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A delicious golden buttery cornbread waffle is stuffed with grated cheddar cheese and your favorite chili. It’s topped off with sour cream, more chili, cheese, green onions, and your favorite hot sauce! It’s a fun new spin on a classic dish!

Have you heard of the newest cooking rage? Stuffed waffles! Oh my goodness, being a long-time waffle lover, this is one train I had to jump on the minute I heard about them!

They are made using a special waffle iron that allows you to create Belgian-style waffles with your favorite fillings baked inside! (Mind blown! Which is easy to do these days with my increasing age!)

You can stuff your waffles with fresh fruit, pie fillings, candy, chocolate, cheese, eggs, sausage, and in the case of this recipe, chili! Sweet or Savory, it’s an easy way to make a waffle that is stuffed!

For this version of stuffed waffles, you use your favorite cornbread mix and canned chili to create a waffle masterpiece! The kitchen taste testers all agreed this is a delicious, flavorful dinner idea that is easy and fun to make.

Best Stuffed Waffle Iron

Before I share the recipe and tips for creating the perfect stuffed waffle, let’s talk about the necessary appliance to make stuffed waffles and what makes them different from your standard waffle iron.

I found my stuffed waffle iron on Amazon. It’s made by Presto and called the “Stuffler Stuffed Waffle Maker”. The waffles are “Eggo” sized Belgian waffles, and they run about $50. It’s non-stick and easy to use straight out of the box.

Most stuffed waffle irons come with “built-in-tongs” that create the side walls of the waffle iron and also help lift, remove, and serve the waffles.

There are many types of stuffed waffle makers. However, I found this one to be the most cost-effective and efficient.

Ingredients needed to make Cornbread Chili Waffles

• Southern Cornbread & Muffin Mix (11.5 ounce) – I used Krusteaz, you can use homemade.
• Ingredients listed on the back of your favorite cornbread mix
• 1–15 ounce can of chili – I highly recommend Cattle Drive Gold Chili with beans! So good for a canned chili.
• 2 cups cheddar cheese – shredded
• ½ cup sour cream (optional)
• ½ cup green onions – sliced (optional)
• Favorite hot sauce or additional taco toppings

How to Make Stuffed Waffles

Preheat your waffle iron for about 5 minutes. DO NOT spray the waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray, as per the instructions that come with “Stuffler”. There is an exception to this rule, so keep reading, friends!

Gather all your ingredients. You’ll need them on hand as you bake each waffle.

Follow the directions on your cornbread mix and prepare the cornbread batter while the waffle iron is preheating.

Carefully remove the HOT waffle tongs and spray the tongs with non-stick cooking spray, but ONLY the tongs! (You’ll notice my ring has been sprayed in the photo below!) Replace the sprayed tongs in the waffle iron. Please be careful not to burn yourself. The waffle iron is extremely hot!

Pour ¼ cup cornbread batter onto the bottom of the waffle iron, making sure just the top of the quarter grid is covered. The batter will instantly begin to rise and bake. That’s okay!

Place 2-3 tablespoons of grated cheese on top of the cornbread batter in the waffle iron. Notice the batter is beginning to bubble? That’s fantastic. It’s what you want!

PRO-TIP: Place a “solid” ingredient first and then your “liquid” ingredient next. This helps hold the stuffed ingredients in place during baking.

Add about 2–3 tablespoons of chili on top of the grated cheese. I know that’s not a lot of chili! Not to worry. You can top the waffle off with more hot chili and cheese! The layers are wonderful!

Add more shredded cheese on top of the chili.

That cornbread is baking friends. Can you see it? That’s why I recommend having your ingredients on hand when making stuffed waffles. You need to move quickly!

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your fillings! If you like “heat”, add some sliced jalapeños or diced green chilis. Like a little more kick? Try using pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar! Part of what makes this recipe fun is the ability to be creative with the fillings.

Baking Waffles

Finish each waffle with an additional ¼ cup of cornbread. Carefully spread the top layer of batter over the cheese and chili. I used the back of my measuring cup, but you can also use a spatula.

TIP: Be sure to leave about ¼ inch from the top of the side tongs, the batter will rise, and you don’t want it oozing out all over the place! Ugh!

Close the top of the waffle iron and flip the waffle iron over! Bake an additional 5–6 minutes.

Carefully raise the top of the waffle iron. Your waffle should be lightly golden brown. Grasp the tongs as tight as you can and carefully lift the waffle from the iron.

TIP: I admit removing the stuffed waffle can be tricky! Sometimes the waffles will easily lift out, and other times they start to fall apart. (Causing your heart to flutter and little shrieks to escape your mouth!) I highly recommend having a “turner” spatula on hand to slide under the waffle while you lift with the tongs.

Finishing Touches

Place each waffle on a plate and top with additional warm chili, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce! You could drizzle them with honey too, if you like!

All you need now is a fork and a hearty appetite! However, if you don’t have a hearty appetite, you can cut the stuffed waffles into quaters and share with a friend. They’d also make a great appetizer or game day treat!

The cornbread waffle is fluffy, with the perfect crumb. The outside is golden brown and crispy. The cheese melts into the cornbread and is crispy along the outside edges. The chili is savory with just the right amount of spice. It pairs beautifully with the cornbread waffle.

I love the idea of a “stuffed waffle board” with different fillings that your guests could choose from. Wouldn’t that be a fun dinner party idea? Teenagers would love this for a late night snack!

More Family Favorite Waffle Recipes

• Blueberry Banana Belgian Waffles
• Strawberry Vanilla Waffles
• Easy Homemade Belgian Waffle Recipe
• Crispy Whole Wheat Waffles from A Red Spatula

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you will give these “stuffed waffles” a try! I know the birds at my nest love them and I think yours will too!

Happy Nesting!

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