Nashville Style Hot Chicken Sandwich

Ready to jazz up your sandwich routine? Try our Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Sandwich! Crispy, spicy chicken meets creamy coleslaw and tangy pickles, all hugged by a soft bun. It's easy to make and bursting with flavor. Give it a try—you won't be disappointed!

5 from 7 votes

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Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Fried Chicken, Nashville Style Hot Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Sandwich

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 10

Brining Time: 30

Total Time: 1

Servings:

Calories: 724kcal

Ingredients

2 medium chicken breasts, sliced into 4 cutlets
Oil for frying (vegetable, peanut, or canola oil)

For the Breading:

½ cup buttermilk
1 tbsp vinegar-based hot sauce
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp ground black pepper
1½ tsp salt

For The Dipping Oil:

½ cup frying oil
2 tsp light brown sugar
2 tsp cayenne powder
¼ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder

For the Sandwiches:

4 burger buns, buttered and toasted
Bread and butter pickle chips
Coleslaw
mayonnaise

Instructions

Brine the chicken if time allows it. Slice the chicken into cutlets, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.
Remove the chicken from the fridge and prepare the breading. In a shallow bowl, mix the all-purpose flour with salt and pepper. In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk with hot sauce.
Take a tablespoon of the buttermilk mixture and add it to the flour, then use your hands to create crumbles.
Dredge the chicken in flour, shaking off any excess, then dip in buttermilk, and coat again with flour. Shake off excess flour.
Heat oil in a dutch oven to 350˚F (160°C). Fry chicken pieces, 2 at a time, for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 160°F or 74°C). Place fried chicken on a cooling rack in the oven to keep warm.
While frying chicken, prepare the Nashville hot sauce. In a small bowl, combine frying oil with brown sugar, cayenne powder, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Baste the hot chicken with this sauce immediately after frying.
Assemble the sandwiches by spreading mayo on toasted buns, then adding fried chicken, coleslaw, and pickle chips.

Notes

Pro Tip: For an extra crispy crust, double-dip the chicken in the breading. After the first coating of flour and buttermilk, repeat the process once more before frying. This will create an even thicker and crunchier exterior, adding an irresistible texture to your Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich.

Variation: For a milder version of this hot chicken sandwich, simply reduce the amount of cayenne powder and chili powder in the dipping oil mixture. You can adjust the heat level according to your preference, making it suitable for those who prefer a less spicy option. Additionally, feel free to customize the sandwich toppings to your liking. Add slices of cheese, avocado, or bacon for a unique twist on this classic recipe. Experiment with different sauces or coleslaw variations to create your own signature Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich.

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