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Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 32 reviews

These Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches feature crispy, spicy fried chicken cutlets coated in a signature cayenne pepper-infused hot oil sauce, served on toasted buns with creamy mayonnaise, crunchy coleslaw, and tangy pickles. Perfect for a bold and flavorful sandwich experience reminiscent of the iconic Nashville regional specialty.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken & Coating

  • 2 medium chicken breasts
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch (or additional flour)
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Frying & Hot Sauce

  • ½ cup frying oil (or melted butter)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne powder
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Sandwich Assembly

  • 4 burger buns (buttered and toasted)
  • Mayonnaise (about 4 tablespoons)
  • Coleslaw (enough for 4 sandwiches)
  • Pickles (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Chicken: Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets. Season both sides with salt and black pepper. In a small shallow bowl, whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce. In another bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Bread the Chicken: Dredge each chicken cutlet in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip into the buttermilk mixture, then dredge again in the flour mixture, pressing firmly to coat both sides. Shake off any excess flour to encourage the formation of crunchy bits during frying.
  3. Fry the Chicken: Heat about 2 inches of frying oil in a large heavy-duty pan to 350ºF (175ºC). Fry chicken cutlets for approximately 3 minutes per side, until the crust is dark and crunchy and the internal temperature reaches 165ºF (74ºC). Remove and place on a cooling rack to drain excess oil.
  4. Make Nashville Hot Sauce: Carefully take ½ cup of the hot frying oil and transfer to a small bowl. Add brown sugar, cayenne powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Whisk thoroughly to combine. If the oil has burnt bits or is too dark, substitute a combination of melted butter and oil or just melted butter. Immediately baste the fried chicken with this hot sauce mixture while still hot.
  5. Assemble the Sandwiches: Spread about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Place one hot, sauced chicken cutlet on top, then layer with coleslaw and pickles. Cover with the top bun and serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

Notes

  • Use a thermometer to maintain the oil temperature around 350ºF for perfectly crispy chicken.
  • Adjust cayenne powder to your spice tolerance in both the breading and hot sauce.
  • Double dredging helps create a thick, crunchy crust.
  • If you prefer, use melted butter instead of oil to baste the chicken for a richer flavor.
  • Serve sandwiches immediately after assembly to preserve crunchiness.

Keywords: Nashville Hot Chicken, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Southern Fried Chicken, Hot Chicken Recipe

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