Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken
A healthier and easier version of the popular hot chicken dish.
Servings 4
Calories 732kcal
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 3 cups (709ml) buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons hot sauce such as Frank’s Red Hot or Louisiana sauce
- 5 cloves garlic finely minced
- 20 ounces (568g) chicken thighs 4 boneless and skinless thighs
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1 ½ cups (360g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the sauce:
- ½ cup (113g) butter 1 stick, cut into pieces
- 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, hot sauce, and garlic. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or up to overnight.
- When you're ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F / 190 degrees C.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and dip it in the flour mixture, coating both sides.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown. Flip the chicken halfway through cooking.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the cayenne pepper powder, brown sugar, garlic powder, and chili powder. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened and smooth.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and immediately toss it in the hot sauce. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are more flavorful than chicken breasts, and they hold up well to the marinating and cooking process.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 3 hours, or up to overnight. The longer the chicken marinates, the more flavorful it will be.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. If you overcrowd the air fryer, the chicken will not cook evenly.
- Cook the chicken in batches. This will help to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. This will help the juices to redistribute throughout the chicken, resulting in a more tender and juicy chicken.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper powder to taste. If you're not a fan of spicy food, you can reduce the amount of cayenne pepper powder that you use.
- Make the sauce ahead of time. This will save you time on the day of cooking.
- Toss the chicken in the sauce before serving. This will ensure that the chicken is evenly coated in the sauce.
- Serve the chicken with your favorite dipping sauce. Some popular options include ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or honey mustard sauce.
- Storage - leftovers can be kept in an airtight container inside the fridge for 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 732kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 1434mg | Potassium: 807mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 2904IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 260mg | Iron: 4mg