Add Bacon-Studded Waffles to Your Brunch Rotation

When it comes to brunch, I’m Team Savory all the way.

But I do have a soft spot for pancakes, waffles, and French toast. Unfortunately for me and my subdued sweet tooth, these carb-tastic delights are typically over-the-top sweet. Who decided they can’t cross over into savory territory?

This is my official overruling of that outdated breakfast proclamation. Thanks to a bacony, cheesy waffle recipe my colleague Afton Cyrus developed for ATK Kids’ new book, The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs, my savory, carb-y breakfast crossover dream has been realized. Filled with crumbled bacon (which can be crisped up in the microwave), cheddar cheese, and scallions, these waffles deliver on all savory counts.

My favorite part of the recipe: We suggest more than a dozen ways to switch up the mix-ins. Don’t have bacon? Try deli ham or lap cheong sausage. Not into cheddar? Swap in pepper Jack or Parmesan. And then you can top the waffles any way you want—keep things fully savory with hot sauce or chili crisp and a fried egg, or reach for the maple syrup for that sweet-salty combo. As a condiment enthusiast and a sucker for the sweet and salty, I’m reaching for all the fixings.