Nashville Hot Chicken

Name: Nashville Hot Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: United States
Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs and 4 drumsticks; 2 cups buttermilk; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tbsp paprika; 1 tsp cayenne pepper; Salt and black pepper, to taste; Vegetable oil, for frying; 1/2 cup lard or oil (for hot paste); 3 tbsp cayenne pepper (for hot paste); 1 tbsp brown sugar; White bread and pickle slices, for serving

4 servings20 min prep20 min cookMedium United States

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Nashville Hot Chicken

Story updated September 17, 2026

Nashville hot chicken traces to the Prince family, whose Prince's Hot Chicken Shack still operates today. Local legend holds that a scorned girlfriend of Thornton Prince laced his fried chicken with extra cayenne as revenge, only for him to love it and turn it into a business.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

4 chicken thighs and 4 drumsticks
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Vegetable oil, for frying
1/2 cup lard or oil (for hot paste)
3 tbsp cayenne pepper (for hot paste)
1 tbsp brown sugar
White bread and pickle slices, for serving

Instructions

1Marinate the chicken pieces in buttermilk at least 4 hours or overnight.
2Dredge the chicken in flour seasoned with paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
3Fry in 325°F oil 12-15 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
4Whisk hot frying oil, lard, cayenne, and brown sugar into a thick, fiery paste.
5Brush the hot paste generously over the fried chicken.
6Serve on white bread topped with pickle slices.

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