Spice up your life with Nashville Hot Chicken

Hey y’all! Are you ready to spice things up in the kitchen? Today, we’re going to talk about how to make the famous Nashville hot chicken right in the comfort of your own home! It’s a Southern classic that has been gaining popularity all over the country. The crispy, juicy chicken coated in a fiery hot sauce is perfect for those who love a little kick in their meals. And the best part? It’s super easy to make!

First things first, gather your ingredients. For the chicken, you’ll need chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, or drumsticks), buttermilk, flour, salt, and pepper. For the hot sauce, you’ll need cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, and vegetable oil. Adjust the spices to your liking if you want it hotter or milder. Once you’ve got everything ready, let’s get started on making the best Nashville hot chicken!

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re a fan of spicy chicken dishes, then you’ve probably heard of Nashville hot chicken. This fiery dish is a popular food in the South and is known for its crispy texture and intense spice. The good news is that you don’t have to travel to Nashville to try this dish as it’s simple and easy to make in the comfort of your own home. Follow this step-by-step guide to make your own Nashville hot chicken that will surely impress your taste buds and those of your dinner guests.

1. Gather Your Ingredients

Before you start cooking, it’s essential to have all the necessary ingredients for this recipe. To make Nashville hot chicken, you’ll need the following:

– 2-3 pounds of chicken (boneless or bone-in)
– 2 cups of flour
– 2 tablespoons of smoked paprika
– 2 tablespoons of garlic powder
– 2 tablespoons of onion powder
– 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper
– 1 tablespoon of salt
– 1 tablespoon of black pepper
– 1 cup of buttermilk
– 1 tablespoon of hot sauce (optional)
– Vegetable oil (for frying)

2. Choose Your Chicken

When it comes to Nashville hot chicken, you have two options – boneless or bone-in. If you prefer the juicier and more flavorful chicken, then go for bone-in. However, if you want the chicken to cook faster and have a milder flavor, then boneless is your best bet.

3. Brine the Chicken

To achieve tender and juicy chicken, brining is a must. Fill a large bowl or container with buttermilk, hot sauce (optional), and a tablespoon of salt. Add the chicken and let it sit in the mixture for at least an hour in the fridge. This step will make the chicken moist and tender.

4. Create the Seasoned Flour Mix

In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of flour with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of black pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

5. Dredge the Chicken

Remove the chicken from the buttermilk mixture and coat it evenly in the seasoned flour mix. Make sure the chicken is fully covered in the flour mixture before you start frying.

6. Heat Up the Oil

Fill a deep frying pan with vegetable oil and heat it up to 350°F. You can check the oil’s temperature using a thermometer or dropping a pinch of flour to see if it sizzles.

7. Fry the Chicken

Carefully place the chicken in the hot oil and fry it until it’s golden brown on both sides. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F, and it should take about 12-15 minutes to cook depending on the size and cut of the chicken.

8. Make the Spicy Sauce

While the chicken is frying, you can prepare the spicy sauce. In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup of butter and mix it with 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Heat up the mixture until everything is combined.

9. Coat the Chicken in the Spice Mix

Remove the chicken from the oil and drain it on a paper towel. Dip it in the spicy sauce mix and make sure it’s evenly coated. You can add more or less sauce depending on your preferences.

10. Serve and Enjoy

Finally, it’s time to serve and enjoy your homemade Nashville hot chicken. Serve it with your favorite sides such as coleslaw, mac and cheese, or cornbread for an authentic Southern meal. Remember to have a glass of milk or water nearby in case the heat becomes too much to handle.

Conclusion

Making Nashville hot chicken may seem intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple to make. Follow these ten easy steps, and you’ll be able to make a delicious and spicy chicken dish that will surely impress anyone who tries it. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the spices and adjust the heat level to your preference. With a bit of practice and patience, you’ll soon become a Nashville hot chicken-making expert.

Getting Started with Nashville Hot Chicken

So you’ve decided to take on the spicy, crispy, and juicy world of Nashville hot chicken. Congratulations! Before you start cooking, it’s important to get a few things in order. Here are 10 things you need to know and do to make sure your Nashville hot chicken is top-notch.

1. Prepare your ingredients

As with most dishes, it’s important to have all of your ingredients ready before you start cooking. For Nashville hot chicken, you’ll need salt, pepper, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, buttermilk, flour, and chicken (preferably bone-in, skin-on thighs). Make sure you have everything measured out and ready to go before you start cooking.

2. Brine your chicken

Brining your chicken helps to keep it juicy and flavorful. Mix together water, salt, sugar, and any other seasonings you like and soak your chicken in the mixture for a few hours. This step is optional, but highly recommended.

3. Mix your dry ingredients

In a bowl, mix together your flour, salt, and spices (cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and paprika). You can adjust the amount of spice to your liking, depending on how hot you like your chicken.

