Make Keto Chaffles Instead of Bread (Recipe) — Empress of Dirt (2024)

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This keto chaffles (cheese waffles) recipe is an easy low carb substitute for bread. Combining egg and cheese in a waffle maker, they are ready in minutes and can be adapted to be as sweet or savory as you like.

This is a favorite bread and bun alternative that fits nicely withsugar-free eating.

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Low Carb Chaffles Are Easy to Make

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If you follow a keto or low carb diet, chaffles (cheese and egg waffles) are a lifesaver.

I started making them when Iquit eating sugarfive years ago—before they got the popular nickname, chaffles. In our house they were w’omelettes (omelettes made in the waffle maker).
But now they are chaffles! Once the word spread on Facebook and Reddit, this simple food became a keto superstar.

What are Chaffles?

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Chaffles are low carb waffles made from egg and shredded cheese. And that’s all!

The basic formula is1 egg + ½ cup shredded cheesefor one four-inch chaffle (see recipe below).

Chaffles can be used like bread or buns to create low carb versions of favorite savory foods.

You can also create keto desserts like strawberry shortcake, blueberry waffles, oreo cookie waffles, and more. Although these dessert recipes often require additional ingredients like almond flour, coconut flour, and artificial sweeteners. I quit eating sugar to get away from craving sweets, so I am careful with them, but if you just want lower carbs, go for it.

Chaffles Instead of Bread

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One big change when you eat low carb is getting used to life without bread. There are a lot of keto recipes for low carb breads but none of them are simple. And they are often not that low in carbs.

What I love about chaffles is how quick and easy they are: heat up the waffle iron, combine the egg and shredded cheese, and you have a delicious crispy waffle ready in 5 minutes.

From there, you can use the chaffle on its own, like a piece of toast, or treat it as the foundation for a whole meal.

Chaffles work great as toast for dippy eggs, bread for sandwiches, buns for burgers, pizza crust, tacos, and more.

See what I mean?

It’s a 2 carb bread substitute that lets us eat low carb versions of our old carb-heavy favorites.

Related:How to Make Keto Soft-Serve Ice Cream
and aLow-Carb Dessert Waffle

Do Chaffles Taste Eggy?

Yes, they can taste eggy when eaten on their own. If that is not your thing, but you’re fine with eating eggs in general, there are some good workarounds.

You can use egg whites instead of whole eggs. That definitely cuts down the egg flavor. Just add an extra egg white to make up for lost volume with the yolk gone.

Also, experiment with the shredded cheese. I’ve found mozzarella can neutralize the egg taste and cheddar makes them taste extra cheesy, not eggy.

When used as a bread or bun, the other flavors take over.

Can I Make Chaffles Without a Waffle Iron?

Yes, but they will not have the same slightly-crispy texture a waffle iron provides. If I did not have a waffle iron, I would cook them in a non-stick frying pan just like a pancake. A panini press could also work. Either way the recipe and instructions are the same.

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Waffle Makers

Even if your waffle iron is no-stick, you will likely still need to very lightly grease the surface to prevent sticking.

Choosing the best waffle iron depends on how many chaffles you would like to make at a time.

1Small Waffle Maker

The Dash Mini Waffle Makerwaffle iron is very popular because it’s just $15 on Amazon. It also seems to sell out.

  • Makes small (4-inch) waffles that take approximately 4 minutes to cook.

2Medium Waffle Maker

Oster Belgian Waffle Maker| This is the one I have.

  • Makes medium (7-inch) waffles that take approximately 5 minutes to cook.
  • Has indicator lights showing when unit is heating and fully heated.

3Large Waffle Maker

Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Maker

  • Makes four 4-inch waffles
  • A large waffle maker is a huge time saver if you want to make and freeze big batches of chaffles.

How to Make Chaffles

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Basic Recipe

Two 4-inch chaffles:

  • 2 large eggs (beaten)
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Steps / Instructions

Lightly greasewaffle makerand preheat to medium-high setting.

Whisk together egg and cheese.

Pour batter into waffle maker and cook until ready (approximately 5 minutes).

If you want extra crispy: add some cheese to hot waffle maker and wait 10 seconds before adding beaten egg.

No peaking—batter may stick to waffle maker until it’s cooked.

Signs your chaffle is cooked:

  • Steam stops
  • Indicator light may go on/off

Place on cooling rack.

Will get slightly crispier as it cools.

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See the recipe notes (below) for creative chaffle variations.

Chaffle Video Instructions

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Kick It Up a Notch

If you eat low carb like I do, you will definitely want these on the menu.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

Keto Chaffles (Low Carb Waffles)

Keto chaffles are an easy low carb substitute for bread. Made from egg and cheese, they are ready in minutes and can be adapted to be as sweet or savory as you like.

Prep Time: 2 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 2 4-inch chaffles

Author: Melissa J. Will

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 large Eggs beaten
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions

  • Lightly grease (or use non-stick cooking spray) no-stick waffle maker and preheat to medium-high setting.

  • Whisk together eggs and cheese.

    2 large Eggs, 1 cup Mozzarella cheese

  • Pour batter into waffle maker (do not overfill) and cook until ready (approximately 5 minutes).

    No peaking: chaffles will stick to iron until cooked.

    Leave longer for extra crispy chaffles.

  • Place on cooling rack. Will become crispier after a few minutes.

  • Serve as a bread, toast, or bun substitute.

