I’ll admit it: I’ve underappreciated my waffle maker, pushing it to the back corner to make room for flashier appliances like an air fryer or stand mixer. But this appliance is more versatile than you might think. With variable heat levels and direct food contact, it delivers crispy edges and fluffy centers on everything from cookies to croissants.
I’m a trained chef, a recipe developer, and a product tester in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & CookingLab. In addition to testing my own waffled creations in the Lab, I also sourced expert tips from the culinary pros in the GH Test Kitchen. Needless to say, my waffle maker is officially out of retirement and here to stay.
Here are the best things to make in your waffle maker for your next brunch, birthday party, or Tuesday morning breakfast.
Stuffing
Next time you’re blessed with leftover stuffing (who said you have to wait for Thanksgiving?), turn it into crispy, savory stuffing waffles. This is GH Recipe Editor Susan Choung’s favorite way to use her waffle maker.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium and cook a half-cup of stuffing until golden, about 4 minutes.
Banana bread
Press a slice of fresh—or a few days’ old—banana or zucchini bread in your waffle maker to liven it up. The high sugar content in quick breads can burn in a traditional toaster or under the oven broiler, but a waffle maker offers more uniform heat distribution. Choose a lower heat level and check often to make sure nothing burns.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium-low and cook one to two slices for 3 to 4 minutes, until crisp.
Tater tots
Trish Clasen Marsanico, GH Deputy Food Editor, loves to make breakfast-ready hash browns by waffling frozen tater tots into a crispy cake. Top it with a fried egg or dip it in ketchup for the diner experience at home.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium-high. Add 1 serving of frozen tater tots to the center of the plate and cook until warmed through and golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes.
Frittata
Egg- and veggie-packed frittatas are crowd-pleasers for breakfast or brunch. Instead of baking it in the oven, pour the batter into your waffle maker (be sure to leave room for expansion) to make fluffy individual frittatas with plenty of crispy edges.
You could even let guests add their own toppings. Just mix up the eggs with a splash of milk, salt, and pepper, and let everyone add their favorite shredded cheese, chopped veggies, or breakfast meats.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium. Add a ladleful (about a 1/2 cup) of egg mixture and cook until set in the center and crisp on the edges, about 5 minutes.
Crispy rice
If you usually make fried rice with leftover grains, next time try a golden rice waffle that’s maximally crispy. Top it with anything from homemade tuna poke to smoked salmon to a fried egg.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium-high. Press about a half cup of cooked rice (ideally day-old) in the center of the plate and cook until crispy, about 4 minutes.
French toast
What’s better than waking up to a fresh batch of French toast? How about French toast dotted with pockets to collect maple syrup and butter? Instead of searing slices in a skillet, press them in the waffle maker for extra caramelization.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium. Soak thick slices of challah or another airy bread in a mixture of well-beaten eggs and milk for a few seconds per side. Place on the waffle maker and cook until the center is firm and golden, about 3 minutes.
Cornbread
Instead of pouring your cornbread batter into a baking dish and sticking it in the oven, take GH Chief Food Director Kate Merker’s lead and ladle it into your waffle maker. “It’s a fun way to create tons of nooks and crannies for butter, hot honey, or even a spoonful of chili,” she says.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium. Pour about a ladelful (about a half-cup) of cornbread batter into the center, and cook until set in the center and golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
Chocolate chip cookies
You can have a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie in less than 5 minutes without turning on the oven, thanks to your waffle maker.
Try it: Heat the waffle maker to medium-low. Press a half-cup of cookie dough into the center of the griddle, close the lid, and cook for four minutes. For a firmer cookie, add another minute or two.
Biscuits
Make breakfast biscuits in a flash by pressing store-bought dough, such as Pillsbury Grands! They make an excellent foundation for a sandwich with egg, cheese, and bacon, or smothered in gravy.
Try it: Preheat the waffle maker to medium. Place one or two refrigerated biscuit rounds in the center of the plates and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown.
Croissants
Revive day-old croissants by crisping them up in the waffle maker. The buttery layers become crunchy and flaky again, and the flattened shape is a beautiful base for toppings like crème fraîche and smoked salmon or Nutella.
Try it: Preheat the waffle maker to medium. Lightly flatten a croissant with the heel of your hand and place it in the center of the plates. Cook for four minutes, until dimpled and browned.
Quesadillas
Unlike a flat griddle, a waffle maker applies heat and pressure to both sides of your quesadilla at once. The result is an ultra-crispy tortilla sandwich with your favorite fillings.
Try it: Preheat the waffle maker to medium-high. Place a tortilla on the plate, cover with shredded cheese, leaving a half-inch border, and top with a second tortilla. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the top is golden brown.
Calzones
Here’s the plan for your next low-key pizza night: Instead of firing up your oven, make dimpled stuffed calzones.
Try it: Divide pizza dough into roughly 6-ounce rounds. Stretch one portion of dough over the surface of the waffle maker, then add 1 to 2 tablespoons of sauce, any toppings, and cheese, leaving a half-inch border. Place a second piece of dough on top, ensuring that the toppings are fully enclosed. Lower the lid and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until puffed, golden, and cooked through.
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Lizzy Briskin is a contributing writer and analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She’s been putting her culinary degree to use for over a decade, writing about food, developing recipes, and testing kitchen appliances. She believes every well-equipped kitchen needs a waffle maker.
