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Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe

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4.3 from 10 reviews

This Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken recipe delivers crispy, spicy chicken strips with a perfect balance of heat and flavor. Marinated in pickle juice and hot sauce, coated in seasoned flour, and air fried for a guilt-free crunch, this Southern classic is served with tangy pickles and soft white bread for the full Nashville experience.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

  • 3 Chicken Breasts (cut into 4 strips each)
  • 2 tablespoons pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon Frank’s hot sauce
  • ½ cup buttermilk

Coating

  • 1¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • Olive oil (for misting or brushing)

Hot Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar (optional to reduce heat)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

For Serving

  • Sweet pickles
  • White bread
  • Crinkle cut fries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Marinate Chicken: Combine chicken strips, pickle juice, Frank’s hot sauce, and ½ cup buttermilk in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight to let flavors infuse and tenderize the chicken.
  2. Prepare Coating: In a shallow dish, mix together all-purpose flour, salt, and ground black pepper. Pour remaining ½ cup buttermilk into a separate bowl.
  3. Coat Chicken: Dip each marinated chicken strip first into the seasoned flour, then into the buttermilk, and dredge again in the flour for a double-coated crust. Place coated strips on a plate and mist or brush them lightly with olive oil to aid crisping.
  4. Preheat Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Spray or brush the air fryer basket with olive oil or coconut oil to prevent sticking. Avoid using regular nonstick cooking sprays.
  5. Air Fry Chicken: Arrange 6 chicken strips in a single layer in the basket without overlapping. Cook for 6 minutes, flip the strips, and cook an additional 6 minutes. Chicken is done when internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Repeat with remaining chicken strips.
  6. Make Hot Sauce: While chicken cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in light brown sugar (if using), paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt. Cook and stir until the mixture is smooth and melted.
  7. Serve: Brush the hot sauce generously over the cooked chicken strips. Serve immediately with sweet pickles, soft white bread, and optional crinkle cut fries for a classic Nashville hot chicken experience.

Notes

  • Marinating the chicken overnight intensifies the flavor and tenderness.
  • Double dredging in flour and buttermilk helps achieve a crispy coating without deep frying.
  • If you prefer less heat, omit or reduce the cayenne pepper and use the optional brown sugar in the sauce.
  • Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked safely to 165°F.
  • You can use coconut oil or vegetable oil to spray the air fryer basket, but avoid aerosol nonstick sprays as they can damage the coating.
  • Serving with white bread and pickles is a traditional Nashville way to balance the spice and provide texture contrast.
  • Author: Daisy
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Air Frying
  • Cuisine: Southern American

Find it online: https://dishiary.com/air-fryer-nashville-hot-chicken-recipe/