Jul 13 2026
RestaurantsHome Plate Bar & GrillNashville Hot Chicken Recipe

Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe

Time2h
Serves4

Hand breaded chicken tenders tossed in Nashville hot sauce.

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Chicken Tenders

Method

Preparation of Chicken Tenders

  1. 1

    Marinate the Chicken

    In a large bowl, combine buttermilk and hot sauce. Add chicken tenders and coat well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

  2. 2

    Prepare the Breading

    In another bowl, mix together flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

  3. 3

    Bread the Chicken

    Remove chicken from the marinade and allow excess buttermilk to drip off. Dredge each tender in the flour mixture, ensuring even coverage. Place on a plate and let rest for 15 minutes.

Frying the Chicken

  1. 4

    Heat the Oil

    In a deep skillet or frying pan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).

  2. 5

    Fry the Chicken

    Carefully add the breaded chicken tenders to the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side. Remove and place on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.

Prepare Nashville Hot Sauce

  1. 6

    Make the Sauce

    In a small bowl, combine cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and 1/2 cup of the oil used for frying. Mix well to create a smooth sauce.

Finishing Touch

  1. 7

    Toss in Sauce

    While the fried chicken is still hot, toss the tenders in the Nashville hot sauce until well coated.

  2. 8

    Serve

    Serve immediately with pickles and bread, if desired.

More from Home Plate Bar & Grill