If you love bold flavors with a serious kick, these Nashville hot chicken sliders are for you. Crispy, juicy fried chicken, tossed in a spicy, seasoned oil, is topped with cool coleslaw and tangy pickles on soft slider buns.
These sliders are perfect for game day, parties, family dinners, or anytime you’re craving something spicy and satisfying.
If you enjoy hearty, flavor-packed meals like these sliders, you’ll also want to check out these incredible green chili chicken Mexican pizzas for another bold and delicious dinner idea.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy, crunchy coating
- Juicy, tender chicken
- Adjustable heat level
- Perfect party food
- Great for game day spreads
- A fun family dinner
Key Ingredients
See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and their amounts.
- Chicken Breasts: The foundation of the sliders, chicken breasts are meaty and mild, making them the perfect pairing for the other ingredients in the recipe.
- Buttermilk: Tenderizes the chicken and helps the flour coating stick. It also adds subtle tang and ensures juicy fried chicken.
- Hot Sauce: Infuses heat directly into the chicken during marination, building the signature spicy profile.
- Flour: Creates the crispy outer crust when fried. This crunch is essential for texture contrast.
- Cayenne Pepper (in the Coating & Hot Oil Rub: Delivers the defining heat of Nashville-style chicken. It’s the key spice that makes it hot.
- Hot Frying Oil (for the Nashville Hot Rub): Mixed with spices to create the iconic spicy oil coating that’s brushed over the fried chicken, locking in heat and flavor.
- Coleslaw & Pickles: Add coolness, crunch, and acidity to balance the fried chicken’s intense spice and richness.
Variations
- Make It Extra Spicy: Add additional cayenne to the oil rub or drizzle with extra hot sauce.
- Make It Milder: Reduce cayenne and red pepper flakes in both the coating and oil mixture.
- Air Fryer Option: You can air fry at 375°F for about 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway through. Spray lightly with oil before cooking for crispiness.
How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders
Step 1: Marinate the chicken in buttermilk, pickle juice, and hot sauce for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Step 2: Combine the flour and seasonings in a shallow dish. Then, just before frying, dip the chicken in the flour, back in the marinade, and in the flour again.
Step 3: Fry the chicken in batches in hot oil until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 4: Mix the hot oil from the frying pan and seasonings well. Then brush it over both sides of the chicken pieces.
Step 5: Add a piece of chicken to the bottom buns. Then, top with coleslaw and sliced pickles.
Step 6: Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Adjust cayenne and hot sauce to control the heat level.
- Use a thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest on paper towels to keep the coating crispy.
- Toast slider buns lightly for added texture.
If you’re planning a party spread, these sliders pair beautifully with other bold favorites like hatch green chile fries, crispy onion rings, and cream cheese avocado bites.
Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders FAQs
They can be as mild or as fiery as you like! The heat level depends on how much hot sauce you use in the marinade and how much cayenne and red pepper flakes you add to the oil rub. Start on the lower end if you’re sensitive to spice and adjust from there.
For best results, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours. If you have more time, letting it marinate overnight will give you even more flavor and tenderness.
Yes, you can bake the chicken at 400°F for about 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through. However, frying gives the most authentic crispy texture. For a crispier baked version, spray the coated chicken lightly with cooking spray before baking.
Absolutely. Cook at 375°F for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway through. Lightly spray the breaded chicken with oil before air frying to help it crisp up.
Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil or canola oil.
Yes! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work beautifully and tend to be extra juicy.
Store the fried chicken separately from the buns and toppings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep it crispy before assembling the sliders again.
Try These Hot Chicken Sliders Pairings
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Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
Hot Chicken
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise and cut into 4-6 pieces depending on size of breast
- 2 cups buttermilk
- ½ cup pickle juice
- ¼ – ⅓ cup hot sauce, depending on desire of spiciness
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Oil, for frying
- 12 Slider buns
- Coleslaw
- Sliced pickles
Hot Oil Rub
- 2 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup hot oil, from pan after frying chicken
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add chicken. Pour buttermilk, pickle juice, and hot sauce over chicken. Stir to combine. Cover bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- In a shallow dish, stir together flour and seasonings.
- Remove chicken from the refrigerator and dip each piece of chicken into the flour mixture, then back into the marinade mixture, and back into the flour mixture. Make sure to cover completely.
- Heat oil over medium heat in a large pan.
- Place 3-4 pieces of coated chicken pieces into the hot oil and fry on both sides until golden brown with an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Remove fried chicken pieces and place on a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil.
- Repeat with all coated chicken pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix together hot oil from the frying pan and seasonings until well combined.
- Brush hot oil mixture over both sides of fried chicken pieces.
- Assemble sliders by adding a piece of chicken, topped with coleslaw, and a few sliced pickles.
Notes
- Adjust cayenne and hot sauce to control the heat level.
- Use a thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest on paper towels to keep the coating crispy.
- Toast slider buns lightly for added texture.
Nutrition
I served these with plenty of pickles and a large pitcher of ice-cold lemonade to help keep the “hot” chicken kid-friendly!
This Nashville Hot Chicken Slider recipe turned out amazing!! I can’t wait to make it again…YUM!!!
I loved this Hot Chicken Sliders recipe! Yummy and easy to make! Love pickles.
We’re obsessed with Nashville hot seasoning. What a delicious recipe..these sliders are so good…feels like such a treat to make them at home!
Crispy chicken with that spicy kick was amazing. Everyone wanted more!
Aww yeah. I made these with french fries and dipped them both in ranch. Om nom nom.
These are Ah-mazing! I made them last night with seasoned curly fries, and they were a huge hit.