Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders
These Nashville hot chicken sliders deliver authentic Southern heat without any deep frying or oil. Featuring grilled chicken thighs marinated in buttermilk and finished with a spicy mayo baste, they provide all the flavor of traditional Nashville hot chicken in a healthier, mess-free preparation perfect for summer grilling.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
- 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce Frank’s or Crystal
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Spicy Mayo Baste:
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise Hellmann’s preferred
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder optional, for extra heat
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Optional: 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard for tang
- For Assembly:
- 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls
- ½ cup dill pickle chips
- Optional: shredded lettuce or spicy coleslaw
- Butter or mayo for toasting buns optional
Instructions
- Marinate chicken thighs in buttermilk, pickle juice, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder for 1-8 hours.
- Make spicy mayo baste by whisking together mayo, cayenne, hot sauce, brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, and salt.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400°F). Remove chicken from marinade and pat lightly dry.
- Grill chicken 4-6 minutes per side until charred and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Immediately brush hot chicken with spicy mayo baste on both sides while still hot.
- Assemble sliders with basted chicken, pickles, and optional toppings. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts and absorb flavors better
- Apply mayo baste while chicken is hot for best penetration
- Adjust cayenne quantity to control heat level
- Can be made with bone-in thighs for extra flavor
- Apply mayo baste while chicken is hot for best penetration
- Adjust cayenne quantity to control heat level
- Can be made with bone-in thighs for extra flavor
Nutrition
Calories: 428kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 28gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 1043mgPotassium: 371mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 568IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 3mg
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