Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken

5 from 3 votes

Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken

Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken brings the spicy kick of Nashville hot sauce to your weeknight meal with no deep frying required. Enjoy this easy-to-make, buttermilk-soaked, crispy chicken that's juicy and tender on the inside, and deliciously flavored with that iconic Nashville heat.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer, air fryer chicken

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Cool Time 5

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 631kcal

Author Stacie Vaughan

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs 4-6 thighs depending on size
½ cup buttermilk
¼ cup hot sauce
2 large eggs room temperature, beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cayenne pepper or to taste
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
olive oil spray

For the Nashville Sauce:

8 tbsp salted butter
¼ cup hot sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
¼ tsp cayenne pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk and ¼ cup hot sauce. Add the chicken and toss, coating it in the buttermilk mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. For even better flavor, marinate overnight.
In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, 1 tsp cayenne, paprika, salt, and pepper.
In a separate bowl, whisk the 2 eggs.
Remove the chicken from the buttermilk marinade, allowing any excess to drip off. Dredge each chicken piece in the flour mixture, making sure it's evenly coated. Dip it in the beaten egg mixture, then back in the flour for a second coat. This double coating will give you a crispy crust.
Preheat your air fryer to 365°F. While it's heating, arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray the breaded chicken pieces with vegetable oil.
Air fry them at 365°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, until they are golden brown and their internal temperature reaches a safe 165°F.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in ¼ cup hot sauce, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon paprika, and ¼ tsp cayenne pepper. Remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside.
Let the cooked pieces of chicken rest on a wire rack or baking sheet for about 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle the spicy sauce over the crispy chicken pieces.
Serve your crispy fried chicken with your favorite sides. Popular sides include slices of white bread, potato salad, coleslaw, french fries, mac and cheese, and biscuits.

Nutrition