7 Recipes You Didn’t Know You Could Make in Your Waffle Maker

If you haven’t already invested in a waffle maker, these recipes may convince you to splurge. Not only can a waffle maker help you create waffles filled with deep pockets for your syrup, but it can also serve similar functions as a panini press, skillet and more, making it an essential item to have in your kitchen.

Considering your waffle maker can make everything from breakfast items to dinner and snack options, this kitchen appliance will quickly become part of your regular routine. Get ready to put that waffle iron to good use with any of these unexpected recipes:

1. Omelet

Say goodbye to scrambled eggs and make way for easy-to-make omelets. According to this recipe from Slimming Eats, whisking together eggs and your favorite veggies, such as peppers and onions, can create a batter that’s ready to be poured straight into a greased waffle iron and cooked up in no time!

Our favorite waffle maker: Oster Nonstick Belgian Waffle Maker

2. Hash Browns

Getting crispy hash Browns has never been so simple. A recipe from Recipe Girl points out that shredded potatoes, fresh rosemary and a little salt and pepper can be added to a waffle iron to create hash browns that are golden and cooked to perfection. And just in case you’re more of a fan of sweet potatoes, you can easily make hash browns with this sweeter version of a potato, as well, Buy them pre-shredded or shred them yourself— you can’t go wrong, no matter which way you choose.

But my favorite method is using tater tots! All you have to do it put the tater tots on the waffle iron, and let the machine do the rest. You’ll have a perfectly shaped potato waffle when you’re done with little to no effort, and I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of that.

3. Cornbread

You won’t even have to preheat the oven to serve up some delicious cornbread. Thanks to this recipe from The Country Cook, you may never eat cornbread the same way again. Cooking it up in a waffle iron gives it the perfect shape for, well, a lot. You can top your cornbread with chili to make a Mexican sope-style dish. You can dunk it into soups. You can slather it with butter and honey and eat it with a fork. The possibilities are practically endless!

4. Quesadilla

Satisfy all of your late-night cravings with minimal clean-up now that you can cook a quesadilla in your waffle maker. This video from the Buzzfeed Food Facebook page shows how simple it is to cook a quesadilla in a waffle iron instead of a skillet. They even loaded theirs with more than just cheese, adding refried beans and salsa before topping the whole thing with more cheese and another tortilla. Game changer!

5. Zucchini Fritters

Whether you’re making appetizers to suit a crowd or meal-prepping for lunch, these zucchini fritters are going to come in handy. This recipe from SweetAsHoney points out how easily these can be made in your waffle iron by combining ingredients such as grated zucchini, parmesan cheese, milk and flour to create a batter and letting your waffle iron take care of the rest!

6. Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Two of your favorites have been combined into one ooey, gooey delicious treat. A recipe from Damn Delicious proves that you can majorly upgrade your grilled cheese situation by adding jalapeño slices, bacon and cream cheese into the mix. If that wasn’t impressive enough — you can get this nice and toasty in the waffle iron and devour it in a matter of minutes.

7. Mac ‘N Cheese

Take your mac ‘n cheese up a notch by pouring prepared macaroni and cheese into a waffle iron until it’s nice and toasty and golden brown. The recipe from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom points out that this is a great lunch option for kids, but it’s also perfect for adults with late-night cravings or those who need a convenient and delicious dinner.

These are just some of the ways you can have a waffle iron serve a major role in your kitchen. So warm it up and get cooking!