This is one of my favourite appetizer hacks because you only need 2 simple ingredients to make these tasty bites.

There is nothing better than whipping up a batch of these for the big game for all your guests to enjoy.

I love tasty appetizer bites for get-togethers like these Easy Buffalo Chicken Puff Pastry Bites Appetizer and Prosciutto, Sage & Gruyere Puff Pastry Pinwheels.

But the combination of crunchy chicken, sweet waffles and spicy hot honey has to be one of the best and is totally irresistible.

Why you’ll love these mini chicken & waffles bites

• These are the perfect appetizer to make for a crowd on game day!
• You can use frozen chicken nuggets or crispy chicken pieces to make this delicious appetizer recipe a breeze.
• Make homemade waffles or use store-bought waffles – whatever suits you.
• You can easily customize these bites to suit your tastes.

Ingredients needed to make this chicken & waffles bites appetizer

Chicken:  I like to buy frozen chicken nuggets or chicken pieces, whichever crispy chicken is your favourite to use for this easy appetizer

Waffles:  I like to use regular-sized waffles which I cut into 4 pieces each. Alternatively, you can use mini waffles or use a mini waffle maker to make your own

Honey: Use liquid honey to make the hot honey sauce for these mini chicken & waffles bites; you could switch out the honey for maple syrup for a fun spicy maple flavour!

Hot sauce: Hot sauce is key to make the hot honey sauce – I like to use Frank’s Red Hot or Valentina. But, you can use your favourite!

Chili flakes: Chili flakes for red pepper flakes add an extra kick of heat to the hot honey.

Chives: minced chives add a nice fresh flavour to the chicken & waffles bites but are optional

How to make this chicken & waffles recipe

Step 1: Preheat the oven according to the package directions for the crispy chicken. Cook the chicken according to package directions and set aside when done.

Step 2: While the chicken bakes, make the hot honey by mixing together the liquid honey, hot sauce and chili flakes and set aside.

Step 3: Toast the waffles and slather each of them with butter.

Step 4: Cut each waffle into 4 pieces (about 2 inch pieces). Arrange the waffles pieces in a single layer on a cutting board or serving platter. Place a piece of chicken on each waffle piece and then stick a toothpick into each chicken & waffle bite. Drizzle each chicken & waffle bite with hot honey, garnish with chives and serve immediately.

Expert tips

• For any dietary needs, just use your favorite waffle recipe to go along with whichever crispy chicken you choose (i.e gluten free waffles, dairy free waffles)
• A delicious variation on this recipe would be to layer a dill pickle slice on the waffle first, followed by the piece of chicken and a drizzle of your favourite hot sauce – this would be more of a ‘Nashville hot chicken’ variation.
• Make sure to butter the waffles! This adds to the flavour of these yummy bites.

Common questions

Can I make these gluten free?
YES! Easily make these mini chicken & waffles bites gluten free by using gluten-free crispy chicken and gluten-free waffles.

What if I don’t like hot honey as a topping?
You can make spicy maple syrup instead by swapping out the honey in the recipe for maple syrup.

How to store these chicken waffle bites

These chicken & waffles bites are best enjoyed when hot!

More bite-sized appetizers to love from the blog

Mini Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizza Puff Pastry Tarts

Buffalo Chicken Puff Pastry Bites Appetizer

Easy Pesto Puff Pastry Pinwheels with Prosciutto

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Easy Mini Chicken & Waffles Bites with Hot Honey

For a quick appetizer make these Mini Chicken & Waffles Bites! You only need 2 key ingredients & hot honey to make these delicious bites.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine american-inspired

Keyword chicken, waffles

Servings 16 chicken & waffle bites

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup liquid honey
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes or red pepper flakes
• 20 frozen crispy chicken pieces or nuggets
• 5 frozen waffles or 20 mini waffles
• butter
• 1-2 tbsp small chopped chives

Instructions

• Preheat the oven according to the package directions for the crispy chicken. Cook the chicken according to package directions and set aside when done.
• While the chicken bakes, make the hot honey by mixing together the liquid honey, hot sauce and chili flakes and set aside.
• Toast the waffles and slather each of them with butter.
• Cut each waffle into 4 pieces (about 2 inch pieces). Arrange the waffles pieces in a single layer on a cutting board or serving platter. Place a piece of chicken on each waffle piece and then stick a toothpick into each chicken & waffle bite. Drizzle each chicken & waffle bite with hot honey, garnish with chives and serve immediately.

