Recipes /

Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders

Create delicious miniature sandwich versions of Nashville’s most famous fried chicken dish with our Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders. While the exact origins of the Nashville Hot Chicken dish aren’t confirmed, it’s rumored to have been the result of a failed attempt of an angry girlfriend to get revenge on her unfaithful boyfriend in the form of chicken by pouring a large amount of hot pepper onto the fried chicken that she prepared for him. Her boyfriend, Thornton Prince, would later become the founder of a widely successful restaurant inspired by the spicy dish she created that, to her surprise, he very much loved. Over 80 years later, the restaurant, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, is still in business and Nashville Hot Chicken remains a Nashville specialty.

Our Nashville Hot Chicken sliders recipe features the Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning, a balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors created through the combination of cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and a medley of herbs and spices that make this blend shine. These sliders are a simple and fun way to bring the Tennessee-favorite into your home for the whole family to love.

Curious Spoon Culinary Team
Difficulty:
Moderate
Prep Time:
3 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
3 minutes

Ingredients

Yield 6

Nashville Hot Chicken

  • 1 cup Buttermilk*
  • 1 Egg
  • 4 tbsp. Curious Spoon Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning, divided
  • 6 boneless Chicken Thighs
  • 2/3 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 cup Neutral Oil, for frying

Nashville Barbecue Sauce

  • 2 tbsp. Water
  • 1/2 cup Memphis-Style Barbecue Sauce*
  • Curious Spoon Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning, divided

For serving

  • 6 small Biscuits or Hawaiian Rolls
  • 1 cup Onions, caramelized
  • Pickles, Bread & Butter variety

From the Kitchen

  • Large bowl
  • Whisk
  • Small bowl
  • Shallow bowl or plate
  • Heavy bottom pan or Dutch oven
  • Oven-safe pan

What is it and where to find it?

* Buttermilk: Buttermilk is the fermented dairy product left-over after churning butter from cultured cream. It is more acidic than other milk products, making it ideal for baking and marinating chicken and pork – thought it can also be drunk straight! You can find buttermilk next to cream, yogurt, and milk in the grocery store. Or if you don’t have any on hand, you can mix milk with vinegar, lemon juice, or cream of tarter to replicate the acidity. Or use a mixture of sour cream and milk/water.

*Memphis-Style Barbecue Sauce: Tennessee’s most famous barbecue style! This barbecue sauce is tomato-based and delightfully tangy! It is typically made from some combination of molasses, brown sugar, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, and various other flavoring add-ins (depending on who’s secret recipe you are reading). This style of barbecue sauce can be found in most grocery stores, or you can try your hand at making your own at home!

 

Notes from the Chef:

A trick that helps the breading to adhere even better when frying is to chill the breaded chicken before frying. Once dredged, place on a cooling rack (put a sheet-pan below to catch any excess breading) and let sit in the fridge for 30 minutes. This is not absolutely necessary, but is a nice addition if you have the time!

Make it a meal:
Serve with a cream coleslaw and french fries.
Pairs well with:
Pair well with sweet tea.
Featured Product(s)
Directions:
  1. 1

    Whisk together buttermilk, egg, and 1/2 tbsp. Curious Spoon Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning. Add chicken thighs and mix until thoroughly coated. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours (for best results, let marinate overnight).

  2. 2

    Mix water, Tennessee-style barbecue sauce, and 1/2 tbsp. Curious Spoon Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning in a small bowl. Let sit for at least one hour for flavors to combine.

  3. 3

    Combine all-purpose flour and 3 tbsp. Curious Spoon Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning in a shallow bowl or plate. Drain excess buttermilk mix off chicken thighs then dredge chicken in seasoned flour mix. Once thoroughly coated, shake off excess flour.

  4. 4

    Preheat oven to 350 F.

  5. 5

    Heat 8-10 tbsp. neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut) in deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once oil starts to shimmer (or reaches 350 F), add chicken thighs and fry until golden brown.

  6. 6

    Remove from oil and transfer to oven safe pan. Bake fried chicken until cooked through.

  7. 7

    Serve each piece of fried Nashville Hot Fried Chicken on a bread roll, with caramelized onions and pickles and prepared Nashville barbecue sauce on the side for dipping.