Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Bernie's Diner›Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe

Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe

Inspired by Bernie's Diner
Time1h 30m
Serves2

hand-breaded chicken breast, nashville hot sauce, creamy slaw, house-made pickles, toasted potato bun

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Ingredients

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Chicken

Nashville Hot Sauce

Creamy Slaw

House-Made Pickles

Assembly

Method

Chicken Preparation

  1. 1

    Marinate the Chicken

    Place the boneless chicken breasts in a bowl and pour the buttermilk over them. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results.

  2. 2

    Prepare the Breading

    In a shallow dish, mix together the flour, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk, letting the excess drip off, and coat each piece in the flour mixture. Set aside.

Fry the Chicken

  1. 3

    Heat the Oil

    In a deep skillet or fryer, heat the vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).

  2. 4

    Fry Chicken

    Carefully place the breaded chicken in the hot oil and fry for about 6-8 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Make Nashville Hot Sauce

  1. 5

    Combine Sauce Ingredients

    In a bowl, whisk together the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and vegetable oil until well combined.

  2. 6

    Coat Fried Chicken

    Once the chicken is fried, remove it from the oil and dip each piece into the hot sauce mixture, ensuring they are well coated.

Prepare Creamy Slaw

  1. 7

    Mix Slaw Ingredients

    In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Toss until everything is well coated.

Make House-Made Pickles

  1. 8

    Prepare Pickle Brine

    In a saucepan, combine the white vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.

  2. 9

    Pickle the Cucumbers

    Place the cucumber slices in a jar and pour the hot brine over them. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Assembly

  1. 10

    Assemble the Sandwich

    On each toasted potato bun, place a piece of the Nashville hot chicken, followed by a generous scoop of creamy slaw and a few slices of house-made pickles. Top with the other half of the bun and serve immediately.

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