Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders And Wings

Hot chicken sandwiches may get a lot of the spotlight on social media feeds; however, Nashville hot chicken tenders and wings are just as famous, and each has its respective fan base.

Once a local specialty over 100 years ago, Nashville hot chicken exploded in popularity. If you are feeling inspired, why not try your hand at preparing Nashville hot tenders and wings at home.

Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders 

Nashville hot chicken tenders are a variation of traditional, breaded chicken tenders but feature that irresistible spicy kick. Chicken tenders use whole chicken tenderloins, an actual cut of poultry.  “the pectoralis minor, the part underneath the chicken breast.”

They differ from chicken nuggets, either finely chopped chicken breast or a finely chopped combination of chicken parts. In contrast, chicken fingers are strips of chicken meat derived from the chicken breast or the inner breast muscle.

Nashville hot chicken tenders are a step up as they are from a whole piece of chicken, lightly breaded or flour-coated with fiery flavor.

Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders At Home  

It is possible to prepare Nashville hot chicken tenders right at home. They can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner or paired with French fries, tater tots, mashed potatoes, a salad, and broccoli. Chicken tenders are great if you watch your carbohydrate intake or limit your bread intake.

How To Make Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders? 

You can choose to prepare tenders in oil, baked in the oven, or an air-fryer. Frying the Nashville hot chicken tenders will have the most authentic flavor, but other cooking methods provide deep-frying alternatives. While the recipe requires several steps to replicate the original taste, it is worth the time. You can streamline the process by having an extra pair of hands to help. Why not throw a Nashville hot chicken tender party?

Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe 

If you marinate the chicken, your Nashville hot chicken tenders will be more flavorful. Some recipes skimp on the marination time but doing so will deliver much more taste. Hot chicken tenders can be a great recipe to prepare on the weekend or when the kids are around to help. The Good Hearted Woman’s blog features a Nashville hot chicken recipe adapted from legendary Hattie B’s Nashville hot chicken recipe.

Good Hearted Woman’s Adapted Hattie B’s Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe 

Step 1: Dry-Brine

In a medium bowl, toss together the chicken pieces, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Up to 24 hours)

Note: The first time I made this chicken, we had a scheduling conflict and ended up dry-brining it for 3 days. (Stuff happens.) It was totally fine.

Step 2: Dredge-Dip-Dredge 

In a 9×9 pan or baking dish, whisk together the milk, eggs, and hot sauce. In a separate 9×9 baking dish, combine the four and salt:

1. Drag the chicken through the flour mixture, coating evenly.
2. Dip the floured chicken in the milk mixture.
3. Drag once again in the flour mixture.

Shake off excess between each step. Allow chicken to rest on drying rack while you prepare the rest of the chicken pieces for frying.

Step 3: Fry

• For this step, you will need either a deep fryer, a large deep skillet, or a deep electric skillet. You will also need tongs, and a deep-fry/meat thermometer. I suggest using a combination of canola and soybean oil for deep frying.
• REMEMBER! When you add your chicken, it will displace a lot of oil. If you are using a frying pan or electric skillet, it is vital that you DO NOT OVERFILL it with oil or it may or it may overflow when you add the chicken.
• Initially heat the oil to 340° – 350° to allow for the natural drop in temperature when the chicken is added to the oil, then reduce the heat to 325°.
• The oil needs to be deep enough for the chicken to fully submerge.
• If the temperature of oil in the pan drops down below 300°, the chicken will begin to absorb the cooking oil, resulting in greasy, soggy chicken.
• If the temperature rises above about 340°, the chicken will cook too quickly on the outside, and not get done in the middle. When fried at the correct temperature, the chicken will come out golden brown, having absorbed very little oil.
• Using tongs, carefully lower the coated chicken pieces into the hot oil. Turn them as they brown and do not let them touch each other while frying.
• Working in batches, use tongs to carefully add the chicken to the hot oil and fry until crispy.
• Estimated cooking times: 15-17 minutes for breast quarters; 18-20 minutes for leg quarters.
• Chicken is done when it registers an internal temperature of 165°F. We aim to take the chicken off the heat when it registers a temperature of 160° and allow carryover cooking to bring it up to temperature as it sits on the wire rack.
• When done, remove the chicken from oil and allow to drain on wire rack.

Step 4: Spicy Coating (Wet Application)

• Ladle about a cup of hot frying oil into a heatproof bowl or pan. Whisk in cayenne, brown sugar, and spices. The hot oil will activate the spices.
• Baste the hot spice mixture over the hot fried chicken. You want the hot oil mixture hot enough that when you baste it over the fried chicken, the skin stays nice and crispy.

Step 5: Serve

If you want to go traditional, serve your Hot Chicken up over a slice of white bread. Garnish with dill pickle slices.

Nashville Hot Chicken Wings 

This recipe is easily adaptable for Nashville hot chicken tenders and Nashville hot chicken wings. Use the cooking times as a guide and adjust if you use tenderloins, chicken breasts, bone-in thighs, or chicken wings. You can streamline the preparation by starting the brine 24 hours in advance. Then the next day, prepare your dry flour dredge and assemble your milk mixture.

Furthermore, you can also measure out the ingredients for the wet spicy coating. Set up your ingredients assembly line style when you are ready to cook. We hope you have fun making Nashville hot chicken tenders and wings at home.

Time To Enjoy Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders & Wings 

Remember Crimson Coward is open for Dine-in, take-out, and delivery seven days a week.  Let our fantastic crew satisfy your Nashville Hot Chicken cravings today!