Nashville Hot Chicken

Experience the Heat - juicy, crunchy, crazy delicious fried chicken brushed with a sweet and spicy Cayenne-based sauce for an explosion of flavor!

Use any chicken cut you like. I chose a whole chicken cut into 10 pieces for variety and cost, but packed chicken breast or thighs work too. I added flavor with garlic, hot sauce, and Creole seasoning.

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken

Buttermilk tenderizes chicken by breaking down proteins with acids and enzymes. No buttermilk? Mix 1 cup milk and 1 tbsp vinegar/lemon for each cup of buttermilk. Wait 5-10 mins for it to curdle, then pour over seasoned chicken.

Chicken Marinade:

The recipe list is lengthy due to the flavorful crust coating for the meat, which includes a blend of salt, paprika, garlic and onion powder, cayenne pepper, herbs and white pepper.

Flour Coating:

I prefer shallow-frying chicken in a cast iron skillet instead of deep-frying, and baking in the oven, like my healthier Oven Fried Chicken recipe, is another option.

Deep Fried or Pan-Fried

Whisk the hot sauce ingredients with melted butter and oil until thickened. Brush on chicken, adjusting spiciness to taste.

How To Make Nashville Hot Chicken Sauce?

Yes. Prepare the chicken up to the point of frying. Store them in the refrigerator overnight. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 mins before frying. Another way is to prepare the spicy sauce ahead. Store in the fridge, covered, for up to 2 weeks.

Can I prepare Nashville Hot Chicken Ahead of Time?

Substitute every cup of buttermilk with 1 cup of regular milk + 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon. Brush the chicken with hot sauce depending on your spiciness tolerance or completely leave it out.

Tips and Notes: