20-30 seconds or until cheese is melted.
- Enjoy!
Variations and Customizations
The beauty of chaffles lies in their versatility. Here are some variations and customizations to try:
- Cheese Options: Experiment with different cheeses like Monterey Jack, Colby, provolone, pepper jack, or a blend for extra flavor.
- Seasonings: Add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or Everything But the Bagel seasoning to the batter.
- Bacon Chaffle: Add crispy, crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar to the batter for the perfect breakfast chaffle.
- Taco Chaffles: Use chaffles as a crispy taco shell and fill them with seasoned taco meat, cheese, and your favorite toppings.
- Open-Faced French Dip Chaffles: Add leftover roast and provolone cheese to the top of a chaffle and bake until the cheese is hot and bubbly.
- Club Chaffle Sandwich: Add your favorite lunchmeats, lettuce, cheese, tomato, and condiments for a fantastic keto club sandwich.
- Grilled Cheese Chaffle: A keto-friendly version of a classic grilled cheese sandwich.
- Maple Pumpkin Keto Waffles: Sweetened naturally with sugar-free maple syrup and bursting with pumpkin spice, perfect with roasted pecans and a scoop of sugar-free ice cream.
- Blueberry Chaffles: Add blueberries to the batter for a sweet and fruity twist.
- Egg and sausage chaffle: Sandwich egg and sausage between two maple flavored chaffles resulting in a breakfast bite that is similar to a McGriddle sandwich!
Storage and Meal Prep
Chaffles are great for meal prepping. Here’s how to store them:
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- Refrigerating: Properly stored, chaffles will last 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze them. Once cooled, place your chaffles in a freezer bag or airtight container, separating each with parchment paper. Frozen chaffles will keep for 3-4 months.
Reheating Instructions
To reheat frozen keto Mcgriddles, unwrap the plastic wrap and wrap in a paper towel. Microwave on the defrost setting or at 30% for 2 minutes. Then microwave on high for 50 seconds or until heated through.
Addressing Common Concerns
- Are chaffles eggy? They can be, especially if you’re sensitive to the taste of eggs. However, using just egg whites instead of whole eggs significantly reduces the eggy flavor.
- My chaffle stuck to the waffle maker. What did I do wrong? Whenever a chaffle sticks to the waffle maker, it's most likely because you tried to open it too soon before it was ready to release. The batter hasn't finished cooking so it sticks to the waffle maker. Just close it and let it cook some more until the waffle can easily come out. Although not always necessary, you could spray the waffle iron plates with cooking spray before adding the waffle batter.
The Ultimate On-The-Go Keto Breakfast
If you are looking for an easy keto breakfast that you can take with you on the go - to work or school, then this keto chaffle breakfast sandwich is your answer. What makes this the ultimate on-the-go keto breakfast is that you can meal prep these ahead of time and store in the freezer for later. Then when you are running late for school or work, wrap it in a paper towel and microwave for 90 seconds.
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