Easy Keto Chaffle Recipe – Crispy Low-Carb Waffles
Keto Chaffles is the recipe that took social media by storm! All you need are 2 ingredients: freshly shredded cheese & an egg white to make this basic savory keto chaffle recipe. Crisp and delicious without tasting eggy, this base recipe is so versatile you can make many kinds of chaffles, both sweet and savory.
Easy Keto Chaffles
It seems that recipes for Keto Chaffles popped into the keto world overnight. With an incredibly easy base recipe, you can make many kinds of chaffles. While I did not originally create this recipe, I’ve been testing many different variations to make the best keto chaffle recipe with the perfect crisp texture and delicious taste.
All the details are in this post, along with variations, substitutions, step-by-step pictures, and a video tutorial. This traditional Chaffle recipe is a fantastic alternative to bread and makes perfectly delicious low-carb sandwiches.
Can you use a regular waffle maker to make Chaffles?
Yes, you can use a Belgium or a regular waffle maker. The surface area of both is larger than the Dash mini maker, so you won’t fill it with batter. The grates are larger and farther apart, which makes a less crisp chaffle.
Where can I buy the Dash mini waffle maker?
I am a fan of Amazon Prime because I can order from the comfort of my home and have it delivered to my front door in two days. Most stores that carry small kitchen appliances carry the regular-sized Dash Mini chaffle maker.
Ingredients To Make Basic Chaffle Batter
(Makes 2 Four-Inch Chaffles)
*Egg – The egg is the binder that holds the chaffle together.
Freshly Grated Cheddar Cheese – I enjoy the bold taste of sharp cheddar cheese, but you could use any variety or combination of cheeses.
*Note: The photos and video for this basic keto chaffle recipe use a whole egg; I have found that I prefer an egg white.
Step-By-Step Instructions For Making Perfect Crispy Chaffles
Prep the Waffle Iron:
Before starting your chaffle batter, properly preheat your mini waffle maker:
- Plug in and allow the appliance to preheat for 3-4 minutes until the power light turns on.
- Brush both top and bottom plates with melted butter or oil using a basting brush. This prevents sticking.
- For extra crispness, sprinkle a thin layer of shredded cheddar or parmesan cheese onto each hot plate. It will melt immediately.
- Use caution – the surfaces will be extremely hot. Do not touch the plates directly.
- Once prepped and cheese-sprinkled, the waffle iron is ready for the chaffle batter!
Mix the Chaffle Batter
- Crack 1 large egg into a small mixing bowl. For a lighter texture, I prefer to use just the egg white.
- Add 1/2 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Mozzarella or Monterey Jack also work well.
- Using a fork or whisk, thoroughly combine the egg and cheese until a thick, uniform batter forms. The cheese may not be incorporated fully.
- For added flavor, stir in mix-ins like hot sauce, garlic powder, or chives.
- Let the batter sit 1-2 minutes before cooking.
Tip: Sprinkle a little shredded cheese on the waffle maker before pouring the batter, then a little more on top for added crispness.
Cook the Crispy Chaffles
- Scoop half the chilled batter and pour onto the hot waffle iron plates.
- Use a spoon to spread evenly, then close the top plate.
- Cook the chaffles for 3-4 minutes until deeply golden. Carefully remove the hot chaffles using a fork and let them cool for 1-2 minutes before serving.
- Repeat the process with the remaining batter for the second chaffle.
Tips for Making Crispy Chaffles
Achieving a deliciously crispy texture is easy with a few simple tricks:
Use Egg Whites
Cracking the egg and separating the white from the yolk is an extra step that pays off in the end. Egg whites provide structure without added fats that make chaffles dense or chewy. The absence of the fatty yolk allows chaffles to cook up lighter and crispier. Beat one large egg white until foamy and use it in place of the whole egg in the chaffle batter.
Let Them Cool
It’s tempting to devour hot chaffles straight from the waffle maker, but it is key to allow them to cool and set first. As soon as they release cleanly from the hot plates, transfer the chaffles to a cooling rack. Resist cutting or biting chaffles for the first 1-2 minutes. As steam escapes, it leaves behind a crispy, delightfully crackly exterior while the interior continues cooking to tender perfection. Letting them rest truly takes chaffles from soft to crispy.
Double Cook
For ultra-crisp chaffles with a shatteringly brittle crust, double cooking is the trick. Once cooled, return chaffles to the mini waffle maker on medium heat for 1-2 minutes per side to dehydrate and re-crisp the exterior. The second go-round ensures moisture evaporation for the crispiest texture. Alternately, cut in wedges and bake in a hot oven or toaster oven until crisp.
Store Properly
Maintaining crispness means storing chaffles the right way. Let chaffles fully cool before storage. Place cooled chaffles in an airtight container to preserve texture. Avoid stacking or wrapping hot chaffles in plastic too quickly. Doing so traps condensation, leading to sogginess.
