Slow Cooker Nashville Hot Chicken – adapted from the original Hattie B’s Hot Chicken recipe in Nashville, TN. SO good!! Chicken, cayenne, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, butter and chicken broth. Serve the chicken on slider buns with ranch and pickles. SO good! Sweet and spicy in every bite – YUM! #slowcooker #nashvillehotchicken #chickenrecipe #hotchicken
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Pin This RecipeI am obsessed with this Slow Cooker Nashville Hot Chicken! Sweet and spicy in every bite! I adapted this recipe from the original Hattie B’s Hot Chicken recipe. Hattie B’s is my FAVORITE hot chicken joint in Nashville. I have eaten at a lot of other hot chicken places, but Hattie B’s remains at the top of my list. Many, many years ago, Hattie B’s shared their recipe for their Medium Hot Chicken in a magazine. I saved that recipe and use it as a basis for all my hot chicken recipes.
This hot chicken can be as hot or mild as you want by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper. My version is hot but not burn your lips hot. Chicken Legs isn’t a fan of super spicy foods and this was just the right temperature for him.
We served this shredded hot chicken on slider buns with some ranch and pickles. For sides, we served the sliders with Hattie B’s Pimento Mac & Cheese and some Hattie B’s Black Eyed Pea Salad. SO good!!! Tastes like Nashville!
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Slow Cooker Nashville Hot Chicken
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 to 4 Tbsp cayenne pepper, start with 2 and add more after taste testing
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- ¾ cup chicken broth
Instructions:
- Place chicken in 6-qt slow cooker.
- Whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour over chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours.
- Remove cooked chicken from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return to slow cooker, stir.
- Serve on buns with pickles and ranch.
Notes:
Steph
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This is FANTASTIC! I used all the cayenne, and was liberal with the brown sugar. This recipe is a total keeper! Thanks so much!
About to be an empty nester and was wondering if this can be frozen and re-heated after cooking?
Yes
Can this be made in the instapot?
I’m sure it could
Though my husband doesn’t get the “Nashville Hot Chicken” thing (we are both from that area), I still made it, and he ate it! I only used 1 Tbsp cayenne (we live in Cajun country so love spice, but we do have our limits!). I may add maybe a 1/4 tsp more next time, as it was good and did not burn our mouths, but could stand to kick it up just a little bit. I may use the Hawaiian rolls next time as others have done and see how we like that combo.
Family approved! I used only 2 Tbsp. of cayenne and that was more than spicy for most of us! Ate this on Hawaiian rolls with pickles & ranch. Quick easy meal! Made plain chicken’s macaroni cold slaw recipe on the side ( also a winner!).
Has anyone done this in the Instapot? Any tips?
I made it in the instant pot, follow all instructions/ingredients except pressure cook for 15 minutes and let naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Shreds perfect. Super yummy
Delicious! This is a great dinner to literally spice up the week! I used 2Tbs of cayenne and it’s about as spicy as I can handle, but so good. Love the flavor with the pickles, and I love how easy this was to make.
Have you ever made this ahead of time and put in the fridge and then just re-heated in the crock pot?
what kind of pickles do you use???
whatever kind you like
Been making this recipe for a few years. This is a staple food in our house now! Very spicy and delicious. I like to serve it with Mac and cheese or slaw to help tone the spice. It is HOT!
Very delicious. I used about a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and that was perfect for me. I put a little shredded mozzarella on the top of my sandwich along with the ranch dressing. Thinking it would be good if the sauce was thickened.
It reheats just fine!
Wow! This was amazing! I love a healthier version of Nashville Hot chicken. I used 2 1/2 T of cayenne pepper and it was just perfect, nice and spiced. We ate it on sweet Hawaiian rolls and I made homemade ranch dressing to go with it. Thanks for a great recipe! I’ve already shared it with some friends.
SO glad you enjoyed it!
Made this yesterday with 3 Tbs of cayenne. Day of – delicious. 2nd day- DELICIOUS but chicken had more time to marinate in the cayenne- super spicy! Will def make it again!
Very good! Just curious, do you have nutritional facts? You know, it’s January—new year, new me…blah, blah, blah. Thanks!
This is so awesome! We’ve made it twice! The first time we used 2T cayenne and it was HOT. We like spicy food but it was a tad too spicy so the 2nd time I used 1T and it was devoured! My suggestion would be to start on the low side (1TBSp) and taste it after you melt/stir it all together. Adjust seasonings from there. Thx for the AMAZING recipe!
