Best Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Recipe

This crispy, spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich recipe combines juicy marinated chicken thighs, crisp breading, spicy Nashville hot oil, garlic mayo, and crisp pickles and lettuce for the ultimate spicy chicken sandwich!

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The Best Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich!

This ultra crispy, spicy and tender Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich recipe is a decadent and delicious take on the classic spicy chicken sandwich that you can make at home! With super juicy marinated chicken thighs, a spicy Nashville hot oil, tangy garlic mayo and crisp lettuce and pickles- this spicy sandwich really hits the spot.

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade:

• 2 small boneless skinless chicken thighs, excess fat removed.
• 2 cups buttermilk. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by whisking together 2 cups of milk with 2 tablespoon white vinegar, and allowing to stand for 5 minutes.
• 2 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Frank’s Red Hot. This adds a little kick to the marinated chicken thighs.

Breading Ingredients:

• All purpose flour.
• Potato starch. A little bit of this added into the breading gives an ultra- crispy exterior to the chicken! I use Bob’s Red Mill. You can find it in the baking section of the grocery store.
• Spices: dried oregano, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, fresh ground black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Nashville Spice Oil:

• ½ cup used frying oil from frying the chicken. Make sure to use this hot from the skillet, which will help it to combine and melt the butter. You can add a bit more as needed if the mixture becomes too thick.
• A couple tablespoon butter, for added richness.
• Spice blend: cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and fresh ground black pepper.

Sandwiches:

• Brioche burger buns, or potato buns. I like to toast the cut sides in some butter to add a crispy, flavorful element to the buns.
• Pickles. Use any style of pickle chips you like!
• Shredded lettuce.
• Garlic mayonaise. You can make this using your favorite mayo, and a teaspoon of minced garlic.

How to make this Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich recipe

Preparing the chicken marinade

1. Place the chicken in an airtight container or resealable bag, and cover with buttermilk and hot sauce so that all chicken is fully coated/submerged. 
2. Marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, or up to overnight. 

Breading the chicken

1. Once chicken in marinated, combine breading ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk until homogenous. 
2. Add a few tablespoon of the buttermilk to the dry mixture and toss with a fork to form craggly pieces. 
3. Carefully remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, and coat evenly in the breading mixture.
4. Transfer breaded chicken to a plate as you bread. Once chicken is breaded, allow to sit for at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate breaded chicken for up to 2 hours.

Frying the chicken

1. Once ready to fry, add 2-3 inches of oil to a large cast iron skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Heat oil for 5-7 minutes. To test oil, add a small pinch of the breeding to the oil. If it disintegrates immediately, the oil is ready. 
2. Working in batches of 2 at a time, add the chicken to the hot oil, dropping away from yourself. Fry for 7-8 minutes a side, until golden brown and crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. 
3. Once chicken is cooked, transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain. Repeat until all chicken is fried. I prefer to use a wire rack rather than paper towels, so the chicken stays extra crispy.

Coating the chicken in the spiced oil

1. Add spice blend and butter to a heat proof bowl. Ladle in hot frying oil  and whisk or stir to combine until butter is fully melted (add more hot oil as needed to thin it out if it becomes too thick). Using a silicone brush, brush the chicken on both sides with spice mixture.

Assembling the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches

1. Toast the buns cut side down in melted butter in a pan until golden. 
2. Add a layer of the garlic mayonnaise to the bottom of the bun. Top with shredded lettuce, sauced chicken, pickles and top bun. Enjoy!

Substitutions and Variations

This Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich can be easily customized to fit your tastes. Here are some adjustments and variations:

• Don't like things TOO spicy? Reduce the amount of cayenne pepper in the Nashville spice blend. Warning: This recipe is SPICY!
• Use a white bread bun or potato bun in place of the brioche bun.
• Use your favorite mayo instead of making garlic mayo.
• Swap the shredded lettuce and mayonaise for your favorite coleslaw!
• Experiment with your pickles! Try spicy, dill, or bread and butter pickles.
• Not a fan of chicken thighs? Try chicken breast instead! Just be sure to halve them and pound them out a bit so they cook evenly, and adjust the cooking time accordingly so they don't overcook and dry out. Chicken breast will cook a bit faster than thighs.

What to serve with the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches

These sandwiches go great with a classic side of french fries or onion rings! You could also serve them with a side of sweet potato fries, potato salad, or a side salad.

Tips for frying chicken on the stovetop

When deep frying on the stovetop, you need to be careful. Here are a few tips for a stress free fry-day:

• Regulate your heat. If you feel like your chicken is getting a little too golden too quickly, adjust the heat a bit lower.
• Make sure you use plenty of oil so the chicken is submerged. Conversely, do not overfill the skillet, or it could overflow while frying.
• Test the oil. You can add a pinch of the breading mixture to the oil to test it's temperature prior to frying. If the flour sizzles and dissipates immediately, the oil is ready.

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