Description
This Nashville Hot Chicken is crispy, juicy, and fiery with a bold cayenne-based glaze that’ll wake up your tastebuds! Marinated and fried to perfection, this homemade version delivers true Southern flavor with adjustable heat levels for everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs bone-in chicken (drumsticks, thighs, or breasts)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (like Frank’s or Tabasco)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt (for breading)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika (for breading)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne (or less for milder heat)
- Vegetable oil for frying (peanut or canola)
- 1/2 cup hot frying oil (from the chicken)
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (for glaze)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (for glaze)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- Pinch of salt (for glaze)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, hot sauce, garlic powder, paprika, and salt. Add chicken and coat well. Cover and marinate at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Mix flour with salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne in a separate bowl. Remove chicken from marinade and dredge in seasoned flour, pressing to coat.
- Heat 2–3 inches of oil in a skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches, 8–12 minutes per side until golden and 165°F internal. Drain on wire rack or paper towels.
- Ladle 1/2 cup hot oil from the pan into a heatproof bowl. Stir in cayenne, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and salt until smooth.
- Brush or spoon glaze over fried chicken. For full coverage, dip the pieces directly into the glaze.
- Serve hot on slices of white bread with dill pickles. Enjoy the heat!
Notes
Marinate overnight for the best flavor. Fry in small batches. Use a wire rack to keep the chicken crispy. Adjust the cayenne for milder or hotter glaze.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus marinating)
- Cook Time: 30–40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Fried
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 36g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
Keywords: nashville hot chicken, spicy fried chicken, southern chicken, cayenne glaze