Notes

• Not a fan of hot honey? Make spicy maple syrup instead! Simply swap out the honey for maple syrup and make the rest of the recipe as-is.
• For any dietary needs, just use your favorite waffle recipe to go along with whichever crispy chicken you choose (i.e gluten free waffles, dairy free waffles)
• A delicious variation on this recipe would be to layer a dill pickle slice on the waffle first, followed by the piece of chicken and a drizzle of your favourite hot sauce - this would be more of a 'Nashville hot chicken' variation.
• Make sure to butter the waffles! This adds to the flavour of these yummy bites.

The post Easy Mini Chicken & Waffles Bites with Hot Honey appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

These easy pizza puff pastry tarts are the best savoury and spicy combination thanks to a drizzle of hot honey for a kick of heat.

Your guests will love this take on their favorite slice of cheesy pizza but in mini form!

I truly love anything pizza-flavoured like this one pan pizza gnocchi and this easy cheesy pizza dip.

But, this puff pastry pizza recipe is a new favourite finger food appetizer for game day parties or your next dinner party.  My favorite part of puff pastry is just how versatile it is and easy to work with to make these pizza tarts.

Why you’ll love these incredible pizza puff pastry tarts

• You need just one puff pastry sheet (just make sure it’s defrosted ahead of time!)
• These easy mini individual pizzas are an easy and great way to enjoy pizza flavours.
• This pizza puff pastry tart recipe is made with just 7 simple ingredients!
• These pizza tart squares make a great happy hour snack or game day appetizer.

Ingredients needed to make these pizza puff pastry tarts

Puff pastry:  you need one sheet of puff pastry dough (usually can be found in the freezer section of the grocery store); make sure to thaw pastry sheets before using them (follow the instructions for defrosting on the puff pastry packaging).

Sauce: use tomato sauce or pizza sauce for the sauce layer in these puff pastry tarts

Pepperoni:  slices of pepperoni are a must for this pepperoni and hot honey pizza tart recipe

Mozzarella cheese:  shredded mozzarella cheese is a classic pizza topping

Hot honey:  I like to make my own hot honey by mixing together 1/4 cup liquid honey, 1 tsp hot sauce and 1/2 tsp chili flakes. However, you should be able to find hot honey at your local grocery store.

Egg: whisk together one egg to create an easy egg wash to brush on the edges of the puff pastry pizza tarts to create a deep golden brown crust when baked

Dried oregano: I love to use a sprinkle of dried oregano on the edges of the puff pastry to enhance the pizza flavour.

How to make these easy puff pastry pizza tarts

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400F.

Step 2: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 3: On a piece of parchment paper or a lightly floured surface, roll out the defrosted puff pastry sheet to approximately a 10×10 square. Cut into 16 squares using a pizza slicer or sharp knife (about 2.5 inch squares).

Step 4: Lay the pastry squares on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and poke around center of each pastry square a few times with a fork.

Step 5: Spread 1 teaspoon pizza sauce in the centre of each puff pastry square leaving a 1/2 inch border around the edge. Add 1 pepperoni on top of the sauce, followed by 1 tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 more piece of pepperoni. Then you can add a sprinkle of other toppings if you desire (for example 1-2 slices jalapeno or mushrooms or diced peppers or diced red onions).

Step 6: Whisk the egg and then use a pastry brush to brush around the edges of each pizza tart. Sprinkle dried oregano around the edges of each tart.

Step 7: Bake the tarts for 14-18 minutes. Or, until the puff pastry is puffed up around the edges and baked until cheesy perfection. Serve warm with a drizzle of hot honey on the pizza puff pastry tarts.

Expert tips

• You can add other favorite toppings to these tarts too.  Toppings like sliced jalapeno, sliced mushrooms, diced bell peppers like green pepper, diced red onion or a few slices of black olives
• If you don’t have hot honey (or prefer not to use it) you can top the pizza puff pastry tarts with chili flakes or red pepper flakes before serving.
• Remember to defrost the frozen puff pastry, according to package directions, before using in this recipe! I like to put the frozen puff pastry in the fridge the day before I’m going to use it. The puff pastry it will defrost overnight and you’ll have a defrosted puff pastry sheet ready to go.

Common questions

How can I make my own hot honey?
Make your own hot honey by mixing together 1/4 cup liquid honey, 1 tsp hot sauce and 1/2 tsp chili flakes. Store leftover hot honey in a clean glass jar in your cupboard or pantry for up to 3 months.

Will phyllo pastry work instead of puff pastry?
Phyllo pastry is much thinner than puff pastry and is made with different ingredients. I don’t recommend using it for this recipe. I recommend sticking with butter puff pastry for these pizza tarts.

Can I use gluten-free puff pastry?
I have not tested this recipe with gluten-free puff pastry but I do think that it would work!