  • Store in airtight container in fridge up to 7 days. Reheat in toaster or frying pan.
    Freeze up to 3 months.

Notes

The basic formula is one egg makes one chaffle but this can vary depending on the size of your waffle maker.

Savory Variations

Cheeses: Try different combinations of shredded cheese, Parmesan, and chunks of cheese.

Crispy: Add cheese to heated waffle maker first, wait 10 seconds, then add beaten egg. Can also add more shredded cheese on top near end of cook time.

Less Egg Taste: Use egg whites instead of whole eggs. Make up for the lost yolk volume by adding equivalent in egg whites.

Spices: Add favorite seasonings such as garlic, garlic powder, Italian, Mexican, Indian seasonings.

Cheesy Jalapeno: Add 1 oz cream cheese per serving (softened enough to stir) and diced jalapeno.

Omelette Chaffle: Add precooked diced onion, pepper, mushroom.

Veggie Chaffle: Add finely chopped zucchini or broccoli with water removed.

Sweet Variations

There are many recipes online for keto desserts made with chaffles including strawberry shortcake, berry, oreo, pumpkin spice, cinnamon churro, and more.

Chaffles can also be topped with butter, sugar-free maple syrup and jam.

If you follow a low carb diet to regulate blood sugar or insulin issues, be sure to research the sweeteners and carb totals first.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 249kcal | Total Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 18g

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Make Keto Chaffles Instead of Bread (Recipe) — Empress of Dirt (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat chaffles everyday? ›

Eating 1 chaffle is almost 50% of that recommended daily intake. For that reason, I definitely wouldn't refer to them as a health food, but they are not necessarily unhealthy, either. Both cheese and eggs are a great high-quality protein source, and cheese is a great source of calcium.

What kind of flour is keto bread made from? ›

Keto bread is a mixture of almond flour (or coconut flour), eggs, healthy fats and xanthan gum. It resembles normal wheat bread in texture but has about 20 times fewer carbs than regular bread. This ketogenic bread recipe only has 1 g of net carbs.

Why are my chaffles sticking? ›

If your chaffle sticks to your waffle maker leaving behind a big gooey mess, you probably didn't let it cook long enough. To salvage the waffle, close the waffle maker immediately and let it cook longer. It should easily release.

What kind of waffle maker is best for chaffles? ›

Burgess Churwaffle maker

This one is awesome. It makes 4 at a time, so you can bulk make chaffles, and freeze them for easy eating! I appreciate this waffle iron for chaffles because it has removable plates, which really makes for the easiest cleaning.

How many carbs are in 2 chaffles? ›

Chaffles Nutrition And Carb Count

But in general, assuming you use real, whole milk cheese like cheddar or mozzarella (as opposed to cream cheese or American cheese), chaffles are entirely carb-free. A typical serving size of two chaffles contains roughly: 300 calories. 0g total carbs.

Can chaffles be eaten cold? ›

Serve chaffles hot or cold, but I personally prefer them hot. The recipe yields approximately 2 cheese waffles, it depends on your waffle iron size. If you are making these chaffles for more than one person, double or triple the ingredients.

How many slices of keto bread can I eat per day? ›

You can, maybe a slice or two here and there, but you ideally don't want to be eating too much of it. This is because a keto diet involves eating minimal carbs; less than 50g a day. However, a slice of bread contains around 20g of carbs, which is quite a chunk of your daily carbohydrate allocation.

Is peanut butter OK on keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

What keto flour is closest to all purpose flour? ›

Almond flour is often considered the keto “all-purpose” flour. Generally, you can use almond flour at a 1:1 ratio with regular flour.

What is the difference between a waffle maker and a chaffle maker? ›

While chaffles are made with different ingredients than traditional waffles, they are both made in the same machine. The most important feature to look for when buying a waffle maker for chaffles is nonstick plates or griddles.

What do chaffles taste like? ›

Chaffles are waffles made with cheese and eggs; its funny name is a combination of the words “cheese” and “waffle”. Without any sweeteners, they taste like your favorite grilled cheese sandwich but with the texture of a crispy, crunchy waffle.

Can I use Pam on my waffle maker? ›

If your waffle iron or pan has a nonstick surface, you should not use cooking spray. Cooking spray builds up on nonstick surfaces and eventually becomes tacky–rendering the non-stick coating useless.

What is the meaning of the word chaffles? ›

carb bread like waffle that mainly consists of egg, low. -fat cheeses, some spices and almond flour.

What size waffle maker for chaffles? ›

Chaffles are meant to be on the smaller size so a small waffle iron, like the Dash mini waffle maker, works best, but you can also use a regular waffle maker or Belgian waffle iron, too.

Is a chaffle good for you? ›

Chaffles are a keto-friendly food. They are low in carbohydrates and high in fat, so they tend to satisfy the diet's macros.

Can I eat keto bread everyday? ›

You can, maybe a slice or two here and there, but you ideally don't want to be eating too much of it. This is because a keto diet involves eating minimal carbs; less than 50g a day. However, a slice of bread contains around 20g of carbs, which is quite a chunk of your daily carbohydrate allocation.

Is it healthy to eat waffles daily? ›

Let's be honest: Waffles may be delicious, but they aren't exactly good for you. They're usually made with ingredients that nutritionists say to limit, such as white flour, butter, and lots of sugar. A Belgian waffle from IHOP, for example, has 590 calories, 29 grams of fat, and 17 grams of sugars.

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