I think Blue cheese dressing would be a great sub for ranch.
This was crazy good. My college son started eating during the blessing – that will teach him! 😂🔥. I used the 2 Tbspn of cayenne and it was just right for us. When I have had N-ville chicken before I had honey as a condiment, wasn’t for sure how that would be with ranch so I added a tablespoon into the sauce after I shredded the chicken and let the chicken soak some up. Perfect sweet heat!! This is a keeper!
My mom’s family is from south Louisiana but food was never spicy hot. Most Cajun families have 2 pepper shakers on the table, one with black pepper, one with red or pepper. We each seasoned to taste.
Very good and spicy. My lips are still burning. I used 2 1/2 tablespoons of Cayenne. I think I’ll cut back to 2. It works great with hawaiin rolls, ranch and pickles. I think next time I’ll make coleslaw to go with.
Can you use thighs instead of breast?
sure!
I made this and I used 2 Tbsp of cayenne and it was a bit too 🔥 for my teen boys and my boyfriend. For me it wasn’t too 🔥 but it makes me cough at first every time. The heat just catches in the back of my throat. After that I’m fine. 😂 It tastes really really good though and I think next time I’ll just use 1 or 1.5 Tbsp of cayenne. Maybe we’re just not used to this much heat being in New England. 😆
LOVE this recipe!! My boyfriend is from Nashville and we love hot chicken, so it’s nice to have an option that’s not fried. I always use frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot, so I start off with it on high heat then switch it low after an hour or two.. it takes about the same time to cook. We also found pre-mixed Nashville Hot Seasoning at Kroger with the same spices and it works in a pinch because we usually use about a 1/2 cup of it to make it extra spicy. We served the pulled chicken on Hawaiian rolls to balance the heat. The end result is amazing!! 🙂
Do you cook the frozen breast alone or eith the seasoning in it?
With the seasonings in it.
Great recipe!!! Took the advice of another review and added white cheese, I used 4.5 tbsp of cayenne 🤣🤦♀️🤦♀️ DO NOT do that lol. I repeat …..dont! That’s my fault though , thought nothing was too spicy for me… I WAS DEAD WRONG!!!!
This sounds so good! My boyfriend doesn’t like ranch though. What would you suggest for a substitute?
whatever you want. I don’t know your boyfriend, so I don’t know what he would like to garnish these sandwiches with.
Do you double the sauce if doubling the amount of chicken? Will it be too spicy with 4T cayenne (2T doubled)?
Only you can answer that. I would start with less cayenne and add more after you taste it.
Do you have to use the butter?
Sooo good, used 2T and was hot 🔥 definitely making again – maybe in future using fried chicken breasts and reducing sauce on stove, then smothering on a sandwich 👍
Made this last night and absolutely loved it. I love the flavor and heat!!!
Can you use rotisserie chicken?
Can you use frozen chicken?
yes
can this be made in the instant pot?
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty on how to modify this for the Instant Pot. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
I made mine in the instant pot and it turned out just fine. I cooked it for 25 minutes on high pressure. I didn’t change the recipe at all either hope that helps you.
Thanks for letting us know!
I made it in the instant pot and it was perfect!
YUM YUM!!! Making this today! But curious before I go to the grocery…I’m not typically a buyer of ranch dressing, do you have a favorite?? And, I assume those are just sandwich dills?? Thank you!
I will review this afterwards, my husband is SURE to love this!😉
I like Ken’s Ranch dressing.
Thank you!!
This was incredible!
Thank you for the recipe.
I've made this recipe 5 times now and my family of 7 loves it including 5 kids! I ALWAYS add the max amount of cayenne pepper too but be careful because it's very spicy that way.
Can I use white sugar instead of brown?
Can this recipe be used in the instapot for a quicker version??
Sure. You may need to add more liquid for the Instant Pot.
I tried this for the first time tonight! I was nervous it would be too hot with the amount of cayenne, so I just used 2 TBLS. It was so good with ranch! Thank you for this recipe! I’m adding it to my rotation 🙂
Im rating this AGAIN as I now double this recipe and have bumped the cayenne up to 4.5 TBLS!! This recipe has also become a regular rotation in our menu. We make once a month. Family of 7 here!!
SOOO glad y’all are loving it!