Customize Your Chaffles
Customizing chaffles allows you to experiment with sweet and savory flavors using whatever ingredients you have on hand! Get creative with add-ins.
General Variations:
- Experiment with different kinds of cheese, such as Monterrey Jack, Colby, mozzarella cheese, etc. You could even combine two different types of cheeses for added flavor.
- Add spices such as garlic powder, Italian seasoning, Everything But the Bagel seasoning, or red pepper flakes to turn it up a notch.
- Add a tsp of coconut flour (or a tablespoon of almond flour) along with 1/4 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt.
Savory Chaffle Ideas
Bacon Chaffle – Add crispy crumbled bacon and cheddar for a hearty breakfast chaffle.
Pizza Chaffle – Top with pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella, then bake for a handheld pizza.
Jalapeño Popper Chaffle – Mix diced jalapeños into batter, then stuff with cream cheese for a spicy appetizer.
Taco Chaffles – Crispy taco shell chaffles stuffed with seasoned taco meat, cheese, and veggie toppings.
French Dip Chaffles – Thin roast beef and melty provolone cheese sandwiched between pillowy chaffles, served with hot au jus.
Cheesy Garlic Bread Chaffles – Crisp, buttery wedges baked with garlicky herb butter and gooey, melty mozzarella cheese.
Reuben Sandwich Chaffle – Layer corned beef, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing between two chaffles.
Club Chaffle Sandwich – The traditional low-carb chaffle recipe makes delicious sandwich bread. Add your favorite lunchmeats, lettuce, cheese, tomato, and condiments for a fantastic keto club sandwich. Pepperoni would be a yummy addition as well.
Grilled Cheese Chaffle – Golden, crisp chaffles filled with gooey melted cheese make the perfect quick comfort food.
Sweet Chaffle Ideas
Chocolate Chaffles – Rich, fudgy chaffles served with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
Keto Chocolate Chip Chaffles – Crisp, vanilla chaffles studded with mouthwatering Lily’s sugar-free chocolate chips.
Maple Pumpkin Keto Waffles – Fall-flavored chaffles bursting with pumpkin pie spice flavor, sweetened naturally with maple syrup.
Blueberry Chaffles – Gently fold fresh blueberries into a sweet chaffle batter for a delicious breakfast or serve with low-carb ice cream for a mouthwatering dessert.
Sweet Waffle Chaffle – Simply top chaffles with butter and sugar-free syrup for a delicious keto chaffle waffle.
Frequently Asked Chaffle Questions:
Do chaffles taste eggy?
Using egg whites instead of whole eggs yields chaffles with minimal egg flavor or dense texture from the egg yolk fat. They cook up light and crispy, showcasing the flavor of the cheese.
How long do chaffles last?
Properly stored, chaffles will last 4-5 days in the refrigerator. To freeze, place cooled chaffles in a freezer bag or airtight container with parchment paper between each one. Frozen chaffles will keep for 3-4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating in a toaster oven or air fryer.
What is the best cheese for making chaffles?
Cheddar and mozzarella chaffles yield beautiful golden waffles with delicious texture and taste. However, virtually any cheese works, from Swiss to provolone to pepper jack, so get creative with your favorite cheesy flavors! Aged cheeses offer boldness.
What can I use if I don’t have a mini waffle maker?
While a mini waffle maker like the Dash gives the best results, you can make chaffles in a regular-sized Belgian waffle iron. Use the same batter, but you likely won’t fill the whole surface area of a bigger waffle maker. Chaffles baked in larger makers may spread thinner and not be as uniformly crispy.
The Dash Waffle maker is a perfect size! The traditional Chaffle recipe makes two four-inch chaffles using this waffle maker.
If you have a big family or want to make several at once, the Dash multi mini waffle maker is a huge time saver, making four 4-inch chaffles simultaneously.
Keto Chaffle Sandwich Ideas
Ingredients
Basic Chaffle Ingredients
- 1 egg or just an egg white for a crispier chaffle
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
Basic Chaffle Instructions
- Preheat the dash mini waffle maker for 3-4 minutes until hot - brush 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 1⁄2 cup shredded cheddar. Let 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 3-4 minutes until deep golden brown. Carefully remove crisp chaffle with fork.
- Repeat the process with the remaining batter to make a second chaffle. Allow to cool 1-2 minutes before serving.
- See notes on how to build different chaffle sandwiches.
Video
Notes
- Grilled Cheese: Butter the exterior of each chaffle and fill it with cheeses of choice. Add ham or turkey for more protein. Brown in skillet for 2-3 minutes per side until melted perfection.
- Chaffle Club: Layer mayo, lettuce, tomato, deli meat, bacon, and cheese on an open-faced chaffle. Top with the second chaffle and press gently. Toast for 5 minutes in the oven at 375°F for a crispy, melty stack.
- Keto PB&J: Mix nut butter and sugar-free jelly, spread between chaffles
- Savory Sloppy Joe: Pile flavorful sloppy joe filling on two chaffle "buns" for a hearty, saucy handheld.
