Patti LaBelle brought the kitchen to the studio this week, turning a stop at The Breakfast Club into a full-on cooking lesson—complete with hot oil, waffle makers, and her signature mix of humor and authority.
Joined by Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy, the legendary singer walked the hosts through her chicken-and-waffles recipe, starting with a rule she made very clear early on: wash your chicken.
“A lot of people don’t wash their chicken,” LaBelle said during the segment. “I say shame on you.”
She explained that cleaning the meat—and your hands—is non-negotiable, adding that jewelry must be removed before cooking. No shortcuts in Miss Patti’s kitchen!
As the oil heated, LaBelle demonstrated how to test when it’s ready, carefully dropping in water until it popped. That lesson came with a warning, informed by experience.
When Charlamagne nervously lowered the chicken into the oil, LaBelle quickly stepped in. “You can’t do it like that,” she said, laughing but firm. “It’ll splash back up… splash my wig.”
The chicken—seasoned, floured, and fried in avocado oil—only needed a few minutes per side. Meanwhile, waffles were cooked nearby using her own pancake and waffle mix, part of her expanding Patti’s Good Life food line, which is available at Walmart, Target, and Kroger.
At one point, she was asked by The Breakfast Club if that’s how gatherings usually look for her. “Everybody’s in the kitchen,” she replied, without hesitation.
Once the food was ready, LaBelle led the room in grace, thanking everyone present and acknowledging how meaningful shared meals can be—especially when not everyone is fortunate enough to have one. It was a quiet, grounding moment after all the jokes and dancing.
By the time the chicken and waffles hit the plates, LaBelle proved that she doesn’t just lend her name to food. She brings the same care, confidence, and personality to the stove that made her a legend on stage.