4. Dip your chicken in buttermilk

Next, dip your chicken in a bowl of buttermilk. Make sure it’s completely coated and let any excess drip off.

5. Coat your chicken in the dry mixture

Take your buttermilk-coated chicken and dip it in the bowl of dry ingredients. Make sure the chicken is completely coated with the mixture.

6. Let your chicken sit for a few minutes

Let your chicken sit for a few minutes to let the coating adhere to the buttermilk.

7. Fry your chicken

Heat up a pot of oil (vegetable oil or peanut oil are good choices) to 350-375°F and fry your chicken until it’s golden brown and crispy. Depending on the size of your chicken pieces, this can take anywhere from 10-15 minutes.

8. Make your hot oil sauce

In a separate pot, mix together your hot sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and a little bit of the leftover frying oil. Heat it up until it’s nice and hot.

9. Coat your chicken in the hot oil sauce

Once your chicken is fried, use a brush to coat it in the hot oil sauce. Coat it as much or as little as you like, depending on how spicy you want it.

10. Serve and enjoy!

Congratulations, your Nashville hot chicken is ready to serve! Pair it with some pickles, white bread, and maybe even a cold beer and enjoy the crispy, juicy, and spicy goodness.

Ingredients for Nashville Hot Chicken

To make Nashville hot chicken, you need a few basic ingredients. Here are some of the main ones that you will need:

1. Chicken

The main ingredient for making Nashville hot chicken is, of course, chicken. You can use any part of the chicken that you like, but traditionally, hot chicken is made using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. This is because they have more flavor and are more tender than other parts of the chicken.

2. Hot Sauce

The hot sauce is the most important ingredient in Nashville hot chicken. It’s what gives the dish its signature heat and flavor. The traditional Nashville hot chicken sauce is made with cayenne pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, and other spices. You can also add in other ingredients to customize the heat level and flavor of your sauce.

3. Buttermilk

Buttermilk is used as a marinade for the chicken. It helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. It also helps the breading to stick to the chicken better. You can make your own buttermilk by adding vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk.

4. Flour and Cornstarch

The breading for Nashville hot chicken is made using a mixture of flour and cornstarch. This mixture creates a crispy coating on the chicken. You can also add in other seasonings to the breading, such as garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.

5. Oil

You will need oil to fry the chicken. You can use any type of oil that you like, but vegetable oil or peanut oil works best. Make sure to use enough oil so that the chicken is fully submerged when you are frying it.

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken

Now that you know what ingredients you need, here is a step-by-step guide on how to make Nashville hot chicken:

1. Marinate the Chicken

Mix together the buttermilk and hot sauce in a large bowl. Add in the chicken and toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

2. Make the Hot Chicken Sauce

Mix together the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, and other spices in a small bowl. Heat up oil in a small saucepan and add in the spice mixture. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant. Remove from heat and let it cool down.

3. Make the Breading

Mix together the flour, cornstarch, and any additional seasonings in a large bowl. Remove the chicken from the marinade and let the excess drip off. Toss the chicken in the flour mixture until fully coated.

4. Fry the Chicken

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or deep fryer until it reaches 350 degrees F. Carefully place the chicken in the oil and fry for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove the chicken from the oil and let it drain on a wire rack.

5. Coat the Chicken in the Hot Chicken Sauce

Mix together the hot chicken sauce and some of the frying oil in a small bowl. Brush the sauce over the fried chicken, making sure to coat it evenly.

Tips for Making the Perfect Nashville Hot Chicken

Making Nashville hot chicken may seem intimidating, but it’s actually a fairly simple dish to prepare. Here are some tips to help you make the perfect Nashville hot chicken:

1. Adjust the Heat Level

You can adjust the heat level of the hot chicken sauce by adding more or less cayenne pepper. If you like your chicken extra spicy, you can also add in some chopped jalapenos or hot sauce to the marinade or breading.

2. Use a Meat Thermometer

When frying the chicken, it’s important to make sure that it’s cooked all the way through. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should be cooked to 165 degrees F.

3. Let the Chicken Rest

After the chicken is fried, let it rest on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving. This allows the excess oil to drain off and helps the breading to stay crispy.

4. Serve with Pickles and White Bread

Traditional Nashville hot chicken is served with pickles and white bread. The pickles help to balance out the heat of the chicken, while the bread is perfect for soaking up any extra sauce.

Enjoy your Nashville hot chicken!

Thanks for reading this article on how to make Nashville hot chicken! We hope you found the steps easy to follow and that your taste buds are already tingling in anticipation. Don’t forget to experiment with the seasoning and spice level to find the perfect flavor for you. If you want more delicious recipes and food tips, be sure to visit our website again soon. Keep on cooking and enjoy your next tasty meal!