Nashville fried chicken is known for its fiery heat, deep flavour, and perfect crispy texture. Traditionally, it’s deep-fried, but this air fryer version keeps the boldness intact while making it far more doable for regular cooking.
If you have never tried Nashville Fried Chicken before, consider this your sign to make it ASAP. Chicken pieces are marinated and then coated in flour and egg wash before being deep fried. A generous drizzle of chilli oil is poured all over the chicken before serving. The result is chicken pieces that are bold, hot, fiery, and crisped to perfection!
But this air fryer version of Nashville hot chicken is wayyy lighter. Instead of flour and egg wash, we coat the chicken in cornflakes and then air fry it with just a light brushing oil. The result? Perfectly crispy yet healthy pieces of chicken that are ready in no time. And of course the quick Nasvhille-style chilli oil is the star of the show!
I love eating this chicken as a burger with some cooling homemade ranch, and crisp lettuce for a meal that’s spicy, creamy, crunchy, and satisfying. It’s lighter but just as delicious as the original version!
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Nashville Chicken Burger Ingredients
Chicken marinade
- Chicken thighs – stay juicy and tender even with the high cooking temperature. You can use chicken breast, but be sure to reduce cooking time
- Greek yogurt – tenderises the chicken and adds moisture. Feel free to use hung curd in its place
- Vinegar – balances richness and helps tenderise; lemon juice works too
- Red chilli powder – adds heat and colour; reduce or replace with paprika for a milder version
- Garlic paste – for aroma and flavor. Fresh minced garlic works as well
- Sriracha – adds heat and tang
- Cornflour – helps the marinade cling and keeps the chicken crisp
- Salt – to season
- Crushed pepper – adds mild heat and flavor
Chicken coating
- Crushed cornflakes – creates a crunchy, fried-style coating without deep frying. Can be replaced with panko breadcrumbs
Nashville oil
- Garlic paste – adds flavor and aroma
- Chilli oil – for that signature Nashville heat and flavor. I have used my homemade chilli oil, but store-bought works as well
- Red chilli powder – for heat and colour
- Salt – for seasoning and balance
- Honey – adds subtle sweetness to round off the heat; can be replaced with sugar or maple syrup
- Hot water – thins the oil for easy brushing and even coating.
- Butter – adds richness and shine
Ranch sauce
- Greek yogurt – forms a the creamy base
- Garlic paste – adds flavour and aroma
- Pepper – adds gentle heat
- Honey – adds a subtle sweetness and softens the tang
- Spring onion greens – finely chopped to add freshness and texture
Serving
- Lettuce leaves – shredded, to add crunch and freshness. I have used iceberg, but Romanian works too
- Burger buns – brioche or whole wheat buns both work well
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Reduce the red chilli powder and sriracha in the marinade, and cut back on chilli oil in the Nashville coating.
You can bake it at 220°C for 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway, but the air fryer gives better crispness.
Yes, the ranch sauce can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored refrigerated.
Richa’s Top Tips
- I would highly recommend using chicken thighs as it stays juicier in the air fryer and can handle the spicy coating better
- Be sure to crush the cornflakes unevenly (a mix of fine crumbs and larger flakes) for better texture
- A light brush of oil over the chicken is enough to achieve crispy results. Overdoing it can lead to a soggy, unappetising mess.
- Adjust heat gradually: Taste the Nashville oil before brushing and tweak chilli levels if needed.
- If you have the time, marinate the chicken for longer. Anywhere 3 to up to 24 hours will deliver more flavorful results
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket if making a larger batch. Air frying the chicken in batches will give you much crispier results
Storage Tips
- Allow any leftover Nashville fried chicken to cool down completely and then transfer to an air tight container. Store this in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Tip: Place a paper towel in between each piece to absorb any moisture and keep things fresh and crispy longer.
- This one’s also pretty freezer friendly. Once the chicken cools down completely, wrap it tightly in cling foil or parchment paper and transfer to freezer safe bags. It stays good for up to a month.
- To reheat, simply air fry or bake for a couple minutes until it heats through and regains some of that crispiness.
Serving Ideas
- My favorite way to eat this is in the form of a burger. The crispiness of the chicken, the creaminess of the ranch sauce, and the crunch and freshness from lettuce make it into a delicious meal.
- You can also turn it into wraps with your favorite sauces and veggies.
- Serve it some baked potatoes or sweet potato fries
- A simple cucumber salad or coleslaw helps cut down on the heat and makes the dish more wholesome
Customisation Ideas
- Swap cornflakes with panko breadcrumbs for a finer crunch
- Add pickles or pickled onions for extra tang
- Make it extra indulgent with a slice of cheese melted onto the hot chicken
- Use plain mayo instead of ranch dressing for a different flavor profile
This air fryer Nashville fried chicken burger delivers all the bold, spicy flavours of the classic while keeping things lighter and easier to make at home. It’s crunchy, juicy, and perfectly balanced with a cooling ranch and fresh lettuce. Whether you’re cooking for a weekend treat or a casual get-together, this is a burger that doesn’t feel like a compromise at all.
If you try this Nashville fried chicken recipe at home then send me pictures of your recreations over in my Instagram DMs @my_foodstory.
Watch Air Fryer Nashville Fried Chicken Burger Recipe Video
Nashville Chicken Burger (Air Fryer)
Equipment
Ingredients
marination
- 3 chicken thighs 240 gms
- 2 tablespoons greek yoghurt / hung curd
- ½ teaspoon vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons red chilli powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 2 teaspoons cornflour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed pepper
Chicken crumbs
- 1 ½ cups crushed cornflakes
Nashville oil for coating
- ½ teaspoon garlic paste
- 2 teaspoons chilli oil
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon honey
- ¼ cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon butter
Ranch sauce
- ½ cup greek yoghurt / hung curd
- ½ teaspoon garlic paste
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped spring onion greens
For serving
- 3-4 lettuce leaves shredded
- 3 burger buns
Instructions
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Take all the ingredients for marination in a bowl, mix well. Add chicken thighs, toss well and set aside for 30 minutes.3 chicken thighs, 2 tablespoons greek yoghurt / hung curd, ½ teaspoon vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoons red chilli powder, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic paste, 1 tablespoon sriracha, 2 teaspoons cornflour, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon crushed pepper
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Take cornflakes on a plate, dredge each chicken thigh to coat well.1 ½ cups crushed cornflakes
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Pre heat air fryer to 200C and brush the basket with oil. Add coated chicken thighs and air fry for 8-10 minutes at 200C.
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Heat oil in a pan, add all ingredients listed for nashville oil and once it comes to a boil, simmer for 3-4 minutes. Brush on the air fried chicken thighs so its coated well.½ teaspoon garlic paste, 2 teaspoons chilli oil, 1 teaspoon red chilli powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon honey, ¼ cup hot water, 1 teaspoon butter
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Take all ingredients for ranch sauce in a bowl, mix well. Mix ¼ cup of ranch sauce with shredded lettuce and set aside.½ cup greek yoghurt / hung curd, ½ teaspoon garlic paste, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon honey, 2-3 tablespoons chopped spring onion greens
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Take a burger bun, split into half, spread lettuce slaw on one of the sides, place roasted chicken, spread ranch sauce on the other side of the bun and use this to cover the burger and serve.3-4 lettuce leaves, 3 burger buns
Video
Nutrition
This article was researched and written by Urvi Dalal.
The post Air Fryer Nashville Fried Chicken Burger appeared first on My Food Story.
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