Chef John's Nashville Hot Chicken

You don't need to travel to Tennessee to enjoy delicious Nashville hot chicken. This crispy, spicy, fried chicken will make the best chicken sandwich you've ever had in your life. Be sure to reserve the extra sweet-and-spicy sauce — it's so good, you'll want to keep adding it to the chicken (even if your mouth is already feeling fiery hot).

Be sure to save the recipe now before your mouth starts watering!

What Is Nashville Hot Chicken?

The name gives a lot away: Nashville hot chicken — fried chicken with a spicy kick — originated in Nashville, Tennessee.

The first Nashville hot chicken (served with white bread and pickles) is believed to have come from Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville. But the delicious fiery chicken has expanded nationwide, served daily at countless restaurants and in home kitchens.

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken

Chef John‘s Nashville hot chicken is pretty traditional. You’ll find the full recipe below, but here’s a brief overview of what to expect:

Make the Marinade

Combine buttermilk, pickle brine, hot sauce, and egg. Pour the marinade over the chicken pieces and refrigerate for up to four hours.

Bread the Chicken

Remove the chicken from the marinade and blot dry. Toss the chicken in a flour and salt mixture, then place the chicken back in the marinade until coated. Dredge the chicken again in the flour mixture. Let the coating dry for 15 minutes.

Make the Hot Sauce

Combine the butter, lard, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper over medium-high heat. Cook until the fat melts. Keep the sauce warm until ready to use.

Fry the Chicken

Fry the chicken on each side until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Transfer the chicken to a rack to drain, then brush with more sauce. Serve on a piece of white bread (or bun) with pickles and reserved sauce.

How Spicy Is Nashville Hot Chicken?

Nashville hot chicken is quite spicy. Not only is the chicken marinated in hot sauce, but it's also coated in a cayenne pepper sauce. However, the cayenne pepper sauce includes other ingredients like brown sugar and butter that tame the heat a bit.

The good news is that you can add as little or as much hot sauce as you want. Adjust the amounts in the marinade or don't top your fried chicken with as much sauce if you want it a little milder.

What to Serve With Nashville Hot Chicken

Nashville hot chicken goes great with traditional sides like french fries and coleslaw. But you can also serve it alongside some Southern favorites, like cornbread, hush puppies, mac and cheese, or corn on the cob.

How to Store Nashville Hot Chicken

Store Nashville hot chicken leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for the crispiest results.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“I have made this several times and it’s always a big hit when hosting,” says alb. “When it’s just for my little family we take the leftovers and make chicken salad for lunch. As other reviewers have mentioned, I learned after my first time, do not make the sauce too early — otherwise the spices, butter, and lard will separate instead of staying together.”

“My husband and sons love hot food,” according to Lis. “Me, not as much. I was kind of scared of the amount of cayenne pepper in this recipe but the fats and the brown sugar took the edge off. It was fantastic — all of us agreed. It was hot, but not the kind of hot where you are gulping milk in order to stop crying.”

“I lived in Nashville for a few years and learned a trick or two from some friends’ mommas,” says kb4ird. “Folks, this is the real deal. Secondly, I hate frying…pan frying, deep frying, you name it, I hate to do it. More specifically, I hate the clean-up. This is so worth it. It was delectable!”