Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Nashville Hot Chicken Wings
Crispy fried chicken wings are given the the Nashville Hot Chicken treatment in this easy recipe. This classic southern recipe is perfect for the spicy food lover in your life!
Whether you’re hosting a big game day party, having your family over for a fried chicken supper or just really love Chicken Wings, then this Nashville Hot Chicken Wing Recipe needs to be on your radar!
These spicy wings are perfectly fried and then brushed with a classic spicy Nashville Hot Sauce. I’m telling you, if you love spicy food, or know someone who does, you’re going to want to make things wings ASAP.
History of Nashville Hot Chicken:
The history of Nashville Hot Chicken starts with a man named Thornton Prince. The story goes that Thornton came home late one night and the woman in his life decided to teach him a lesson by whipping up the hottest chicken she could.
It backfired. He loved it and even started selling it at his own restaurant, the BBQ Chicken Shack, and Nashville Hot Chicken was born.
And all I know is that I am super thankful that he came home late that night because this chicken is amazing.
What ingredients do you need:
The base of these Nashville Hot Chicken Wings has the same basic ingredients that a classic fried chicken starts with:
- CHICKEN WINGS: Nashville hot chicken can be made with just about any cut of chicken that you prefer. We are wing people here so chicken wings is what we chose. I also love that they cook up much faster than larger pieces of chicken.
- PICKLE BRINE: This makes a great marinade for the chicken wings. Use the brine of your favorite pickles, mine happens to be Claussen.
- BUTTERMILK/EGGS/HOT SAUCE: This milk/eggwash is the base that I use for so much of my fried chicken. It really gives the flour something to stick to.
- FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, GRANULATED GARLIC, PAPRIKA, SALT, AND CAYENNE: This is the coating for the wings. It creates a super crunchy, well seasoned crust for these wings.
Now let’s talk about that sauce! This is where so much of the heat comes from. The ingredients you need to make Nashville Hot Chicken Wings are:
- CAYENNE POWDER: This is where the majority of the heat comes from. I’ve seen some recipes that call for as much as SIX tablespoons of cayenne pepper. This recipe calls for 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon. So it’s hot, but not too hot.
- PAPRIKA AND CHILI POWDER: Both of these ingredients add a touch of smokiness and color.
- BROWN SUGAR: A little bit of sweetness to break up the heat.
- GRANULATED GARLIC
- SALT
- OIL: Not only do you use oil to fry the chicken, but you also use the oil that you fry the chicken in as part of the hot sauce that you baste the chicken with.
How do you make Nashville Hot Chicken Wings:
- STEP #1: Toss the chicken wings with pickle juice and salt and pepper
- STEP #2: Set up an assembly line: In one shallow dish combine buttermilk, eggs and hot sauce. In another shallow dish combine flour, corn starch, granulated garlic, paprika, salt and cayenne.
- STEP #3: Dredge the chicken wings in the flour mixture. Dip into the eggs and then dredge once more in the seasoned flour to double coat.
- STEP #4: Heat 2 cups of oil in large heavy bottom pot to 350 degrees. Once it reaches 350 degrees, fry the chicken, in batches if needed, 5 – 6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken wings to a dish to keep warm.
- STEP #5: Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking oil and whisk together with 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper, brown sugar, granulated garlic, chili powder, paprika and salt.
- STEP #6: Brush the chicken wings with the hot oil. Serve immediately.
To balance out the heat, Nashville Hot Chicken is served with white bread and pickles. And trust me, you’ll want to balance out the heat as these wings are spicy!
Love chicken wings? ME TOO. Check out some of my most popular chicken wing recipes for your next game day!
Craving some more spicy recipes? Try these!
Nashville Hot Chicken Wings
Ingredients
For the Chicken Wings:
- 2 - 2 1/4 pound chicken wings
- 2 tablespoons pickle brine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups canola or vegetable oil
For the coating:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Nashville Hot Sauce
- 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Toss the chicken wings with pickle juice and salt and pepper
- Set up an assembly line: In one shallow dish combine buttermilk, eggs and hot sauce. In another shallow dish combine flour, corn starch, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon cayenne.
- Dredge the chicken wings in the flour mixture. Dip into the eggs and then dredge once more in the seasoned flour to double coat.
- Heat 2 cups of oil in large heavy bottom pot to 350 degrees. Once it reaches 350 degrees, fry the chicken, in batches if needed, 5- 6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken wings to a dish to keep warm.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking oil and whisk together with 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper, brown sugar, granulated garlic, chili powder, paprika and salt.
- Brush the chicken wings with the hot oil. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.