Nashville hot chicken is a spicy fried chicken dish that originated in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a local specialty that has become beloved across the country. So what makes Nashville hot chicken so special? Here we will explore the history, preparation, flavors, and popularity of this iconic dish.
The History of Nashville Hot Chicken
The exact origins of hot chicken are murky, but most accounts trace it back to the 1930s or 1940s in Nashville. Here are some of the key events in the history of this dish:
- Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack opened in 1945 and claims to have invented hot chicken. The story goes that one of the owners’ girlfriends suspected him of cheating, so she added extra spices to his fried chicken as revenge. But he loved the spicy flavor and opened Prince’s to sell the fried chicken.
- Other Nashville establishments like Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken opened in the 1970s and 1980s, popularizing hot chicken further.
- 2000s – Hot chicken begins to expand outside Nashville, with New York City and Los Angeles getting some of the first hot chicken restaurants outside Tennessee.
- 2010s – Hot chicken gains national recognition and chains like KFC create their own versions. The Nashville hot chicken craze goes mainstream.
While the details are uncertain, it’s clear that hot chicken originated in Nashville decades ago and has exploded in popularity across the country in recent years.
Preparation of Nashville Hot Chicken
Nashville hot chicken is made by coating chicken pieces with a spicy paste or sauce, then deep frying until crispy. Here is an overview of how it is prepared:
- Chicken: The chicken is usually cut into pieces – breast, thigh, leg, wing sections. Whole chicken can also be used.
- Brining: The chicken is soaked in buttermilk or a spiced brine before cooking. This keeps the meat moist and tender.
- Coating: The brined chicken is dredged in a seasoned flour mixture then deep fried until golden brown and crispy.
- Spice paste: A paste is made from cayenne pepper and other spices like garlic powder, paprika, salt, sugar, and dried herbs. The paste is brushed on the fried chicken while it’s still hot.
- Sauce: Some recipes call for tossing the spiced chicken in a hot sauce instead of a spice paste.
The end result is chicken with a crispy exterior that packs some serious heat!
Spice Levels
Not all Nashville hot chicken is equally spicy. Restaurants will offer different levels of spice intensity:
- Plain – Fried chicken without any spices.
- Mild – Lightly spiced with minimal heat.
- Medium – Moderately spicy flavor.
- Hot – Bringing some good heat.
- Extra Hot – Very spicy and burning hot.
Some places will even have ultra-spicy levels beyond extra hot for extreme spice lovers. Part of the fun is choosing your spice tolerance level when you order hot chicken.
Flavors
While spice is the star, Nashville hot chicken has some other stand-out flavors:
- Cayenne pepper – The key spice that brings the trademark Nashville heat.
- Fried chicken flavor – The crispy, savory fried chicken pieces are essential to the flavor profile.
- Smokiness – Spices like paprika add a touch of smokiness.
- Sweetness – Sugar balances out the heat and adds sweetness.
- Garlic, herbs and spices – Seasonings like garlic, thyme, oregano, and black pepper round out the flavors.
It’s a complex blend of heat, savory chicken, and aromatic spices that makes Nashville hot chicken so crave-worthy.
Serving Nashville Hot Chicken
Nashville hot chicken is served on a piece of white bread to soak up the spices and juices. It is also commonly served with:
- Pickles
- Coleslaw
- Baked beans
- Potato chips
- Fries or fried okra
The sides help provide some relief from the spicy heat. A tall glass of sweet tea is the traditional beverage pairing.
Popularity and Acclaim
While it started in Nashville decades ago, hot chicken now enjoys popularity across the United States. Here are some signs of its widespread appeal:
- There are hot chicken restaurants in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Austin, Portland, and more. The trend has spread coast to coast.
- Celebrity chefs like Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsey, and Andrew Zimmern have all celebrated Nashville hot chicken.
- Food critics have written rave reviews, with publications like the New York Times calling it “Nashville’s gift to fried chicken lovers everywhere.”
- Hot chicken flavors and recipes have shown up on snack foods like potato chips, demonstrating its cultural impact.
- The city even hosts the Music City Hot Chicken Festival each July to celebrate this iconic local dish.
While new food trends come and go, Nashville hot chicken has clearly earned its place as an American culinary icon.
Why Nashville Hot Chicken is Special
So what makes Nashville hot chicken so beloved and unique compared to regular fried chicken? Here are some of the key factors:
- It originated in Nashville – The dish has significance as a local specialty with its own folklore and history.
- The insane spiciness – It’s distinguished by how blisteringly hot it can be, more than just a sprinkle of pepper.
- Balance of flavors – Sweet, savory, smoky, salty – it’s not just all heat.
- The chicken itself – How it soaks up the spices and remains juicy and crisp is key.
- The local flair – Touches like serving it with white bread and pickles add Southern charm.
- It’s a trendy dish – Nashville hot chicken has become a modern sensation with chefs and foodies.
The combination of its Nashville roots, distinctive spicy flavor, and trendiness make hot chicken a one-of-a-kind dish to enjoy.
Where to Get the Best Nashville Hot Chicken
If you want to sample authentic and delicious Nashville style hot chicken, here are some top spots to check out in Nashville and beyond:
| Restaurant | Location |
|---|---|
| Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack | Nashville, TN |
| Hattie B’s Hot Chicken | Nashville, TN (multiple locations) |
| Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish | Nashville, TN |
| Pepperfire | Nashville, TN |
| Howlin’ Ray’s | Los Angeles, CA |
| Angry Chicken | Atlanta, GA |
You can also find hot chicken on the menu at celebrity chef restaurants like Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen locations.
Trying Nashville Hot Chicken at Home
While eating hot chicken in Nashville is a bucket list food experience, you can also make it at home anywhere. Here are some tips:
- Find authentic recipes from Nashville chefs like the Prince’s and Hattie B’s versions.
- Use chicken thigh or leg pieces which hold up better to frying than breast meat.
- Have a high smoke point oil like peanut or vegetable oil for frying.
- Double dredge the chicken for an extra crispy crust.
- Let the chicken soak in buttermilk brine before the flour coating.
- Use cayenne pepper as the core spice and add more for extra heat.
- Balance the cayenne with other spices like paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
- Fry the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Toss the fried chicken in the spicy sauce while it’s still piping hot.
- Serve on top of white bread with traditional sides like pickles and coleslaw.
Now you can enjoy the Nashville hot chicken experience in your own home!
Conclusion
Nashville hot chicken has gone from an underground local delicacy to a national sensation. The history of this dish traces back decades in Nashville, where it was invented accidentally but became loved for its extreme spiciness and flavor. Today hot chicken is served in restaurants across the country, showing up in popular culture, and even being recreated at home.
While the preparation involves spicing and frying chicken, it’s the balance of heat with other flavors, the cut of chicken, and the showcasing of this dish’s roots in Nashville that make it special. Seek out classic spots like Prince’s and Hattie B’s in Nashville or follow recipes to try making your own at home. However you experience Nashville hot chicken, your taste buds are sure to thank you!