Best 4 Chef Johns Nashville Hot Chicken Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

If you're a fan of spicy food, then you'll love Chef John's Nashville hot chicken. This dish is a classic Southern comfort food that's made with chicken that's been dredged in flour, cayenne pepper, and other spices, then fried until crispy. The chicken is then served with a spicy sauce made from cayenne pepper, vinegar, and other ingredients. Nashville hot chicken is a delicious and unique dish that's sure to please everyone at your next party or gathering.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CHEF JOHN'S NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN



Chef John's Nashville Hot Chicken image

If you've never had Nashville Hot Chicken, we're talking about an ultra-crispy fried chicken doused with a cayenne-infused glaze, and by 'glaze' I mean melted butter and lard. For the record, I've never been to Nashville, so I can't tell you how authentic this is, but it works for me, and is fairly easy to pull off.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Fried Chicken Recipes

Time 10h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
¼ cup pickle brine
2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons fine table salt
¼ cup butter
¼ cup lard
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1114.9 calories, Carbohydrate 74.5 g, Cholesterol 258.2 mg, Fat 66 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 53.9 g, SaturatedFat 22.8 g, Sodium 3754.8 mg, Sugar 7 g

CHEF JOHN'S NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN



Chef John's Nashville Hot Chicken image

If you've never had Nashville Hot Chicken, we're talking about mouthwateringly, ultra-crispy, fiery fried chicken with a cayenne-infused glaze, and by 'glaze' I mean melted butter and lard. For the record, I've never been to Nashville, so I can't tell you how authentic this is, but it works for me. Serve chicken pieces on white bread and brush with extra sauce if you like. Serve with pickles.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Fried Chicken

Time 3h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 cup buttermilk
¼ cup pickle brine
2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons fine table salt
¼ cup butter
¼ cup lard
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed

Steps:

  • Arrange chicken pieces in a large bowl.
  • 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1114.9 calories, Carbohydrate 74.5 g, Cholesterol 258.2 mg, Fat 66 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 53.9 g, SaturatedFat 22.8 g, Sodium 3754.8 mg, Sugar 7 g

CHEF JOHN'S NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN



Chef John's Nashville Hot Chicken image

If you've never had Nashville Hot Chicken, we're talking about mouthwateringly, ultra-crispy, fiery fried chicken with a cayenne-infused glaze, and by 'glaze' I mean melted butter and lard. For the record, I've never been to Nashville, so I can't tell you how authentic this is, but it works for me. Serve chicken pieces on white bread and brush with extra sauce if you like. Serve with pickles.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Fried Chicken

Time 3h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 cup buttermilk
¼ cup pickle brine
2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons fine table salt
¼ cup butter
¼ cup lard
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed

Steps:

  • Arrange chicken pieces in a large bowl.
  • 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1114.9 calories, Carbohydrate 74.5 g, Cholesterol 258.2 mg, Fat 66 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 53.9 g, SaturatedFat 22.8 g, Sodium 3754.8 mg, Sugar 7 g

CHEF JOHN'S NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN



Chef John's Nashville Hot Chicken image

If you've never had Nashville Hot Chicken, we're talking about mouthwateringly, ultra-crispy, fiery fried chicken with a cayenne-infused glaze, and by 'glaze' I mean melted butter and lard. For the record, I've never been to Nashville, so I can't tell you how authentic this is, but it works for me. Serve chicken pieces on white bread and brush with extra sauce if you like. Serve with pickles.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Fried Chicken

Time 3h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 cup buttermilk
¼ cup pickle brine
2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons fine table salt
¼ cup butter
¼ cup lard
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed

Steps:

  • Arrange chicken pieces in a large bowl.
  • 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1114.9 calories, Carbohydrate 74.5 g, Cholesterol 258.2 mg, Fat 66 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 53.9 g, SaturatedFat 22.8 g, Sodium 3754.8 mg, Sugar 7 g

Tips:

  • To achieve the perfect level of heat, use a combination of cayenne pepper, paprika, and brown sugar. Adjust the proportions to suit your preference.
  • For an authentic Nashville hot chicken experience, use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Thighs have a higher fat content, which helps them stay juicy during the frying process.
  • Make sure the chicken is completely coated in the spice mixture before frying. This will help create a crispy, flavorful crust.
  • When frying the chicken, maintain a consistent oil temperature of 350°F (175°C). This will prevent the chicken from overcooking or burning.
  • Once the chicken is fried, let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute, resulting in more tender chicken.
  • Serve Nashville hot chicken with your favorite sides, such as coleslaw, pickles, and white bread.

Conclusion:

Nashville hot chicken is a delicious and unique dish that is sure to impress your friends and family. With its crispy, flavorful crust and spicy kick, it's a dish that is sure to become a favorite. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Nashville hot chicken a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics