Nashville Hot Shrimp BLT Sandwiches are a creative twist on the classic Nashville hot chicken sandwich. This recipe combines the flavors of crispy fried shrimp, spicy Nashville hot seasoning, smoky bacon, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and creamy homemade guacamole. The shrimp patties are seasoned with a blend of spices, breaded, fried to perfection, and coated in the signature Nashville hot paste. All these delicious components are sandwiched between toasted brioche buns, creating a mouthwatering and satisfying meal.
WHAT IS NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN?
The origins of Nashville hot chicken can be traced back to the 1930s in Nashville, Tennessee. It is said to have been born out of a fiery revenge story. Thornton Prince, the proprietor of a local chicken shack, sought revenge on his girlfriend by preparing an exceedingly spicy fried chicken. However, to his surprise, she not only enjoyed the fiery heat but also shared the unique dish with her friends. Thus, Nashville hot chicken became a local sensation and eventually gained nationwide popularity.
Traditionally, Nashville hot chicken involves marinating chicken pieces in a blend of cayenne pepper, paprika, and other spices, creating a fiery and flavorful coating. The chicken is then deep-fried to perfection, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender, juicy meat. Served on slices of white bread with pickle chips, Nashville hot chicken is renowned for its intense heat and addictive flavor. It has become an iconic dish representing the bold and spicy culinary culture of Nashville.
Check out my Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Below!
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN NASHVILLE HOT SHRIMP BLT SANDWICHES?
While Nashville hot chicken sandwiches are quite popular, we decided to get creative and put a seafood twist on it. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for Nashville Hot Shrimp BLT Sandwiches:
For the Shrimp Patties:
- 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp, deveined and chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 4 eggs, beaten for egg wash
- 1/2 pound bacon, cut in halves
For the Sandwich Items:
- Homemade guacamole (2 avocados, 1 lime juiced, 1 teaspoon kosher salt)
- Lettuce (romaine)
- Tomatoes
- Brioche buns
- Bacon
For the Breading:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
For the Nashville Hot Paste:
- 2 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp Cayenne
- 2 tsp Mexican chili powder
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 cup Hot cooking lard
HOW TO MAKE NASHVILLE HOT SHRIMP BLT SANDWICHES:
- Chop the shrimp into a fine paste and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Hand mix the ingredients until they are well combined. Form the mixture into the shape of shrimp burgers and place them on a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer the shrimp patties to the freezer and let them chill for 45-60 minutes.
- While the shrimp patties are in the freezer, prepare the homemade guacamole by mashing the avocados and mixing them with lime juice and kosher salt. Place the guacamole in the refrigerator to chill.
- In a medium-high skillet, fry the bacon until it reaches your desired crispiness. Once cooked, wrap the bacon in foil to keep it warm.
- Prepare the breading for the shrimp patties by combining all-purpose flour, cornstarch, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Mix well.
- Beat the eggs in a separate bowl to create an egg wash.
- Remove the shrimp patties from the freezer and coat them first in the flour mixture, then in the egg wash, and finally back in the flour mixture. Ensure that the patties are evenly coated.
- Heat cooking oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry the shrimp patties in batches of 1-2 to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook them for approximately 4-6 minutes until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Once cooked, place the patties on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
- In a separate bowl, combine the Nashville Hot Paste with a cup or two of the cooking oil used for frying. Whisk the mixture together until well blended. Coat each fried shrimp patty generously with the Nashville Hot Paste.
- Toast the brioche buns to your desired level of crispness.
- Assemble the sandwiches by spreading a layer of homemade guacamole on the bottom half of each bun. Place a Nashville hot shrimp patty on top of the guacamole, followed by strips of bacon, fresh lettuce, and sliced tomatoes. Finish by topping the sandwich with the other half of the toasted bun.
- Serve the Nashville Hot Shrimp BLT Sandwiches immediately and enjoy the explosive flavors.

Nashville Hot Shrimp BLT Sandwiches
Ingredients
Shrimp Patties:
- 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp deveined and chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 4 eggs beaten for egg wash
- 1/2 pound bacon cut in halves
Sandwich Items:
- Homemade guacamole 2 avocados, 1 lime juiced, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Lettuce romaine
- Tomatoes
- Brioche buns
- Bacon
Breading:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
Nashville Hot Paste:
- 2 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp Cayenne
- 2 tsp Mexican chili powder
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 cup Hot cooking lard
Instructions
- Chop the shrimp into a fine paste and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Hand mix the ingredients until they are well combined. Form the mixture into the shape of shrimp burgers and place them on a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer the shrimp patties to the freezer and let them chill for 45-60 minutes.
- While the shrimp patties are in the freezer, prepare the homemade guacamole by mashing the avocados and mixing them with lime juice and kosher salt. Place the guacamole in the refrigerator to chill.
- In a medium-high skillet, fry the bacon until it reaches your desired crispiness. Once cooked, wrap the bacon in foil to keep it warm.
- Prepare the breading for the shrimp patties by combining all-purpose flour, cornstarch, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Mix well.
- Beat the eggs in a separate bowl to create an egg wash.
- Remove the shrimp patties from the freezer and coat them first in the flour mixture, then in the egg wash, and finally back in the flour mixture. Ensure that the patties are evenly coated.
- Heat cooking oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry the shrimp patties in batches of 1-2 to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook them for approximately 4-6 minutes until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Once cooked, place the patties on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
- In a separate bowl, combine the Nashville Hot Paste with a cup or two of the cooking oil used for frying. Whisk the mixture together until well blended. Coat each fried shrimp patty generously with the Nashville Hot Paste.
- Toast the brioche buns to your desired level of crispness.
- Assemble the sandwiches by spreading a layer of homemade guacamole on the bottom half of each bun. Place a Nashville hot shrimp patty on top of the guacamole, followed by strips of bacon, fresh lettuce, and sliced tomatoes. Finish by topping the sandwich with the other half of the toasted bun.
- Serve the Nashville Hot Shrimp BLT Sandwiches immediately and enjoy the explosive flavors.
Nashville Hot Shrimp BLT Sandwiches offer a tasty twist on the classic Nashville hot chicken sandwich by combining fiery flavors with juicy fried shrimp. These sandwiches bring together the best of both worlds, creating a unique and exciting culinary experience that will satisfy your taste buds.
One great thing about this recipe is that you can easily adjust the spice level to your liking. If you prefer milder heat, simply use less cayenne pepper or other spicy ingredients in the Nashville Hot Paste. This allows you to enjoy the flavors without overwhelming spiciness. On the other hand, if you love spice, feel free to add more cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to crank up the heat and intensify the Nashville hot flavor.
In terms of cooking methods, frying the shrimp patties is the traditional approach, but you can explore other options too. For a lighter alternative, you can bake the shrimp patties in the oven until they turn crispy and cooked through. Just place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10-12 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
If you prefer a healthier twist, you can try air frying the shrimp patties. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the patties in a single layer for approximately 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even browning.
Regardless of the cooking method you choose, you’ll end up with delicious shrimp patties that have a crispy coating infused with the bold flavors of the Nashville hot seasoning. Put them between toasted brioche buns along with smoky bacon, fresh lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and creamy homemade guacamole for a mouthwatering sandwich.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS NASHVILLE HOT SHRIMP BLT RECIPE? YOU’LL LOVE MY OTHER SEAFOOD RECIPES IN THE LINK BELOW!
SEAFOOD RECIPES
Items used in This Recipe
Leave a Reply