How to store these mini pizza puff pastry tarts

These puff pastry bites are best served fresh from the oven! I don’t recommend storing them for longer than 2-3 hours at room temperature. Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat at 300F for 10-15 minutes until the puff pastry is just crispy again.

More puff pastry appetizers to love from the blog

Easy Buffalo Chicken Puff Pastry Bites Appetizer

Prosciutto, Sage & Gruyere Puff Pastry Pinwheels

Easy Apricot Jam & Gruyere Cheese Puff Pastry Bites

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Mini Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizza Puff Pastry Tarts

These Mini Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizza Puff Pastry Tarts are a must-make for any gathering! Quick, easy and delicious, guests will love them.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine american-inspired

Keyword pizza, puff pastry

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 16 mini pizza puff pastry tarts

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce or pizza sauce
• 32 pieces of pepperoni
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg
• dried oregano
• hot honey (see recipe notes below on how to make your own hot honey)
• optional: other pizza toppings like sliced jalapeno, sliced mushrooms, diced bell peppers or diced red onions

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out the defrosted puff pastry sheet to approximately a 10x10 square. Cut into 16 squares using a pizza slicer or sharp knife (about 2.5 inch squares).
• Lay the pastry squares on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and poke around the middle of each piece of puff pastry a few times with a fork.
• Spread 1 teaspoon of sauce in the centre of each puff pastry square leaving a 1/2 inch border around the edge. Add 1 pepperoni on top of the sauce, followed by 1 heaping tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 more piece of pepperoni. Then you can add a sprinkle of other toppings if you desire (for example 1-2 slices jalapeno or mushrooms or diced peppers or diced red onions).
• Whisk the egg and then use a pastry brush to brush around the edges of each pizza tart. Sprinkle dried oregano around the edges of each tart.
• Bake the tarts for 14-18 minutes or until the puff pastry is puffed up around the edges and the cheese is melted. Serve warm with a drizzle of hot honey on the pizza puff pastry tarts.

Notes

• While you can find hot honey at the grocery store, you can also make your own! Make your own hot honey by mixing together 1/4 cup liquid honey, 1 tsp hot sauce and 1/2 tsp chili flakes (or red pepper flakes).
• If you don't have hot honey (or prefer not to use it) you can top the pizza puff pastry tarts with chili flakes or red pepper flakes before serving.

The post Mini Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizza Puff Pastry Tarts appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

You get the great flavours of jalapeño poppers but in a fun, shareable way.

Melted cheese, spicy jalapeno peppers and crispy bacon in every bite!

I have many favorite appetizers like this 5 minute jalapeno popper dip but I’m obsessed with this pull apart bread. If you love jalapeno poppers, this pull-apart bread is the appetizer for you!

Why you’ll love this jalapeno popper pull apart bred

• It’s an easy appetizer to make for your next gathering.
• Your guests will love this pull apart bread for game day!
• The combination of spicy jalapenos and ooey-gooey cheese is irresistible!

Ingredients needed to make this pull apart bread recipe

Bread:  use a large loaf of crusty bread like french bread or even sourdough, you want the top of the bread to be crusty, not soft

Jalapenos:  I like to use chopped fresh diced jalapenos – remove the seeds for a less spicy taste!

Bacon: cooked bacon is mixed into the jalapeno popper filling for the bread

Cheese: you’ll need a combination of shredded monterey jack and cheddar cheese

Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper

Cream cheese: cream cheese is a good base to mix in with the shredded cheeses and other ingredients to get the whole jalapeno popper flavour

Mayonnaise: mayo helps to bring the cream cheese mixture together

Chives: chives (or green onions) are a perfect garnish for this pull apart bread

How to make this jalapeno popper pull apart bread

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375F. Cut the bread in a 1 inch grid pattern and place on a large baking sheet. Set aside 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese.

Step 2: In a bowl mix together the chopped bacon, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, 1 1/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese, 1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, ground pepper, minced chives and salt until combined.

Step 3: Using a spoon or small spatula, gently insert the cheese mixture into the crevices of the bread.

Step 4: Wrap the entire loaf in aluminum foil, place on the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and brush all over the top of the bread with 2 tbsp melted butter. Then, top the bread with reserved cheese and jalapeno slices (if desired) and a sprinkle of garlic powder. Bake the bread (not covered in foil) for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is baked to golden perfection. Garnish with more chives if desired.

Step 5: Enjoy immediately (and serve with a knife to help people cut the bread in pieces if desired).

