Nashville Hot Chicken: Air Fryer Style

Nashville hot chicken is a fiery fried chicken dish that has been a favourite in its namesake city for decades. The iconic dish is made by coating chicken in a blend of spices, deep-frying it, and serving it over white bread with pickles to balance the heat. This recipe has now been adapted for an air fryer, making it healthier and easier to prepare.

Marinating the chicken

The first step to making Nashville hot chicken is to marinate the chicken in a brine solution. This is a crucial step as it infuses the chicken with flavour and moisture, ensuring that the cooked chicken is juicy and tender.

To make the brine, you will need to combine pickle juice, hot sauce, and salt in a bowl or shallow dish. The exact measurements may vary depending on the recipe, but a common ratio is 1 tablespoon of pickle juice, 1 tablespoon of hot sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for every 2 pounds of chicken. It is important to use a vinegar-based hot sauce such as Frank's, Tabasco, or Louisiana Hot Sauce.

Once you have prepared the brine, add the chicken to the mixture and turn it to coat evenly. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least an hour or up to 24 hours for the best results. The longer you leave the chicken to marinate, the more intense the flavour will be.

After the chicken has finished marinating, remove it from the brine and discard the excess marinade. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture before proceeding to the next step.

Some recipes also suggest adding buttermilk to the brine. If you choose to do this, simply add 1 cup of buttermilk to the brine mixture and follow the same steps as above.

Tips for Marinating the Chicken

• If you want to enhance the flavour of the chicken even further, you can add additional ingredients to the brine. Try experimenting with different combinations of spices, herbs, or citrus juices to find a flavour profile that you particularly enjoy.
• For a more intense flavour, you can also try injecting the brine directly into the chicken using a meat injector. This ensures that the flavour penetrates deep into the meat.
• If you are short on time, you can opt to dip the chicken in the brine instead of marinating it. However, keep in mind that marinating will yield more flavourful and juicy results.

Making the coating

Next, you'll need to prepare your dredging station. This involves having three separate dishes: one with flour, salt, and pepper; one with beaten eggs and a little hot sauce; and one with breadcrumbs. You can also add some extra flour to the final dish to help create a skin on the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then coat it in the flour mixture, followed by the egg mixture, and finally the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure to fully coat the chicken at each step, and shake off any excess flour.

Once the chicken is coated, it's time to cook it in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to between 375-390°F. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, making sure not to crowd it, and spray with cooking oil. Cook for around 10 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, until it's golden brown and cooked through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces.

Air-frying the chicken

Marinate the Chicken

First, make a marinade with buttermilk, hot sauce, and pickle juice. You can also add a little salt to inject some tanginess and spice. Cover the chicken with the marinade and leave it in the fridge for at least an hour or, if you can, leave it overnight.

Prepare the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to between 375ºF and 390ºF. You can also spritz or spray the air fryer basket with olive oil, coconut oil, or vegetable oil. Be sure not to use regular non-stick cooking spray.

Coat the Chicken

Mix flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. In another bowl, add the remaining buttermilk. Dip the chicken in the seasoned flour, then the buttermilk, and then dredge it in the flour mixture a second time. Set the chicken on a plate and continue with the remaining pieces. You can also brush the chicken with olive oil before air frying to ensure it doesn't stick.

Cook the Chicken

Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure the pieces don't overlap. Cook for 5-6 minutes, turn the pieces over, and cook for another 5-6 minutes until golden brown. You may need to cook the chicken in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. The internal temperature of the chicken should register at 165ºF/73ºC when it's ready.

Make the Hot Sauce

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the hot sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine olive oil, cayenne pepper, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and brown sugar. Cook until the mixture has melted, then remove from the heat. Alternatively, you can combine all the ingredients in a bowl and microwave them until the oil is hot but not boiling.

Brush the Chicken with the Sauce

Brush the sauce over the warm chicken using a pastry brush. You can also toss the chicken in a large bowl with the sauce.

Serve

Nashville hot chicken is typically served with white bread and pickles to help balance the spiciness. You can also serve it with cooling foods like cottage cheese or ranch dressing, or classic fried chicken sides like French fries or tater tots.

Creating the Nashville hot sauce

The Nashville hot sauce is what gives the dish its signature kick. It is an oil-based sauce, which is thicker than traditional hot sauce and ensures the fried chicken doesn't become soggy. The sauce typically includes a combination of cayenne pepper, brown sugar, and paprika, with some recipes also including garlic powder, butter, and chili powder.

Ingredients

You can adjust the heat level of the sauce by altering the amount of cayenne pepper used. Here are the ingredients for a medium heat level:

• 1/2 cup neutral-tasting oil (such as vegetable or canola oil)
• 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons of brown sugar

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Alternatively, you can heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the mixture until everything has melted together, then remove it from the heat. Do not allow the oil to smoke.

You can also make the sauce in the microwave by combining all the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and heating until the oil is hot but not boiling.

Tips

• Do not omit the brown sugar as it adds a lot of flavour to the sauce.
• If you want to reduce the heat of the sauce, you can add more brown sugar. However, do not heat the sauce for too long after adding the sugar, or it will caramelize and turn into a taffy texture that won't coat the chicken properly.
• Make sure to baste the chicken with the sauce while it is still hot. If you wait until everything has cooled down, the chicken may become greasy.

Serving suggestions

Nashville hot chicken is typically served on white bread slices or buns with a side of dill pickles to help cut through the heat. It can also be served with ranch dressing, French fries, tater tots, colslaw, hush puppies, collard greens, or crinkle-cut fries.

If you want to make a meal out of it, serve the chicken with classic Southern sides like potato salad, baked beans, or even a side of cottage cheese or ranch dressing.

For a fun twist, you can also serve the chicken on waffles instead of bread. The spicy oil will pair perfectly with the warm sweetness of maple syrup.

Frequently asked questions