- There are additional sandwich ideas in the post above.
- Use Egg Whites - Cracking the egg and separating the white from the yolk is an extra step that pays off. Egg whites provide structure without added fats that make chaffles dense or chewy. The absence of the fatty yolk allows chaffles to cook up lighter and crispier. Beat one large egg white until foamy and use it instead of the whole egg in the chaffle batter.
- Let Them Cool - It's tempting to devour hot chaffles straight from the waffle maker, but allowing them to cool and set first is key. As soon as they release cleanly from the hot plates, transfer the chaffles to a cooling rack.
- Double Cook - For ultra-crisp chaffles, double cooking is the trick. Once cooled, return the chaffles to the mini waffle maker on medium heat for 1-2 minutes per side to dehydrate and re-crisp the exterior. The second go-round ensures moisture evaporation for the crispiest texture. Alternately, cut in wedges and bake in a hot oven or toaster oven until crisp.
- Store Properly - Maintaining crispness means storing chaffles the right way. Let fully cool before placing in an airtight container. To preserve texture, avoid stacking or wrapping hot chaffles in plastic too quickly, as trapped condensation leads to sogginess. If they lose their crunch, crisping back up is just a quick heat touch away!
Nutrition
Could this recipe be used or changed a bit for a pancake?
I think this is great, because my husband is on a low carb diet. I now have new ideas for breakfast.
I’m so glad. Chaffles are a game changer!!
Yes! There are so many different variations, and even Dash has a mini griddle, and a mini panini grill (that’s the one I got). I can make chaffle pancakes for breakfast, chbuns for a sandwich at lunch, and then grill myself a Burger for dinner – all using the Dash Mini Panini grill. <3
Great!
why can you not use bagel everything spice?/
If you reread the post, it says you can use Everything But the Bagel seasoning.
While Amazon and many stores have the Dash on back order, we found that Bed Bath & Beyond has them. Got a red one AND the seasonal orange one that makes a pumpkin shape on 1 side of the chaffel! Each were $9.99… less using coupon!
Awesome alternative to a waffle, bread or bagel. I did one plain and one with everything bagel seasoning.
Sounds great!
If I use a regular-sized round waffle iron, would this recipe make about enough for one chaffle?
The recipe is for two mini chaffles so, yes, it would work fine for a regular-size waffle iron.
Didn,t crisp as expected. FYI, My fitness pal says that this recipe is 5 net carbs.
MyFitnessPal is often wrong. There is no way a recipe with only cheese and eggs is 5 net carbs. You would need to check each ingredient.
Could this be done with a pancake maker?
I haven’t tried fixing this in a pancake maker so I’m not sure how it would turn out.
Could you give us the recipe for your ham and cheese chaffle please?
Would a regular waffle iron with two squares work? Could both squares be used at the same time ?
Sure
Thank you for explaining this. Just bought the Dash today and excited to give this a try. Question: are they only good if consumed right away or have you tried to make some and refrigerate ?
You’re welcome. You can refrigerate or freeze chaffles. You’ll want to rewarm in a way so that it crisps back up. You could use a toaster, air fryer or wrap loosely in foil in the oven to rewarm.
would you only suggest making & serving at the same time or does it hold up to making ahead? thinking about meal prep ideas & breakfast sandwiches are a fav in my house
You can make chaffles ahead and refrigerate or freeze them. You’ll want to rewarm in a way so that they crisp back up. You could use a toaster, air fryer or wrap loosely in foil in the oven to rewarm.
Do you use anything like PAM on the waffle maker after it warms up, before you add the batter – to prevent it from sticking?
Yes
Directions say NO spray, theysay it ruins non stick. I just brush with butter,
Great!!
Thanks, Pam. I’m glad you liked it!
SO EASY! And tasty 😉 thank you
You’re so welcome, Jess!
How do I print a recipe?
Click “Print Recipe” next to the picture of a printer at the top of the recipe card.
I don’t have a waffle iron, so I tried a pizzelle maker-wow they were great. Thin and crispy I would post a pic if you tell me how
Glad you enjoyed the chaffle. It would probably be easier for you to google how to insert a picture in the post. I’ll be looking forward to seeing it!
Love this, can basically use this for anything, I am having sausage gravy with mine
It’s so great to be able to have sausage gravy again! I’m happy you loved it!
Sausage gravy???? How do I do that without AP flour????
This may not be the sausage gravy we grew up enjoying but, if you are eating keto, it is wonderful to be able to have a substitute.
I just ordered my mini waffle maker from Amazon. Feeling excited! My worse down fall is bread. Hope it tastes good
Glad you got your mini waffle maker and hope you love chaffles!
How do you sweeten it up a bit for a traditional waffle for syrup
You may really like my pumpkin chaffle. You could put syrup on it. Check it out: https://kaseytrenum.com/pumpkin-keto-waffle-recipe-chaffle-recipe/