Nashville Hot Chicken Protein

Name: Nashville Hot Chicken Protein
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken tenders or breast strips; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 tbsp cayenne pepper; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; 0.25 cup neutral oil for shallow frying; 4 slices white bread slices (to serve); 8 slices dill pickle slices; 1 to taste salt and black pepper

Buttermilk-brined chicken tenders tossed in fiery cayenne-brown sugar paste — the cult Tennessee heat with a crunchy crust and 46g protein. Serve on white bread.

📅February 10, 2026

15mPrep

20mCook

4Servings

⭐ 4.9Rating

🍗

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Protein 44%Fat 35%Carbs 21%

430kcalCalories

46gProtein

16gFat

22gCarbs

1gFiber

Ingredients

908 gchicken tenders or breast strips
237 mlbuttermilk
237 mlall-purpose flour
30 mlcayenne pepper
15 mlbrown sugar
5 mlsmoked paprika
5 mlgarlic powder
59 mlneutral oil for shallow frying
4 sliceswhite bread slices (to serve)
8 slicesdill pickle slices
1 to tastesalt and black pepper

Instructions

Marinate chicken in buttermilk, salt, pepper for at least 30 min.
Dredge in flour seasoned with salt, garlic powder, and half the cayenne.
Shallow-fry in hot oil 4–5 min per side until golden and cooked through.
Mix remaining cayenne, brown sugar, paprika, and 2 tbsp hot frying oil into a paste.
Brush chicken liberally with hot paste. Serve on white bread with pickles.

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#bbq #high-protein #budget

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