Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches are bursting with the most delicious spicy, slightly sweet flavor! Perfectly seasoned fried chicken with a super crunchy crust and juicy, moist center is coated in an irresistible hot sauce, then served on a toasted bun with mayo, coleslaw and pickles.
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hot chicken sandwiches, Nashville hot chicken
Prep the Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 thin cutlets. Season each side of the chicken with salt & pepper. Whisk buttermilk and hot sauce in a small shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch and spices.
Bread the Chicken: Dredge the chicken in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in buttermilk, and back into the flour, pressing firmly to coat both sides of the chicken. Shake of excess flour in order to create small (crumbs) which will become the crunchy bits of the sandwich.
Fry the Chicken: Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large heavy-duty pan to 350ºF. Cook chicken breasts for 3 minutes per side or until the exterior is dark and crunchy and the interior reaches 165ºF. Remove from oil and transfer to a cooling rack.
Make the Nashville Hot Sauce: When all of the chicken is fried, take a 1/2 cup of the hot cooking oil and add it to a small bowl. Add the sugar and spices and whisk to combine. Baste the chicken with the hot oil mixture while the chicken is still hot. If the oil is too burned, feel free to use a combo of melted butter and oil or just melted butter.
Assemble the Sandwiches: Spread about 1 tablespoon of mayo onto the bottom of a toasted bun. Add the chicken sandwich followed by some coleslaw and pickles. Serve immediately.
Notes
If you have leftover chicken patties, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or in an air fryer until warm and crispy.