Best Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipes

NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• For the slaw: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cabbage, carrots and shallot. Stir until evenly coated. Set aside while you prepare the chicken. The longer the slaw sits, the better it gets.
• For the hot chicken: Heat 4 inches of vegetable oil to 365 degrees F in a Dutch oven. Prepare 2 sheet trays with wire racks. Generously sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with Miss Brown's House Seasoning.
• Create a dredging station by putting the flour in a medium bowl. Next, whisk together the buttermilk and hot sauce in a second medium bowl. Working with one piece at a time, dredge the seasoned chicken in the flour to coat, then dip in the buttermilk mixture and back into the flour. Place onto one of the prepared sheet trays (keep the other tray clean). Continue until all the chicken is coated.
• Carefully add the chicken, skin-side down, to the oil and cook, turning once, until it is golden brown on the outside with an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to the clean prepared sheet tray when ready.
• While the chicken is frying, make the hot butter sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the hot sauce, brown sugar, cayenne and Miss Brown's seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. When ready to serve, dip each piece of fried chicken in the hot butter sauce. Place each piece of chicken on the bottom of a potato roll and top with slaw and pickles. Drizzle extra sauce on top. Close each sandwich with a top bun.
• Whisk together the onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl. Store any extra seasoning mix in an airtight container. Makes 5 teaspoons.

NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Let oil cool: When all the chicken is finished, let the oil cool down for 5 to 10 minutes. You will need some of it to make the spicy paste.

NASHVILLE HOT FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• For the chicken brine: Dissolve the salt in the water and pour over the chicken thighs in an airtight container or large zip top bag and refrigerate for 4 to 12 hours.
• For the Nashville hot sauce: Start to heat the oil in a small saucepot over medium-high heat until nice and hot, but not smoking. Pour into a heatproof container and stir in the cayenne, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder and paprika.
• Heat a medium saucepot half full of oil or an electric deep-fryer to 325 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, remove the chicken from the brine. Pat dry and sprinkle with the granulated garlic, salt and black pepper on both sides. Then dredge the chicken through the flour evenly, one piece at a time. After all the chicken is dredged, check the temperature of oil and let the chicken rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Assuming the oil is ready, flour the chicken a second time, shake off any excess and fry until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F, 8 to 9 minutes. Remove the chicken to a wire rack and brush generously with Nashville hot sauce.
• Build sandwiches starting with mayonnaise on each side of the bun, then lettuce, if desired, the spicy chicken, pickles, jalapenos and the top bun.

AIR-FRYER NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a bowl or shallow dish, combine 1 tablespoon pickle juice, 1 tablespoon hot sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add chicken and turn to coat. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour. Drain, discarding any marinade., Preheat air fryer to 375°. In a shallow bowl, mix flour, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper. In another shallow bowl, whisk egg, buttermilk, and the remaining 1 tablespoon pickle juice and 1 tablespoon hot sauce. Dip chicken in flour to coat both sides; shake off excess. Dip in egg mixture, then again in flour mixture., In batches, arrange chicken in a single layer on well-greased tray in air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown, 5-6 minutes. Turn; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown, 5-6 minutes longer., Whisk together oil, cayenne pepper, brown sugar and seasonings; pour over hot chicken and toss to coat. Serve with pickles.

CHEF JOHN'S NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Toss chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Transfer chicken to a bowl; cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Whisk buttermilk, pickle brine, hot sauce, and egg together in a mixing bowl. Pour marinade over chicken and stir to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover and let chicken marinate in refrigerator 2 to 4 hours.
• Mix flour and salt together in a shallow flat dish. Remove chicken from marinade and blot with paper towels. Reserve marinade. Toss chicken in flour until thoroughly coated. Return chicken to marinade, coating all sides; remove chicken from marinade allowing excess to drip back into the bowl. Coat the chicken once again in flour mixture. Place on a rack. Repeat with all chicken pieces. Allow to sit out about 15 minutes to allow coating to dry out a bit.
• Place butter and lard in a large pot. Add cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Place over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until fats melt. Remove from heat; keep sauce warm.
• Fill cast iron skillet about 1/3 of the way with vegetable oil. Heat oil to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Carefully place chicken into hot oil, skin side down. Maintain an oil temperature of 325 degrees F, adjusting heat as need. Fry until instant read thermometer reads 160 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes per side.
• Transfer chicken to a rack to drain. Brush with the sauce on both sides.