One cannot visit Music City without indulging in the pride of the city’s foodie scene…..Nashville Hot Chicken. The history of the dish dates back nearly a century and tells the story of a lover scorned seeking revenge on her significant other, but the result was a tasty dish that would become almost as famous as Nashville’s music heritage.
Legend has it that in the 1930s a woman planned to get revenge on her cheating lover, Thornton Prince, a man with a well-earned reputation of a ladies’ man. She doused his fried chicken with peppers and spices, intending to inflict pain using his favorite food, but the plan backfired.
“The trap set, Prince’s jilted lover served up a plate of homemade fried chicken. Without noticing the devilish amount of peppers and spices she had sprinkled on the chicken, Prince dug in,” Prince’s website reads. “Much to her dismay, Prince didn’t fall over weeping in pain. Nope, he asked for seconds, and, at that moment, the legend was born. Prince loved it and used the recipe to open a restaurant, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack.”
The original shop is still open in Nashville and is owned and operated by the original owner’s great-niece, André Prince Jeffries, who continues to serve up her family’s legendary dish.
While we all can’t make the trip to Nashville to indulge in Prince’s original hot chicken recipe, we can attempt to recreate it at home. The internet is full of knock-off recipes and variations created based on personal taste and preference. We found one that we love that uses the ever-popular air fryer. With four simple steps and only 30 minutes, dinner can be on the table.
Check out the recipe for Air-Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken below!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice, divided
- 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 2 pounds chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- Cooking spray
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Dill pickle slices
Find instructions by clicking here.