Expert tips

• If preferred, you can use mozzarella cheese instead of monterey jack cheese.
• Add in 2 tbsp chopped pickled jalapenos into the mixture for an even spicier kick!

Common questions

Can I make this jalapeno popper pull apart bread ahead of time?
Make the entire bread and then stop before baking it. Store in the fridge wrapped in foil or covered in some way. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before you want to bake it and then follow the instructions for baking the jalapeno popper pull apart bread.

Do I have to use bacon?
If you prefer to omit the bacon, you can! Bacon does add a bit more saltiness to the jalapeno popper bread so if you’re leaving it out, add an extra pinch of salt.

How to store

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers by re-wrapping the bread in foil and bake for 10 minutes at 325F. Remove the foil and then bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese has melted.

More easy game day appetizers from the blog

Easy Cheesy Baked Pizza Dip (game day appetizer!)

The Best Easy High Protein Dill Pickle Dip Recipe

Easy Buffalo Chicken Puff Pastry Bites Appetizer

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The Best Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Pull Apart Bread

This Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Pull Apart Bread will be the star of your game day gathering! It's the best appetizer for sharing with friends.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword garlic bread, jalapeno popper

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 4 pieces cooked bacon, chopped
• 1 loaf french bread or other crusty rustic bread
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
• 1/2 cup (4 oz) plain cream cheese softened to room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 1/2 cups cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 tsp garlic powder (plus more for garnish)
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tbsp minced chives
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 4 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375F. Cut the bread in a 1 inch grid pattern and place on a large baking sheet. Set aside 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese.
• In a bowl mix together the chopped bacon, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, 1 1/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese, 1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, ground pepper, minced chives and salt until combined.
• Using a spoon or small spatula, gently insert the cheese mixture into the crevices of the bread.
• Wrap the entire loaf in aluminum foil, place on the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes. Remove all of the foil and brush all over the top of the bread with 2 tbsp melted butter. Then, top the bread with reserved cheese and jalapeno slices (if desired) and a sprinkle of garlic powder. Bake the bread for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is starting to turn golden. Garnish with more chives if desired.
• Enjoy immediately (and serve with a knife to help people cut the bread in pieces if desired).

Notes

• Can I make this jalapeno pull apart bread ahead of time? Make the entire bread and then stop before baking it. Store in the fridge wrapped in foil or covered in some way. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before you want to bake it and then follow the instructions for baking the jalapeno popper pull apart bread.
• Do I have to use bacon? If you prefer to omit the bacon, you can! Bacon does add a bit more saltiness to the jalapeno popper bread so if you're leaving it out, add an extra pinch of salt.
• How to store: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers by re-wrapping the bread in foil and bake for 10 minutes at 325F. Remove the foil and then bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese has melted.

The post The Best Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Pull Apart Bread appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

I took the beginning of the year a little slower, took some time to reflect on last year and start planning for this year.

And so here are my favourite things from this past month and What’s In Season to make for February!

This first weekend in February is pretty much the best in my mind; it’s Super Bowl (I love football!) and we usually celebrate both my husband’s and my birthdays. So, this weekend is full of delicious food and cake!

Each year I make us a cake so this year we chose to make something a little nostalgic. Do you remember those ‘rainbow chip’ cakes from when you were a kid?! It was a vanilla cake with rainbow chocolate chips and a rainbow chip icing. I LOVED all of the colours and those rainbow chips, YUM!

So, I found a recipe in one of our cookbooks, Date Night In, that is a homemade version of that rainbow chip cake! It’s a two layer cake with a cream cheese icing and all of the rainbow chips you could ever want! It also pairs perfectly with a glass of prosecco (just sayin’ 😉 )

Not only are we having cake this weekend but I’m making these Buffalo Cauliflower Lettuce Wraps to accompany our Super Bowl game-watching!

And if you need a little more snacking inspo for the big game, check out my Kettle Chip BBQ Chicken Nachos recipe that’s simple to make and perfect for a crowd.

So, what other recipes are great to make this month!?

Apples – Kale, Apple & Cheddar Salad with Spicy Chickpeas

Grapefruit – Grapefruit Lavender Spring Blossom Cocktail

Kale – Kale Mushroom Grilled Cheese

Lemon – Lemon Coconut Power Balls

Pears – Spiced Oatmeal with Honey Pears

Peppers – Kettle Chip BBQ Chicken Nachos **This is a perfect snack for Super Bowl!*

Needless to say this month is filled with food and celebrations and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

And if you need a little Valentine’s Day inspo, these Easy DIY Valentine’s Day Chocolates are really fun to make and make a lovely little gift for your loved ones.

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post What’s In Season – Monthly Favourites appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.