Looking for a low-carb, gluten-free breakfast that actually feels indulgent? These Keto Chaffles with bacon are crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor! Made with a blend of three cheeses, they strike the perfect balance of crunchy, savory, and satisfying. Pile them high with smoked salmon, avocado, or even more bacon for an epic twist on classic waffles!
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Why This Recipe Works
If you’re already following a keto or low-carb diet, you’ve probably heard of this infamous waffle substitute made of cheese and eggs (cheese + waffles = chaffles!). I would never diss classic waffles because they’re absolutely delicious, but with changing dietary needs, fewer and fewer people can enjoy them.
Enter keto chaffles! With only a handful of keto-friendly ingredients you likely have in your kitchen, you can whip up these crispy, cheesy waffles in minutes. They’re quick to make for on-the-go mornings yet satisfying enough for weekend brunches.
Plus, they’re gluten-free, so they cover most bases. Don’t worry, though—they’re still a great mimic of regular waffles and chock-full of craving-crushing ingredients. Eat them plain, stuff them with fillings like bacon and green onions, or use them as a low-carb alternative to traditional sandwich bread!
Ingredients
- Eggs: The glue that holds the chaffle together, keeping it fluffy and moist.
- Cheddar Cheese: Adds a sharp, tangy bite and crisp edges. Make sure to shred your own (pre-shredded varieties contain anti-caking agents and don’t melt as well).
- Mozzarella Cheese: Provides stretch and a mild, creamy flavor. Again, shred your own!
- Cottage Cheese: Adds a creamy, rich consistency. Use full-fat cottage cheese here.
- Baking Powder: Gives the chaffles a slight rise, making them fluffier. Ensure it’s fresh!
- Almond Flour: Helps absorb excess moisture and provides a slightly nutty flavor while keeping the chaffles keto-friendly.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances all the flavors.
- Avocado Spray: Keeps the waffles from sticking and adds a hint of healthy fats.
- Fillings: You’ll need bacon (because bacon makes everything better!) and green onions.
Instructions
- Preheat the Iron: Set your waffle iron to medium-high heat and let it fully preheat.
- Blend the Batter: In a food processor or blender, combine eggs, all the cheese, baking powder, almond flour, and salt. Pulse 5-6 times until just combined (avoid overmixing, as this can make the chaffles dense).
- Mix-Ins: Add the bacon and green onions, then pulse 2-3 times to distribute evenly.
- Cook the Chaffles: When your waffle iron is hot, spray it with avocado oil. Add half of the batter and cook for 3 minutes until golden brown. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
- Add Toppings: Top your keto chaffles with toppings like smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, pickled onions, more bacon, and avocado. Enjoy while hot!
Substitutions & Variations
- Nut-Free: Replace almond flour with coconut flour (use only 1 tablespoon since it absorbs more liquid).
- Spicy: Feel free to add chopped jalapenos or a dash of hot sauce to the batter for a kick!
- Savory: You can mix in crumbled sausage or sun-dried tomatoes to switch up flavors while keeping it keto.
- Sweet: Omit the bacon and green onions, replace the cheddar with more mozzarella, add ½ tsp vanilla extract and a sugar-free sweetener, and top with berries.
Storing & Reheating
These keto chaffles store and reheat beautifully, making them perfect for meal prep or quick, low-carb snacks. Just follow these guidelines:
- Fridge: Store your chaffles in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days, separating each layer with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Freezer: You can also freeze chaffles in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring them to a sealed freezer bag. This way, they’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: To crisp them up again, reheat chaffles in a toaster, air fryer, or oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as it can make them rubbery.
- Prep Ahead: You can blend the batter up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready, stir it quickly before pouring it into the hot waffle iron.
Expert Tips
- Prep Toppings Early: Chaffles are best served hot and gooey, so prep your toppings before cooking the batter. If you’re serving family or guests, place a variety of toppings in serving bowls so everyone can choose their favorites!
- Finely Shred the Cheese: Smaller cheese shreds melt more evenly and create a crispier exterior. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that affect the texture.
- Extra Crispy: Sprinkle shredded cheese directly onto the waffle iron before adding the batter for an extra crispy crust.
- Don’t Lift the Lid Too Soon: It may be tempting to check, but wait until the chaffle is fully set before opening the waffle iron. If you lift too early, the chaffle may tear!
FAQs
They may need more time to crisp up. Let them cook until golden, then cool for 2-3 minutes after cooking. You can also heat them in the air fryer for extra crispiness.
Let them cool on a wire rack instead of stacking them. This prevents steam from softening them.
Make sure to spray the waffle iron generously with avocado or coconut oil before adding the batter. If your waffle iron has a non-stick coating, avoid using too much cheese on the outer edges.
Related Recipes
For an out-of-this-world meal, serve your keto chaffles with any of these savory breakfasts:
- Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread)
- Instant Pot Egg Bites Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
- One Sheet Pan Sweet Potato Breakfast
- Low-Carb Breakfast Bowl
- Breakfast Egg Bread Bowls
- Bacon Pancakes
If you try these Keto Chaffles, let me know what you think! Rate and review this recipe in the comments below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog!
Easy Keto Chaffles (with Bacon)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup cheddar cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons almond flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- avocado spray, for waffle iron
Savory Filling options
- ¼ cup bacon, chopped
- 2 tbsp green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle iron.
