Air Fryer Nashville Chicken
User Reviews
4.3
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Prep Time
30 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Soaking Time
4 hrs
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Total Time
4 hrs 55 mins
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Servings
8
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Calories
580 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Air Fryer Nashville Chicken
Description
The recipe begins by soaking chicken thighs in a buttermilk and hot sauce mix for up to 24 hours, which helps tenderize and add flavor. A spiced flour coating made with garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne, Old Bay seasoning, and paprika envelops the chicken pieces. After resting the coated chicken on a rack for best crispness, the chicken is cooked in batches in an air fryer at 390°F to achieve a crunchy exterior and juicy interior.
The final step includes a butter mixed with hot sauce glaze, enhancing the spicy, tangy character typical of Nashville hot chicken. The approach avoids frying in oil, using the air fryer to replicate the crisp texture more cleanly.
The dish is well-suited for those who appreciate spicy fried chicken with a signature Nashville style flavor. It pairs well with cooling sides to balance the heat.
The notes offer guidance on adjusting cooking times for other chicken cuts, ensuring proper safe temperatures, and modifying the heat level by varying the cayenne pepper in the glaze.
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thigh bone in
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 2 cups flour
- 2 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 Tablespoons hot sauce
Instructions
- Mix the buttermilk with the hot sauce in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces and submerge the chicken. Refrigerate for 1-24 hours.
- Mix the flour with the garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, old bay and paprika.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer you will likely need to cook this in batches. Do not crowd the chicken in the air fryer basket.
- Using tongs take a piece of chicken out of the buttermilk. Let any excess buttermilk drip off the chicken. Then put the chicken into the flour and coat it. Set the chicken piece on a rack to rest.
- Repeat the process with as many chicken pieces as will fit in your air fryer (four for me.) Put the rest of the chicken back in the refrigerator while you cook the first batch.
- Let the chicken rest on the wire rack for 15 minutes before air frying for the crispiest chicken.
- Put the chicken in the air fryer basket, leaving room between the pieces for air to circulate.
- Cook at 390 F for 25 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time take the air fryer basket out. If there are spots where you can still see flour on the chicken spray them with a little cooking spray. Flip the chicken, then put the basket back in to finish cooking.
- Make the second batch of chicken while you serve the first batch.
- Melt the butter and mix it with the 2 Tablespoons of hot sauce. Brush the chicken with the mixture before serving.
- Serve with white bread and pickles.
Notes
- Adjust cooking times depending on chicken cuts: drumsticks ~20 minutes, breasts ~30 minutes, tenders ~12 minutes in the air fryer.
- Always verify internal temperature: 165°F for white meat and 180°F for dark meat to ensure food safety.
- Increase or decrease spiciness by adding 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper to the butter-hot sauce mixture before coating.
- The heat level will vary depending on the brand of hot sauce used in the marinade and glaze.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 580 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 580kcal | 29% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 29g | 58% |
| Fat | 38g | 58% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6g | 35% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 179mg | 60% |
| Sodium | 842mg | 35% |
| Potassium | 469mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 819IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 96mg | 10% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.3
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