Can You Make Nashville Hot Chicken at Home?
- 3 sections
- 1 table
- 3 sources cited
Yes. The step that makes it Nashville hot chicken, and not just spicy fried chicken, comes after frying: the fried chicken is coated in a cayenne paste. Wikipedia describes the typical preparation as breast, thigh, or wing pieces that are marinated, floured, fried, and then covered in a paste or sauce spiced with cayenne. It describes the traditional paste as two ingredients, lard and cayenne pepper, mixed at three parts pepper to one part lard and heated until they form a thick sauce (Wikipedia). The dish is served on white bread with pickle chips. Two safety points matter more than any recipe detail. Cook the chicken to a safe internal temperature of 165°F, checked with a food thermometer (CDC). And handle the hot oil with care: if the grease starts to boil or smoke, turn the burner off (U.S. Fire Administration).
The Steps
- Marinate. Wikipedia gives two versions: a water-based seasoning blend in the typical preparation, and buttermilk, which it says nearly all hot chicken is marinated in to add flavor and keep the meat juicy. Refrigerate the chicken while it marinates.
- Flour and fry. Dredge the pieces in seasoned flour and fry them in a heavy pan or a fryer. Wikipedia notes that pressure fryers and deep fryers are both used, though most restaurants pan-fry.
- Check the temperature. Every piece should reach 165°F, checked with a food thermometer (CDC).
- Make the paste. Heat cayenne with lard, three parts pepper to one part lard in the traditional version; restaurants vary it with sugar, garlic, or hot sauce (Wikipedia). Less cayenne gives a milder paste.
- Coat and serve. Spoon or brush the paste over the hot fried chicken, then serve it on white bread with pickle chips.
Kitchen Safety
| Risk | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Undercooked chicken | cook to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer | CDC |
| Cross-contamination | raw chicken does not need washing; use a separate cutting board for it, and wash hands for at least 20 seconds before and after handling it | CDC |
| Leftovers | refrigerate or freeze within 2 hours, or within 1 hour above 90°F | CDC |
| Overheated oil | if you see smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off | U.S. Fire Administration |
| Pan fire | keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby and use it to cover the pan if it catches fire | U.S. Fire Administration |
| Spills | turn pot handles toward the back of the stove | U.S. Fire Administration |
Choosing Your Heat
Restaurant heat scales give you a target. Hattie B’s, for example, runs from a no-heat level to its hottest, and its scale is in the heat levels at Hattie B’s. To taste the real thing before you cook, see the best hot chicken spots in Nashville, and for the dish’s components, what Nashville hot chicken is.