Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders

These Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders are brined in buttermilk and breaded with the best seasoning. From there the chicken strips are baked or fried to get them extra crispy and tender. Drizzle the chicken fingers in a hot and spicy butter sauce for amazing flavor.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Flavor Explosion: The seasoning, typically a cayenne-based paste or sauce, delivers a powerful punch of spicy, savory, and sometimes sweet flavors that coat the crispy chicken tenders, creating an addictive taste sensation.
• Texture Contrast: The tenders are made with a crispy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the tender and juicy chicken inside.
• Customizable Heat: The heat level can be adjusted to suit individual preferences, allowing you to enjoy the dish whether you prefer mild spice or a fiery kick.

Why is it Called Nashville Hot Chicken

It’s a type of fried chicken that is well known in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s typically prepared using a breast, thigh, or wing that has been brined and marinated and then floured, seasoned, and deep-fried. From there, you cover it in a paste or sauce that has been spiced with cayenne pepper.

The originator of hot chicken is the family of Andre Prince Jeffries, owner of Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack. She has operated the restaurant since 1980. Previously, it was owned by her great-uncle, Thornton Prince III.

Jeffries has mentioned the development of hot chicken was by accident. Her great-uncle Thornton was known as a womanizer, and after a late night, out his girlfriend at the time, cooked him fried chicken with extra pepper as revenge. Thornton actually liked the hot chicken. Later, he and his brothers created their own recipe and opened the BBQ Chicken Shack café.

Since the dish is traditionally fried with oil or grease, a portion of that grease is then used to make the spicy paste the chicken is coated in. This recipe is a lightened-up version that you will bake or air fry. Instead of using pan grease (because we won’t have any), we will use butter along with Louisiana Hot Sauce.

What Type of Chicken to Use

I like to use actual chicken tenderloins. Tenderloins are far smaller than a chicken breast, and much thinner too. Tenderloins are half the size of a chicken breast.  The chicken tenderloin is a strip of muscle distinct from but lying alongside the inner breast of the chicken closest to the bone.

Many people like tenderloins as they’re more tender than any other part of the chicken. This is because it’s a muscle that the chicken doesn’t use very often in comparison to its breast muscle.

You can also use chicken breasts and slice them into strips. Breasts are considered a lot healthier than tenderloins as chicken breasts are packed full of vitamins. 

How to Make it Spicy/What Sauce to Use

The traditional dish is very spicy and made with a good amount of cayenne pepper. The great thing about making this at home and for yourself is you are in direct control of the heat!

Choose a hot sauce that’s primarily cayenne-based for an authentic Nashville hot chicken flavor. Brands like Louisiana Hot Sauce or Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce can work well.

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders

1. Bread the chicken using flour seasoned with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
2. Dredge the chicken in a mixture of an egg and buttermilk, and then again in the seasoned flour.
3. Bake or air fry the tenders.
4. Combine Louisiana Hot Sauce, melted butter, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, and brown sweetener.
5. Drizzle the tenders in the hot sauce mixture.
6. Serve.

Double Breading

Dredging or adding breading to foods can be intimidating for some. If you don’t mind getting your hands a little sticky, you will do just fine! This recipe is double breaded, which means you will dredge the chicken tenders in seasoned flour first, then buttermilk, and again in the flour.

This will produce thick breading perfect for drizzling in the Nashville Hot Sauce. And who doesn’t like a thick breading on chicken?

Why Buttermilk is Used

Buttermilk is slightly acidic. It’s great for tenderizing chicken and it won’t toughen up the meat. It will help break down the protein of the chicken which will help produce chicken that is tender and loaded with flavor.

How to Substitute Buttermilk

You can substitute/make your own buttermilk if you wish by combining milk and vinegar (or lemon). Get instructions on How to Make a Buttermilk Substitute here. You can also omit if you wish. The chicken won’t be as tender and the breading won’t turn out as thick.

What to Pair With the Tenders

Traditionally, Nashville Hot Chicken is served with white bread and pickles. I live in Kansas City, so I’m no stranger to that! We pair that with our BBQ. White bread and pickles help assist with the heat of the chicken. You can also pair it with these side dishes.

Air Fryer French Fries
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Creamy Ranch Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Buffalo Chicken Tenders

How to Store/How Long Will it Last in the Fridge

Leftover chicken tenders can be stored tightly covered for 3-4 days.

How to Reheat

I recommend reheating them in the oven or in the air fryer. You can reheat them in both the oven or air fryer at 350 degrees until warm. If you use the microwave if will soften the texture of the chicken.

Freezer Tips

Leftovers can be frozen tightly sealed and covered. Defrost the chicken overnight in the fridge. Follow the steps above for reheating.

More Chicken Recipes

Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken
Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Southern Smothered Chicken
Crispy Ranch Chicken Wings
How to Grill Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Jerk Chicken Thighs
Ninja Foodi Grill Chicken Breasts
Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast