Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches are a deliciously spicy Southern favorite featuring crispy fried chicken coated in a fiery hot sauce. Perfectly balanced with pickles and creamy slaw, they offer a bold and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch or substitute with more flour
- 1 teaspoon each of cayenne pepper garlic powder, salt, and black pepper
For the Dipping Oil:
- ½ cup frying oil or melted butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon each of chili powder smoked paprika, and garlic powder
To Assemble the Sandwiches:
- 4 burger buns buttered and toasted
- Coleslaw
- Mayonnaise
- Pickles
Instructions
Prep the Chicken:
- Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and hot sauce. In another shallow bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, and spices.
Bread the Chicken:
- Coat the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture, followed by a second coat in the flour, pressing firmly to ensure both sides are well-coated. Shake off any excess flour to create crispy crumbs for a crunchy texture.
Fry the Chicken:
- Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large, heavy-duty pan to 350ºF. Fry the chicken for 3 minutes per side or until the outside is dark and crunchy, and the internal temperature reaches 165ºF. Remove the chicken from the oil and place it on a cooling rack.
Make the Nashville Hot Sauce:
- Once all the chicken is fried, take ½ cup of the hot cooking oil and transfer it to a small bowl. Add the brown sugar and spices, whisking to combine. While the chicken is still hot, baste it with the hot oil mixture. If the oil is too burnt, you can substitute with a mix of melted butter and oil, or just melted butter.
Assemble the Sandwiches:
- Spread about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise onto the bottom half of a toasted bun. Add the fried chicken, followed by some coleslaw and pickles. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
If you have leftover chicken patties, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or in an air fryer until warm and crispy.