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5 minutes. Butter and spices. Your new favorite hot sauce. This Nashville Hot Sauce is an easy to make sauce that’s perfect on chicken! It’s also great drizzled over mac & cheese, roasted veggies, or over pizza. This one packs a punch.
A little sweet, a lot spicy, total flavor bomb!
If you’ve never had a Nashville hot chicken sandwich you’ve been missing out! It’s a spicy, buttery concoction that’s packed with flavor. The texture is a bit weird (not gonna lie), since it’s not a smooth or creamy sauce like you’d normally expect. Instead, you get a bunch of spices floating in oil – or, in our case, melted butter!
This goes great on fried chicken, wings, or even grilled chicken. You can see it in action with this Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich!
I really tossed our oven fried chicken tenders in this sauce, chopped them into bite-sized pieces, and stirred it all into a bowl of mac and cheese. Delightful.
♥ 3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:
So easy: Melt some butter, whisk in spices, cook for a few minutes to toast everything, and you’re done! This sauce is simple.
Spice with flavor: This sauce brings more than just heat, it also has garlic, onion, and paprika along with a little hint of sweetness.
Pantry friendly: Chances are you’ve already got all the ingredients necessary to make this homemade Nashville hot sauce.
Ingredients, Swaps, & Tips:
- Butter vs. oil: Classic Nashville hot sauce is made by pouring hot frying oil over the spices. We use butter for the rich flavor and convenience. Who has a pot of hot oil laying around?
- Heat control: Start with 1 tablespoon cayenne and add more to taste. Up to 4 tablespoons for serious spice!
- Sweetness: We use brown sugar and honey. If you don’t have honey or don’t to use it just double the brown sugar. We like the texture the honey adds! Add more or less to suit your tastes.
Serving Suggestions:
You’ve got loads of options for serving this Nashville hot sauce!
Add to chicken sandwiches – Air fry some breaded chicken breasts, baste with the sauce, and then top with pickles on a buttery toasted bun.
Use as a pizza drizzle – Especially good on pepperoni pizza for a spicy finish.
Drizzle over fried chicken – The classic move. Brush it on hot from the fryer or air fryer for that authentic Nashville vibe. Works great on chicken tendies or nuggets too!
Brush on grilled chicken – Weeknight grilling just got more interesting. Brush it on during the last few minutes of cooking. The spices will burn if you brush it on too early.
Mix into mayo or ranch – Instant spicy dipping sauce for fries, veggies, or sandwiches.
Toss with roasted potatoes or fries – A little drizzle takes your side dish from basic to crave-worthy.
Stir into mac and cheese – Add a spicy kick to comfort food. Just a spoonful does the trick.
Brush on hot dogs or brats – Elevate your cookout game without any extra effort.
Storage:
Fridge: Let the sauce cool completely before storing in a mason jar or other airtight container for up to a week.
Reheat: Warm gently on the stove or in the microwave until loosened. Stir well before using.
Freeze: Not sure how this one would freeze, to be honest. Luckily, it’s easy enough to whip up at a moment’s notice.
More Homemade Sauce REcipes
- Korean BBQ Sauce
- Homemade Buffalo Sauce
- Easy Garlic Dressing
- Onion Ring Sauce
- Cheese Sauce for Fries
- Hot Honey Sauce
- Smash Burger Sauce
Nashville Hot Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter see notes
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper more to taste – see notes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Add the butter to a small sauce pan over medium heat and let melt.
- Once melted, add the remaining ingredients and whisk well to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. The mixture will not be smooth or well combined – the spices will stay separate from the oil and may clump together a bit.
- Remove from the heat. Stir well before serving.
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