How to Make Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Breasts - A Step-by-Step Guide

Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Breasts are a spicy, flavorful twist on a classic Southern dish. This recipe takes the traditional Nashville hot chicken, known for its fiery heat and bold flavors, and gives it a healthier twist by baking the chicken breasts instead of deep-frying them. The result is juicy, tender chicken with a crispy, spicy coating that will leave your taste buds tingling.

Nashville hot chicken has gained popularity in recent years for its unique combination of cayenne p...

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Ingredients

  • 1 quart water
  • ¼ cup salt
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup hot sauce
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into strips
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon white sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • cooking spray

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Additional Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
  • Servings: 4
  • Yield: 4 servings

  • Mix water, 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup sugar, and hot sauce together in a large bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved into the brine. Place chicken pieces in the brine and refrigerate, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Pour brine from the bowl.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a baking rack onto a baking sheet and coat rack with cooking spray.
  • Combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and black pepper in a shallow bowl until coating is well mixed. Press chicken pieces into the coating until both sides are evenly coated; place on the prepared rack.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Spray each chicken piece with cooking spray; flip and spray the other side. Continue baking until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
  • Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat until shimmering. Mix 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder together in a bowl; add to oil and cook for 30 seconds. Brush oil mixture onto cooked chicken, adding more layers for extra heat.
  • Nutrition

    395 cal.

    • Total Fat: 14g
    • Saturated Fat: 3g
    • Cholesterol: 67mg
    • Sodium: 6857mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 39g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 14g
    • Protein: 28g
    • Vitamin C: 12mg
    • Calcium: 33mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 310mg