The undeniable burn of Nashville’s legendary hot chicken starts with a deceptively simple spice blend: cayenne for searing warmth, smoked paprika for pit-smoke depth, and brown sugar for caramel-sweet balance. This mix captures that heritage in a versatile form, sprinkled straight on raw wings as a dry rub, swirled into shimmering frying oil or melted butter for a tongue-tingling baste, or folded into seasoned flour to lace every crispy bite with heat. Garlic, onion, and a whisper of mustard round out the blend, while crushed red pepper adds a flash of extra fire, turning ordinary poultry into a plate that pays homage to Music City’s hottest tradition.

Easy Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning Blend Recipe

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

tablespoons

Prep time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Sweet-smoky Nashville Hot Chicken seasoning with cayenne, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Yields 3 tbsp, enough for 2–3 lb chicken. Use as dry rub, oil baste, or dredge booster; store airtight up to 3 months.

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Ingredients

1 tbsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 tsp Dry Mustard

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl or a plate.
Mix well with a spoon until the ingredients are perfectly blended.
Use the seasoning immediately or store it in an air-tight glass spice container.

Notes

This Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning Blend Recipe yields about 3 tablespoons, plenty to flavor 2–3 pounds of chicken or other proteins.
For classic results, massage 1–2 tablespoons over chicken as a dry rub, whisk a spoonful into ¼ cup hot frying oil or melted butter for an oil baste, or stir 1–2 teaspoons into dredging flour as a flavor booster before frying or air-frying.
Heat may be toned down by halving the cayenne or cranked up with extra red-pepper flakes; salt can be reduced to taste.
Store leftovers in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dry spot and enjoy peak flavor for up to three months.