Savory Waffles with Spinach, Ham and Cheese
These savory waffles filled with spinach, ham, and cheddar cheese make a quick breakfast for a busy morning. The addition of whole wheat flour makes these crispy waffles more wholesome and hearty. You only need 5 minutes to put it all together, so get your waffle iron ready quick!
“I love these waffles! I’ve made them several times using whatever is in the fridge and they are delicious Every. Single. Time.”
JEN
Sweet Belgian waffles are always a hit in our house. There’s nothing like a stack of fluffy, crispy waffles topped with whipped cream, fresh berries, and warm maple syrup—it’s a weekend brunch favorite.
But these savory waffles? They’re my go-to for a quick, easy breakfast. With baby spinach, deli ham, and cheddar cheese—ingredients you likely already have—you can stir up the batter in just 5 minutes.
Be sure to heat up your waffle iron first! I love using my trusty Belgian waffle maker for these spinach waffles. They come out crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, with the perfect savory bite and a bit of cheddar crunch.
Better option than a sweet breakfast, they’re also great for dinner. Top them with an egg and a dollop of sour cream for a meal that’s as satisfying as it is delicious.
Ingredients
- Baby spinach or try with other greens of your choice
- Deli slices: Use any kind of sliced deli meats you have on hand (ham, turkey, chicken, or beef).
- Grated cheese: Cheddar is my favorite. Try different cheese of your choice.
- Batter Ingredients: Everyday pantry items like all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, butter and milk .
How to make savory waffles with spinach, ham, and cheese
Step 1: Preheat the waffle iron to medium to medium-dark setting.
Step 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine spinach, deli ham slices, and cheddar cheese. Add the flours, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt. Toss together roughly with kitchen tongs.
Step 3. Pour in milk and melted butter and toss everything with kitchen tongs to moisten. The batter will be on the thick side. Add more milk if you prefer a looser batter—but this is not a batter that you pour.
Step 4. Oil spray the hot waffle iron if needed. Put a fourth of the waffle batter on the hot waffle iron and close the lid. (Flip it upside down if your waffle iron has the feature)
Cook until golden and crisp. (Waffle irons vary in cooking time, so adjust the time accordingly.) Gently take the waffle out of the iron and place on a wired rack.
To keep these waffles warm, keep them in a warm 175˚F oven while you cook the next one. Make sure to place the waffles on a wire rack to prevent them from getting soggy.
What to serve with savory waffles
I usually serve my spinach waffles plainly with sour cream and a few drops of hot sauce, but these waffles can go with lots of other things. Try the following toppings to make your waffle meal more satisfying.
- Fried egg
- Crisp bacon pieces
- Smoked salmon
- Avocado
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce
- Green salad with vinaigrette dressing
- Cherry tomatoes
Tried this recipe? Please take a moment to leave a star rating & comment below. I love hearing from you and it helps other readers, too.
Savory Waffles with Spinach, Ham, and Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 cup loosely packed baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 4 slices deli ham, roughly sliced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 pinches salt
- 1 to 1 1/4 cup milk
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- oil spray
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle iron to medium to medium-dark setting.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine spinach, deli ham slices, and cheddar cheese. Add the flours, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt. Toss together roughly with kitchen tongs.
- Pour in milk and melted butter and toss everything with kitchen tongs to moisten. The batter will be on the thick side. Add more milk if you prefer a looser batter—but this is not a batter that you pour.
- Oil spray the hot waffle iron if needed. Put a fourth of the waffle batter on the hot waffle iron and close the lid (Flip it upside down if your waffle iron has the feature). Cook until golden and crisp. (Waffle irons vary in cooking time, so adjust the time accordingly.)
- Gently take the waffle out of the iron and place on a wired rack. Serve the waffles with sour cream and hot sauce or other favorite topping.
- To keep these waffles warm, keep them in a warm 175˚F oven while you cook the next one. Make sure to place the waffles on a wire rack to prevent them from getting soggy.
Wow! I doubted they would stick together so I put an egg in and they just turned out wonderfully! I think the cheese and milk are somehow the glue on their own. Thanks for sharing! All gone in our tummies!
So happy to here it worked out for you. Adding an egg to this savory waffles is a great idea!
Delicious, super crispy waffles!
We loved this recipe! This ramped up our typical Chicken and Waffles dinner to another level. Thank you so much!
No temp control 😢 but will try not shutting lid Iron is old Thanks
Help !!! I was so looking forward to these ! I have been making and using a waffle iron for years but never made savory before : made first batch stuck to iron and took 15 minutes to remove over cooked Second batch : re oiled and same issue So frustrating any ideas ? And yes I pre heated iron
I wonder if your waffle iron is hot enough to sear the surface. Waiting 15 minutes seems excessively long if you need that much time to remove them without sticking. Perhaps you could try increasing the temperature if your iron has that feature? One trick is to wait a few seconds after adding the batter before closing the lid, allowing some time for the bottom to sear. I hope this helps.
I made these with spinach, bacon, and a cheddar cheese blend. Absolutely delicious. My picky toddler says, “Mmm!”
So happy to hear that! Thanks so much for trying my recipe!
I love these waffles! I’ve made them several times using whatever is in the fridge and they are delicious Every. Single. Time.
Fantastic! What a great balanced and quick dinner. We topped with chèvre and red pepper jelly. I rarely print and have never commented, but this recipe is deserving of both. A new go to.
These waffles sound great. Can’t wait to try them for a savory supper with eggs. I have to lower the sodium count for 2 family members with health issues, so I want to replace the ham. Would it work to add chopped mushtrooms? I haven’t tried using fresh mushrooms in a waffle iron.
Thanks for a great-sounding recipe.
Hi Lynn
Mushroom is a great substitution to replace the ham. I hope you enjoy it. It’s delicious!
Great recipe! I made these for my 18 month old and he loves it! Although, I didn’t have ham, but it still tasted great. I also added some mushroom powder for extra nutrients for the lil one Thank you!
So happy to hear that! Mushroom powder is a great idea for added nutrients. Thanks for your comment!
Easy to make and deliciously savory! This is the first time I used a waffle iron and so I didn’t really know the outcome….the irons were definately HOT and browned a bit more than yours, but they turned out amazing! I think this is a great recipe to subsitute left over deli meats and cheeses (plus supergreens)….roast beef (w/horseradish) & cheddar, turkey (with dry ranch dressing) & swiss, pepperoni & provolone, and sausage & jack. So many choices! PS – I didn’t have spray, so I basted the irons with avocado oil.
Excellent tasting savory waffle! Could easily switch out cheeses too, so, ham & swiss, provolone & salami, fontina & pepperoni, roast beef (w/horseradish) & cheddar, turkey ranch & swiss, sausage & jack cheese, perfect way to use up left overs! Easy to make!