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Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe

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  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 1 hour (including marinating time)
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American (Southern)

Description

Nashville Hot Chicken is a flavorful and spicy fried chicken dish originating from the American South. This recipe features tender, buttermilk-marinated chicken coated in a crispy seasoned flour mixture, fried to golden perfection, and then brushed with a fiery cayenne pepper glaze. Served on white bread with pickle chips, it’s a classic Southern comfort food with a bold kick.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Vegetable oil for frying (about 2 inches deep)

Hot Glaze

  • 1/2 cup hot frying oil (reserved from the chicken frying)
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Pinch of salt

For Serving

  • White bread slices
  • Pickle chips

Instructions

  1. Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg until combined. Add the chicken pieces, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to tenderize and infuse flavor. For best results, marinate overnight.
  2. Prepare the coating: In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. This dry mixture will create the crispy fried chicken crust.
  3. Heat the oil: Pour about 2 inches of vegetable oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven. Heat it to 350°F (175°C) for optimal frying temperature.
  4. Coat the chicken: Remove each piece of chicken from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dredge thoroughly in the flour mixture, ensuring an even and complete coating.
  5. Fry the chicken: Carefully place the coated chicken pieces in batches into the hot oil. Fry for 6–8 minutes per side, turning once, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a wire rack to drain the cooked chicken and maintain crispiness.
  6. Make the spicy glaze: Ladle 1/2 cup of the hot oil used for frying into a heatproof bowl. Stir in the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  7. Apply the glaze and serve: Brush or spoon the hot spicy glaze generously over the fried chicken pieces. Serve immediately, placing the glazed chicken on slices of white bread and topping with pickle chips for that authentic Nashville Hot Chicken experience.

Notes

  • Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to suit your preferred spice level.
  • Chicken thighs provide juicier and more flavorful results, while chicken breasts offer a leaner option.
  • For a complete meal, serve with classic sides such as coleslaw or French fries.

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Find it online: https://yummykitchenmagic.com/nashville-hot-chicken-recipe/