Slice the chicken breast into thin, even strips and place them in a small bowl with the buttermilk to marinate for 10 minutes.
In a separate shallow dish, whisk together the almond flour, arrowroot starch, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
Remove each chicken strip from the buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off, then dredge thoroughly in the flour mixture, pressing to adhere.
Lightly coat the air fryer basket with avocado oil and arrange the chicken strips in a single layer without crowding.
Air fry at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the strips halfway through, until the coating is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
While the chicken finishes, toast the whole grain waffle until it is warm and slightly firm.
Place the crispy chicken strips on top of the toasted waffle and finish with a light drizzle of maple syrup.