Name: Nashville Hot Chicken Wings Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 cups pickle juice (or use the brine from pickled peppers, or both); ½ cup water (enough to cover the chicken); 3 tablespoons salt; 2 pounds chicken wings (separated and wing tips removed); Salt and black pepper (to taste); 2 cups buttermilk; 2 large eggs (beaten); 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce; 1 cup flour (all-purpose); 1 cup cornstarch; 1 tablespoon smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon cayenne; 4 cups vegetable oil (or use peanut or canola, for frying); 4 tablespoons cayenne; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon cumin; 1 tablespoon honey (optional, if desired); Salt and pepper (to taste); FOR SERVING: Pickled slices, white bread

If you love Nashville Hot Chicken, you'll really love these spicy chicken wings that are battered, crispy fried, and slathered in Nashville hot sauce! Boom!

Nashville Hot Chicken Wings - Spicy and Crispy!

Craving spicy chicken wings? You've come to the right place! Chicken wings are a perfect choice for the spicy food lover, as they're not only satisfying comfort food, but chicken wings go hand in hand with vibrant spices and piquant sauces.

This recipe takes an American favorite, Nashville Hot Chicken, and gives it the chicken wing treatment.

What You'll Love About This Recipe

The chicken is brined for extra moisture and juiciness, then breaded in a mixture of buttermilk, flour and cornstarch for a flaky-crispiness that will seriously blow your mind.

The wings are then brushed (or slathered!) with its signature spicy oil (Nashville hot sauce) that makes Nashville hot chicken so wonderful and flavorful.

If you love hot wings, you're definitely going to love this recipe.

Let's talk about how to make Nashville hot chicken wings, shall we?

A platter full of spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Wings

Nashville Hot Chicken Wings Ingredients

FOR THE BRINE
Pickle Juice. For a spicier version, use the brine from pickled peppers, or a combination of both.
Sea Salt.
FOR THE CHICKEN WINGS
Chicken Wings. Use 2 pounds chicken wings, separated, and wing tips removed. I like to save the wing tips to make chicken stock.
Butter Milk.
Eggs.
Hot Sauce.
All-Purpose Flour.
Cornstarch.
Spices. Smoked paprika, cayenne, salt and black pepper.
Vegetable Oil. For frying. Peanut or canola oil are good.
FOR THE NASHVILILE HOT SAUCE / OIL
Cayenne Pepper.
Brown Sugar.
Smoked Paprika.
Garlic Powder.
Honey. Optional, for a touch of sweet.
Salt and Black Pepper.
FOR SERVING. Pickled slices, white bread

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken Wings - the Recipe Method

First we brine the chicken wings in a flavor-building brine that keeps them moist and delicious.

Then they are dunked in a mix of eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce and coated in a spiced four-cornstarch mixture, nice and thick.

Steps for making Nashville Hot Chicken Wings

Then, fry up the chicken wings in hot oil until they're golden brown and perfectly crispy.

An instant read thermometer inserted should measure 165 degrees F internally.

FOR THE HOT & SPICY SAUCE/OIL

Next we bring in the spice factor by mixing some of the hot frying oil with a blend of spices. It includes cayenne, brown sugar, ghost pepper flakes, paprika, garlic, cumin and salt and pepper.

Use extra cayenne or ghost chili flakes if you'd like.

You can skip the ghost pepper flakes and dial back on the cayenne for a milder version.

Brush the hot oil over the chicken and serve with pickle slices and white bread. And extra hot sauce!

Brushing the fried chicken wings with extra Nashville hot sauce

Boom! Done! Your spicy Nashville hot chicken wings are ready to serve. Look at how flaky and crispy these are! I love these hot wings. So good!

Recipe Tips & Notes

Check out my Fried Chicken Wings Recipe page for further tips and tricks for making the best fried wings.
You can skip the brining process if you'd like to save time. Simply pat dry the chicken wings and proceed with the recipe. The brine adds flavor as well as moisture, resulting in nice, juicy chicken wings, but you'll still get some great wings without brining.
Always fry your chicken in a single layer. It is best to not overcrowd the pot or pan, or your chicken won't fry properly and could clump together. I usually fry my wings in batches.

Storage

Fried chicken wings will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Warm them up in the oven to enjoy them again, though they may not be as crispy.

You can store any leftover spicy hot oil in a sealed container for week.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my Nashville hot chicken wings recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!

Tools Used For This Recipe

Thermapen Meat Thermometer from ThermoWorks (affiliate link, my friends!)

A meat thermometer is the most foolproof way to ensure your chicken wings are cooked all the way through. I like to use my Thermapen from ThermoWorks to get the perfect temperature every time.

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

Mike dipping a Nashville Hot Chicken Wing into the fiery Nashville hot sauce

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Nashville Hot Chicken Wings Recipe

If you love Nashville Hot Chicken, you'll really love these spicy chicken wings that are battered, crispy fried, and slathered in Nashville hot sauce! Boom!

Save Recipe

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried chicken, hot sauce

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Calories: 799kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings:

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5 from 4 votes

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Ingredients

FOR THE BRINE

1 cups pickle juice or use the brine from pickled peppers, or both
½ cup water enough to cover the chicken
3 tablespoons salt

FOR THE CHICKEN WINGS

2 pounds chicken wings separated and wing tips removed
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs beaten
1-2 tablespoons hot sauce
1 cup flour all-purpose
1 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon cayenne
4 cups vegetable oil or use peanut or canola, for frying

FOR THE NASHVILILE HOT SAUCE / OIL

4 tablespoons cayenne
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon honey optional, if desired
Salt and pepper to taste
FOR SERVING: Pickled slices, white bread

Instructions

Add the chicken wings to a large bowl and add the pickling juices and salt. Add enough water to cover, about ½ cup. Cover and refrigerate to brine for at least 4 hours. Overnight is best for the most flavor penetration.
When you’re ready to cook, remove the chicken wings and pat them dry. Season with salt and pepper.
In one large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and hot sauce.
In another large bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, paprika and cayenne.
Heat the oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F. If you are unable to measure the temperature, add a droplet of batter to the oil. It is ready when the batter sizzles. Do NOT bring the oil to a boil.
Dredge the chicken wings in the seasoned flour, then into the buttermilk mixture, then into the flour one more time.
Fry the chicken wings in the oil 7-8 minutes, or until they turn golden brown, stirring here and there to ensure even cooking. An instant read thermometer inserted should measure 165 degrees F internally. Remove and drain on a paper towel lined plate, or on a wire rack.

FOR THE HOT & SPICY OIL

Add the cayenne, brown sugar, ghost pepper flakes, paprika, garlic, cumin and salt and pepper to a heatproof bowl.
Carefully scoop out ¾ cup of the hot frying oil. Whisk it into the seasonings until well combined.
Brush the hot oil over the chicken and serve with pickle slices and white bread. And extra hot sauce!

Notes

Nutritional information estimated for 1 cup oil absorption + what is used for the Nashville hot oil.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 799kcal Carbohydrates: 56g Protein: 23g Fat: 54g Saturated Fat: 12g Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g Monounsaturated Fat: 23g Trans Fat: 0.2g Cholesterol: 126mg Sodium: 4408mg Potassium: 526mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 13g Vitamin A: 3428IU Vitamin C: 37mg Calcium: 142mg Iron: 3mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Nashville Hot Chicken Wings

Nashville Hot Chicken Wings - Spicy and Crispy!

What You'll Love About This Recipe

Nashville Hot Chicken Wings Ingredients