- Add the eggs, cheddar, mozzarella, cottage cheese, baking powder, almond flour and salt to a food processor or blender and pulse 5-6 times until everything is incorporated.
- Add the bacon and chopped green onions or chives. Pulse 2-3 times to combine.
- When your waffle iron is hot, add the avocado oil spray. Add half of the batter and cook for 3 minutes or until golden brown. Repeat with the rest of the batter. Makes 2-4 large chaffles or makes 6 smaller ones.
- Add your favorite toppings and enjoy while hot.
Notes
- Smoked salmon
- Extra bacon
- Avocado
- Pickled onions
- Greek yogurt and honey
- Berries
Jenya
Wow, I think I’ve just discovered my favorite breakfast! These waffles turned out to be so surprisingly light but filling. Topped with a drop of sour cream and bits of bacon… yum!
lena gladstone
Wonderful!! I am so so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed. Thanks a bunch for making it!
Donna
Why almond flour?
Irina
Awesome recipe! I didn’t think it would be this good with no flour but I really enjoyed them. I added the pickled red onions from Lena’s recipes and a poached egg and they were perfection!
Domnica Boros
Delicious!! I used white cheddar cheese and topped them with an over easy fried egg cooked in herbed garlic butter. It will definitely be on repeat in our house! Thanks Lena!!
Nadiya Radion
This recipe deserves 10 stars! I ran out of eggs and used egg whites and it still tasted like heaven! Highly recommend ?
Anna
Such an easy, quick and healthy breakfast option! I have a square waffle maker and it was perfect to make them and use them in place of bread for a breakfast sandwich!
Fatima El Kadri
Absolutely love this recipe!
inna arreguin
SO dang good!!!
Kaity
I tried this recipe and absolutely loved it! Was delicious and easy to follow. It is my new favorite breakfast.
Elizabeth
Love this Keto chaffles recipe! Very easy to make and so delicious! Will definitely be doing them alot! Thank you Lena for all you do, you inspire us so much!
Betsy
I had always wanted to try this recipe but wasn’t sure if I could substitute for regular flour (almond allergy). This morning I decided to just to just go for it and they came out great! An excellent savory breakfast option and a fun way to incorporate salmon and capers!
Cookwithdena
I tried this recipe and I’m obsessed! This is going to be a go to brunch item for me from now on! And I love that it’s Keto!
Semida
Tried this today. The kiddos loved it. It’s so easy and so delicious tastes like your dinning at a fine dinning brunch place.
Emily
Great recipe. I added broccoli and bacon. Topped mine with sour cream. I will be making this again. Thanks for posting it.
Anna R.
Sooooo good! Very easy to make too. Can’t even tell that it’s all made out of cheese. Kids loved it!
Mila
These waffles are so delicious! Super easy to make and kids loved them! They’d be amazing for a brunch party with a side of added toppings of choice. So good!
Mila
These waffles are so delicious! Super easy to make and kids loved them! They’d be amazing for a brunch party with a side of added toppings of choice. So good!
Elena
So delicious! I made these while on our family vacation- kids and adults loved it! Goes really good w smoked salmon as one of the toppings. Thanks for the recipe!
Vita
Seriously these are absolutely THE best!! My kids are obsessed!!
Sara Joy Brown
These are amazing!!! I had never heard of this before, but I’m sold!
Valentyna
This looks sooo good! I can’t wait to make the chaffles in the morning!
Julie
Absolutely love this recipe! Easy to make and delicious. These waffles go quick! Made 3 batches and nothing was leftover ? a new breakfast favorite!
Angie
These are soooo bomb! Super fast and easy to make. Had to make another batch quickly because we ate them so fast!??
Lana Bytgysaim
This recipe is so good. It saved my busy morning. I was running out of ideas since I make breakfast for husband and 19 years old son daily really early . It was a hit. I’m more of a savory type of girl anyway. Sweets make me nauseous early in the morning. This hit the spot. I’m so grateful for Lenas post. I had to ask her if the flour measurement was correct. Have you seen how much flour is in a box of waffle mix? I seriously was questioning the 1/2 of tbsp amount. But that’s all you need. Love it.
Natasha
Its so good. Delicious breakfast
Olga
Omg these are amazing. Way better than just omelet with cheese. Definitely gonna be making them a lot. Thanks Lena.
Becky
Super easy and delicious. I substituted almond flour for cassava flour instead.
Amelia
Super yummy Chaffles! My husband and I enjoyed these very much and it definitely has become one of our favorite breakfast dishes. I topped mine with an egg, avocado and salmon!
Marika Dominika
Easy waffle breakfast without the guilt!
Comes together quick. I topped mine with avo, lenas pickled onions, bacon and ebtb seasoning! Delicious
Suze from Beaverton
I actually have almond flour!!!!!!!!!!!! Going to try ASAP!
Amy Holt
This looks amazing and the recipe pretty versatile. I can’t wait to try 🙂 all your food and photography looks amazing!!
Amy
This looks amazing and the recipe pretty versatile. I can’t wait to try 🙂 all your food and photography looks amazing!!
Veronika
So easy to make and yummy!! Thank you for the recipe!
Nataliya
Tried these today, we added bacon to ours. It was so good! And really easy to make.
Jo
My blender died. Any other suggestions for how to mix aside by hand?
lenaskitchen
You can use a whisk and whisk the eggs first and then just add in the rest of the ingredients and use a fork to mash some of the cheese, it doesn’t have to be fully blended so you should be fine.