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close up of Nashville hot tenders

Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders


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Description

Nashville Hot Tenders are the ultimate spicy, crispy chicken dish that’s packed with bold, fiery flavor. Perfectly seasoned and fried to golden perfection, these tenders are a must-try for anyone who loves a little heat with their crunch!


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Chicken:

  • 8 chicken tenders or 2 breasts cut into strips
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons cayenne
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • hot sauce
  • 8-10 cups vegetable oil for frying

For the Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup oil from the chicken or 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine all the seasonings and stir until well combined.
  2. Add ¾ of the seasoning mixture to the chicken. Rub it in and coat the chicken well.
  3. Add the remaining ¼ of the seasonings to the flour and set aside.
  4. Pour buttermilk and hot sauce over the chicken, mix well, and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes, but up to 4 hours.
  5. Remove each piece from the marinade and coat with the flour mixture. Let them sit for 15 minutes on a wire rack before frying to allow the coating to set.
  6. When you are ready to fry, heat your oil over medium-high heat. The oil is ready when a small amount of flour sprinkled in causes the oil to shimmer and sizzle.
  7. Fry until golden brown on both sides (about 3-4 minutes per side).
  8. Remove the chicken, place it on a wire rack, and let the oil drain. Reserve some of the cooking oil from the pan to make the glaze.
  9. Mix all the sauce ingredients until well combined, then brush over the hot chicken before serving.
  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 16 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Southern

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 4235
  • Sugar: 21.3 g
  • Sodium: 1446.3 mg
  • Fat: 454 g
  • Carbohydrates: 61.6 g
  • Fiber: 3.5 g
  • Protein: 19 g
  • Cholesterol: 34.2 mg