Go Back Email Link
Close-up of a homemade Dave's Hot Chicken sandwich with crispy Nashville-style fried chicken, creamy Dave's sauce, dill pickle slices, and a toasted brioche bun served with crispy French fries.

Dave's Hot Chicken

If you've been craving the bold flavors of Dave's Hot Chicken, this copycat recipe delivers everything you love right at home. Crispy, golden fried chicken is marinated for maximum tenderness, coated in a perfectly seasoned crust, brushed with a smoky Nashville-style hot oil, and finished with a creamy homemade Dave's sauce. Whether you serve it as sliders, sandwiches, tenders, or alongside crispy fries, this easy recipe brings restaurant-quality flavor to your own kitchen. With customizable heat levels and simple ingredients, it's a meal that's sure to impress family, friends, and fellow spice lovers alike.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Marinate time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 645 kcal

Ingredients
  

Chicken Marinade

  • 2 lbs chicken breast or chicken tenders
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp pickle juice
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp Ground black pepper

Breading

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
  • ¾ cup cornstarch
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper

Hot Oil

  • ½ cup frying oil
  • 3 tbsp cayenne
  • 2 tbsp dark brown sugar or light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp chipotle powder
  • salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste

Sauce

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp pickle juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ground black pepper
  • pinch of cayenne optional

For Serving

  • Brioche buns
  • White bread
  • Dill pickle chips
  • Slaw
  • Fries
  • Chips of choice

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together the marinade ingredients and marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight. Combine all breading ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, dip back into the marinade, then dredge a second time. Let the breaded chicken rest for 10–15 minutes.
  • Heat oil to 350°F. Fry the chicken in batches for 4–6 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Whisk together the hot oil ingredients and brush generously over the fried chicken.
  • Mix the Dave's sauce ingredients until smooth.
  • Toast the bread or buns with butter. Assemble with sauce, chicken, pickles, and slaw. Serve immediately.

Notes

Estimated Nutrition Information

Per Serving (Approximate)
  • Calories: 645
  • Protein: 39g
  • Carbohydrates: 36g
  • Fat: 37g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 180mg
  • Sodium: 1,180mg
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 6g
Nutritional values are estimates and will vary depending on the exact ingredients and serving sizes used.
Keyword chicken, dave's hot chicken, hot chicken