Description
Experience the perfect blend of crispy fried chicken and spicy homemade sauce with this Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich recipe. It’s a delightful dish that brings bold Southern flavors to your table in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium chicken breasts
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup frying oil (or melted butter)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cayenne powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 burger buns (buttered and toasted)
- coleslaw
- mayonnaise
- pickles
Instructions
- Begin by prepping the chicken. Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create thinner pieces that fry up nicely. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together ½ cup of buttermilk and 1 tablespoon of hot sauce until well combined. This mixture is essential for marinating the chicken and infusing flavor.
- In another bowl, combine ½ cup of all-purpose flour, ½ cup of cornstarch, 1 teaspoon of cayenne, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of spices.
- Take each seasoned chicken piece, dredge it in the flour mixture, then dip it into the buttermilk mixture, and finally coat it again in the flour mixture. This double coating is key to achieving a thick, crunchy crust.
- In a skillet, heat ½ cup of frying oil (or melted butter) over medium-high heat until it reaches 350ºF. You can test the oil by dropping a small amount of the flour mixture into it; if it sizzles, it’s ready.
- Carefully place the coated chicken pieces in the hot oil, frying them for about 3 minutes on each side or until they turn a deep golden brown. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165ºF to guarantee they are fully cooked.
- While the chicken is frying, prepare the Nashville hot sauce. In a small bowl, mix the hot cooking oil from the skillet with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of cayenne powder, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, and ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- Once the chicken is done frying, remove it from the skillet and let it drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Baste the fried chicken generously with the Nashville hot sauce.
- To assemble the sandwiches, start by spreading mayonnaise on the bottom half of each buttered and toasted burger bun. Place the fried chicken on top, followed by a generous portion of coleslaw and pickles to balance the heat.
- Top each sandwich with the other half of the bun, serve immediately, and enjoy the explosion of flavors!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: For a healthier twist, try air-frying the chicken instead of deep-frying. If you don't have buttermilk, mix regular milk with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for about 5 minutes.