Description
Nashville Hot Chicken is a fiery Southern classic featuring crispy, juicy fried chicken brushed with a bold cayenne-spiced oil paste, served on white bread with dill pickles — a crunchy, spicy, and savory delight.
Ingredients
- Chicken:
- 2–3 lbs chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, breasts, or wings)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 2–4 tablespoons cayenne pepper (adjust for heat)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Peanut oil or lard, for frying
- Hot Paste:
- 1/2 cup frying oil or melted lard (reserved from the fryer)
- 2–4 tablespoons cayenne pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- To Serve:
- Slices of white bread
- Dill pickle chips
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken in buttermilk and 1 tablespoon salt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Mix flour, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, and chili powder in a bowl for dredging.
- Remove chicken from marinade, let excess drip off, and coat in flour mixture.
- Heat oil or lard to 350°F (175°C) in a deep skillet or Dutch oven. Fry chicken in batches for 12–15 minutes until golden and cooked through. Drain on a wire rack.
- To make the hot paste, whisk cayenne, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, and salt into 1/2 cup of hot frying oil until thick and well combined.
- Brush the spicy paste over the hot fried chicken.
- Serve immediately on white bread slices with dill pickle chips.
Notes
- Use boneless thighs for easier sandwiches.
- Adjust cayenne to control the spice level.
- Add smoked paprika for a hint of smoky flavor.
- Serve with honey drizzle for a sweet-spicy contrast.
- Avoid microwaving leftovers to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken with bread and pickles
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
