This recipe is a love letter to my Southern roots. Enter sweet potato waffles with crispy catfish and spicy honey butter! Fluffy, lightly spiced sweet potato waffles meet perfectly crispy catfish, all drizzled with a little spicy honey butter for that sweet heat balance that makes you close your eyes and savor every bite. It's cozy, indulgent, and ideal for brunch, dinner, or anytime you want to impress the family without stress.
There is nothing quite like the flavors of Mississippi on your plate. Growing up, sweet potatoes were always on the table, whether mashed, baked, or baked into a warm dish for family dinners. And catfish? Well, it was a staple in our kitchen, fried golden and flaky, perfect for sharing.
For more comforting Southern classics, try our sweet potato cornbread with maple butter and Southern fried catfish recipes next!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy enough for a weekend brunch, impressive enough for guests!
- Fluffy, spiced sweet potato waffles with a little Southern charm.
- Crispy, golden catfish that's perfectly seasoned.
- Sweet, spicy honey butter that brings everything together.
- A nod to Mississippi comfort food that warms the heart.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Here's everything you need to make this comforting Southern dish. For measurements and complete instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Waffles
- Flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt
- Eggs, separated
- Mashed sweet potato. Substitute pumpkin puree or butternut squash for a fall twist.
- Buttermilk
- Melted butter
- Brown sugar
- Nonstick spray
Catfish
- Catfish filets. Tilapia, cod, or even shrimp make great substitutes. Catfish lovers, try our catfish etouffee pot pie recipe next!
- Buttermilk, hot sauce, and salt for marinating. Make your own buttermilk by mixing whole milk + a splash of vinegar.
- Cornmeal, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
- Oil for frying. Peanut, canola, or vegetable work great.
Spicy Honey Butter
- Butter.
- Honey. Pure maple syrup also works.
- Hot sauce. Substitute sriracha.
- Red pepper flakes, salt.
How to Make It
Step 1. Preheat waffle iron and spray. Mix dry ingredients and set aside.
Step 2. Whisk sweet potatoes, egg yolks, melted butter, and sugar.
Step 1. Fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Beat egg whites separately until stiff peaks form and fold into batter.
Step 2. Cook waffles until golden and fluffy. Keep warm in the oven if needed.
Step 1. Marinate catfish in buttermilk brine for 15-30 minutes. Dredge in seasoned cornmeal and fry in hot oil until crispy and golden.
Step 2. Melt butter and whisk in honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stack waffles, top with crispy catfish, and drizzle with honey butter.
Storing Instructions
Refrigerating
- Waffles: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- Catfish: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in the oven to keep it crispy.
- Spicy Honey Butter: Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Microwave briefly to soften before serving.
Freezing
- Waffles: Cool completely, wrap individually or in a stack with foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating
- Waffles: Toast in a toaster or warm in a preheated oven until heated through and slightly crispy.
- Catfish: Reheat in a 350°F oven for a few minutes to maintain crispiness.
- Spicy Honey Butter: Microwave for a few seconds until soft and pourable.
Variations
- Try air-fried catfish instead of frying for a lighter version.
- Sprinkle fresh herbs on top for extra flavor.
- Add a fried egg on top for a brunch-style twist.
FAQ
Yes, freeze and reheat in a toaster or oven for an easy breakfast or brunch.
Yes, tilapia, cod, or shrimp work beautifully.
It has a gentle kick. Adjust the hot sauce for more heat if desired.
Yes, but folding in whipped egg whites makes waffles extra fluffy.
Ashley's Pro Tips for Success
- Temperature matters. Make sure your oil is at 350°F before frying for that perfect golden crunch.
- Don't crowd the fryer. Frying too many pieces at once drops the temperature and makes the crust soggy.
- Use cold buttermilk for marinating the catfish to help the coating stick better.
- Rest your batter. Letting the waffle batter sit for a few minutes before cooking gives the flour time to hydrate, making the waffles more tender.
- Taste and adjust. Every hot sauce is different, so taste the honey butter before serving and adjust heat to your liking.
More Southern Favorites You Will Love!
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
If you tried this Sweet Potato Waffles with Crispy Catfish and Spicy Honey Butter recipe, leave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below! Don't forget to tag @thepinkowlkitchen on Instagram with your creations.
📖 Recipe
Sweet Potato Waffles with Crispy Catfish and Spicy Honey Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Waffles
- 2 cups all-purpose flour - spooned and leveled
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- 2 eggs - separated
- 1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato - cooled
- 1 ¾ cup buttermilk - room temperature
- 6 tablespoons butter - melted and cooled slightly
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- Nonstick spray for waffle iron
Fried Catfish
Spicy Honey Butter
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat waffle iron and spray with nonstick spray.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Separate eggs. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together sweet potato, egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter, and brown sugar. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
- Beat egg whites in a small bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the whipped egg whites.
- Pour ½ cup of batter onto the waffle iron and cook until golden brown.
- Keep waffles warm on a wire rack in the oven at low temperature.
- Marinate catfish in buttermilk, hot sauce, and salt for 15-30 minutes.
- In a shallow dish, combine cornmeal, paprika, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, and cayenne. Gently shake off excess buttermilk and dredge marinated fish in the seasoned cornmeal. Transfer breaded fish to a baking sheet lined with a wire cooling rack to allow the breading to set.
- Heat enough oil to go about halfway up the sides of a large Dutch oven to 350 degrees F. Fry catfish 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Melt butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Whisk in honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and salt until fully combined. Remove from heat.
- Stack waffles on plates. Top with crispy catfish and drizzle with spicy honey butter. Serve warm.
Notes
- For the fluffiest waffles, gently fold in the whipped egg whites without overmixing.
- Keep cooked waffles on a wire rack in a warm oven to stay crisp until serving.
- Catfish is best served immediately after frying for maximum crunch.
- Adjust the spice in the honey butter by adding more or less hot sauce to taste.
- Storage - Refrigerating: Store leftover waffles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store leftover fried catfish in a paper towel-lined container for up to 2 days.
- Storage - Freezing: Freeze waffles in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Fried catfish is best enjoyed fresh, but can be frozen for up to 1 month if wrapped tightly.
- Storage - Reheating: Reheat waffles in the toaster or oven until warm and crisp. Reheat catfish in a 375°F oven for 8-10 minutes to restore crunch without drying it out.
AB
Wow this one is crazy good! That spicy honey butter is amazing!