This Nashville hot chicken sandwich recipe, with my homemade seasoning, tastes just like you’re walking down Broadway Street!
You know my nuggets and tender version and now I’ve stepped it up!! I made this Nashville hot chicken sandwich for some of the biggest hot chicken critiques that I know and they all said it was one of the best they have ever had!! I never heard the word “wow” so many times in my life!! Seriously you all, this stuff IS GOOD. You HAVE to try it out! Don’t forget the pickles 😉
Now, you can buy your own Nashville hot chicken seasoning; however, I have PERFECTED my own homemade seasonings blend that will blow your mind. This gives your Nashville hot chicken sandwich the perfect amount of spice, with the sweetness that hits you at the end. Plus, it has the perfect consistency to cling to your chicken sandwich.
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
Have you ever been to Nashville? This spicy sandwich is their signature dish! You can pretty much get it on every street. It has become a popular dish all across America. Here in Florida, there are several shops which sell these sandwiches.
So, what exactly is a Nashville hot chicken sandwich. It is a perfectly crispy, seasoned chicken sandwich, drizzled in a special sauce. The sauce is spicy, very spicy; however, has notes of sweetness from the brown sugar.
I am warning you, this chicken is SPICY and not for the weak.
Ingredients
You will obviously need an air fryer. I love my Ninja double basket. You can deep fry it; however, I do prefer the air fryer and it is a lot healthier.
Breading and Chicken
Chicken Cutlets - I prefer the chicken cutlets as they are thinner and a better size to fit on the sandwich. You can use chicken breasts, if you want something thicker, but, I really don't like using them. Alternatively, you can slice the chicken breasts thinner to help them cook better.
Flour - The first step is to combine flour with seasonings, and give the chicken breast a quick coat. I use gluten free flour; however, any all-purpose flour will work fine.
Egg - You can use liquid eggs whites, which I usually do prefer. However, you can also use an egg, just whisk it beforehand. You will dunk the chicken in the eggs to help the coating stick.
Breadcrumbs - These are the final step in breading the chicken. You will combine the breadcrumbs with flour and more seasonings to fully coat the chicken to create a crispy shell.
Seasonings - The seasonings for the Nashville hot chicken sandwich have been perfected by me. You will need seasonings for the coating, which include paprika, ground red pepper, cinnamon, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. This makes the chicken flavorful, to help bring out the sauce flavor.
Nashville Hot Chicken Sauce
Margarine - This is the base of the Nashville hot chicken sauce. All the seasonings are added to this to form a liquid-y consistency. I generally use margarine for most things; however, butter works fine.
Honey and Brown Sugar - While Nashville hot chicken is SPICY, it does have a sweetness to it. This will come from the honey and the brown sugar. The honey all doubles as not just a sweet aspect, but to also help the sauce stick to the chicken.
Seasonings - The seasonings for the sauce are similar and include paprika, ground red pepper, salt, and garlic powder.
How to Make a Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Grease the air fryer tray with cooking spray.
Cooking the Chicken
Mix ¼ cup of flour and half the chicken seasonings into one bowl, the egg into another and the mix remaining ingredients (flour, breadcrumbs and chicken seasonings) in the final bowl. I like to use these shallow bowls; however, small Tupperware containers have been great too.
Press the chicken cutlets into the flour, then, dredge them in egg. After that, press the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture.
Place each chicken piece on the greased air fryer tray, trying not to let them touch.
Air fry for 3 minutes. Then, spray with cooking spray. Air fry for another 2 minutes.
Flip the chicken over and then spray again with cooking spray. Air fry for another 5 minutes or until fully cooked and crispy.
Making the Sauce
Meanwhile, melt margarine in a small pan over low heat. Add in the rest of the sauce ingredients and mix until it comes to a slight simmer.
Simmer for about 5 minutes, until desired thickness is reached.
Assembling the Chicken Sandwich
Brush sauce onto the cooked chicken and place the Nashville hot chicken sandwich a bun. (Spray butter onto your bun and warm up in the oven. Really makes a difference!!).
In true Nashville style, serve with dill pickles! My husband loves some mayo and slaw; however, I like the original with just some pickles.
Oven Version
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease an oven safe cooling rack with cooking spray. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and place the cooling rack on top.
Pour two tablespoons of flour and half the seasonings into one bowl, the egg into another and the remaining ingredients in the final bowl.
Press the chicken cutlets into the flour, then, dredge them in egg. After that, press the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture.
Place each chicken piece on the greased cooling rack, trying not to let them touch.
Bake for 3 minutes. Then, spray with cooking spray. Bake for another 3-4 minutes.
Flip the chicken over and then spray again with cooking spray. Bake for another 5-7 minutes or until fully cooked and crispy.
More Nashville Hot Chicken
If you love a good Nashville hot chicken sandwich, you have to try out my nuggets or tenders.
More Crispy Chicken Recipes
Don't just stop with my Nashville hot chicken sandwich, try out all my favorite crispy chicken sandwich recipes.
- Classic Chicken Cutlets
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Firecracker Chicken Tenders
- Crispy Cornstarch Chicken Wings
Don't forget to give this recipe FIVE STARS when you love it!
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
This Nashville hot chicken sandwich recipe, with my homemade seasoning, tastes just like you’re walking down Broadway Street!
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 chicken cutlets 4 ounces each
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ⅛ cup egg beaters or whisk an egg
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/16 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon light margarine ICBINB
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon honey
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar replacement Swerve
- 2 teaspoons water
Sandwich
- 2 hamburger buns
Instructions
Chicken
- Preheat the air Freyr to 400 degrees and grease the tray with cooking spray.
- Mix ¼ cup of flour and half the chicken seasonings into one bowl, the egg into another and the mix remaining ingredients (flour, breadcrumbs and chicken seasonings) in the final bowl.
- Press the chicken cutlets into the flour, then, dredge them in egg. After that, press the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place each chicken piece on the greased air fryer tray, trying not to let them touch.
- Air fry for 3 minutes. Then, spray with cooking spray. Air fry for another 2 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and then spray again with cooking spray. Air fry for another 5 minutes or until fully cooked and crispy.
Sauce
- Meanwhile, melt margarine in a small pan over low heat. Add in the rest of the sauce ingredients and mix until it comes to a slight simmer.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes, until desired thickness is reached.
- Brush sauce onto the cooked chicken and place in a bun. (Spray butter onto your bun and warm up in the oven. Really makes a difference!!) Serve with dill pickles!
Nutrition
How many WW points is this now?! Click on the link and it will take you to the recipe I made within your own WW app. Your specific points will be calculated, and you can track that. Just add your bun in!
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