Loaded Ham and Cheese Waffles
This Ham and Cheese Waffle Recipe makes savory waffles that are crispy and salty and packed with ham and cheese. Top these cheesy waffles with syrup just like any other waffle, or use your leftover ham to make a ham and cheese waffle sandwich stuffed with deli meats or apple slices.
Read on to learn the best cheese and all the tips and tricks for making this loaded waffle recipe. Or just grab your waffle iron, hit that Jump to Recipe button, and let’s make some ham and cheese waffles!
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Ingredients
For these cheesy waffles, you’ll want a hard cheese that melts well. Think cheddar, gruyere or Swiss, Fontina, or even Parmesan – if you’d use it in your favorite cavatappi mac and cheese or mac and cheese waffles, you can use it here.
Ham waffles are a great way to use leftover ham from Thanksgiving or other holiday dinners. Or buy ham at the deli counter of your grocery store in chunks or thick slices.
Please see the recipe card below for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations and substitutions
- Add in some chopped herbs like thyme or chives.
- Make a blue cheese waffle and sub out the ham for bacon and chopped figs.
- Make them spicy with some chopped jalapeños or a bit of cayenne.
Recipe tips and tricks
Initial trials of these waffles weren’t hammy or cheesy enough. In subsequent versions, I nearly doubled the mix-ins to truly have waffles stuffed with ham and cheese. These loaded waffles might actually have more cheese and ham than waffle!
This recipe uses the standard “muffin method” for making waffles and pancakes where you combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then you add your wet ingredients at once to the dry ingredients.
I think it’s easiest to measure out the buttermilk into a large measuring cup, crack the egg into the cup, and mix. I add the buttermilk mixture and melted butter into the dry ingredients separately to prevent the buttermilk mixture from curdling. Finally, stir in your ham and cheese.
This recipe makes four to five half-cup waffles. The cheesy waffles are best right off the waffle iron, or keep them warm in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven.
How to serve ham and cheese waffles
I make a lot of savory waffles. Waffles like these ham and cheese waffles or my caramelized onion and apple waffles, kale waffles, or the fawaffle work well for breakfast or waffles for dinner:
- Serve your cheesy waffles plain, as a great snack on the go.
- Top with maple syrup for breakfast.
- Divide one in half, top it with cheese or eggs, and make a ham and cheese waffle sandwich.
Recipe FAQs
Your cheese and ham waffles can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days or the freezer for three to six months. Waffles freeze very well in a freezer bag and can be reheated in your toaster.
I have used this basic Cuisinart waffle iron and the All-Clad waffle iron. Both work reasonably well enough for me to recommend them.
Make ham and bean soup! Or sub ham for turkey in this pot pie recipe.
Related waffle recipes
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Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-heart 💜💜💜💜💜 rating in the recipe card below. Let me know how much you loved it, or any problems you had, in the comments section further down.
Recipe
Loaded Ham and Cheese Waffles
Equipment
- Waffle iron
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup (125 grams) all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ⅞ cup (210 milliliters) buttermilk
- 3 ounces (85 grams) ham, chopped
- ⅞ cup (100 grams) grated gruyere, swiss, or cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat your waffle iron.
- Melt the butter in a small pot.2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.1 cup (125 grams) all purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Whisk together the buttermilk and egg until mostly uniform.1 large egg, ⅞ cup (210 milliliters) buttermilk, 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
- Add the liquid ingredients (buttermilk, egg, and melted butter) to the dry and stir with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until just combined.
- Mix in the ham and cheese.3 ounces (85 grams) ham, chopped, ⅞ cup (100 grams) grated gruyere, swiss, or cheddar cheese
- Follow your waffle iron's instructions for making your ham and cheese waffles.
Notes
Nutrition
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This was perfect for my kids for breakfast! I made a bunch and froze them for later. Toast them before serving and they were fantastic! Cheese did not even stick on the waffle iron miraculously! Thank you!
Yay, Nancy, thank you for letting me know. I’m so glad you loved these ham and cheese waffles as much as we do!
Discovered that they also work well as pancakes! So thank you again!
Now I’m going to have to try that too!