Homemade Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning is a bold blend of cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, and spices that adds fiery flavor to chicken, fries, vegetables, popcorn, and more. This easy seasoning mix comes together in just 5 minutes and tastes fresher than store-bought blends. If you enjoy homemade spice blends, you’ll also love my Homemade Cajun Seasoning Mix and Homemade BBQ Rub.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Better than store-bought
• Ready in 5 minutes
• Easy to customize the heat
• Perfect for chicken, fries, vegetables, popcorn, and more
• Budget-friendly
• Great for meal prep

What is Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning?

Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning is a bold spice blend made with cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, sugar, and other seasonings. Originally inspired by Nashville’s famous hot chicken, this versatile blend adds spicy, smoky flavor to chicken, fries, vegetables, popcorn, and more.

The History of Nashville Hot Chicken

If you know anything about me, I want to learn all about the recipes and ingredients I use in cooking. I’m obsessed with this topic. The story of how Nashville Hot Chicken was invented is a goldmine.

According to Wikipedia, it is believed that Nashville Hot Chicken got started in the 1930s by Andre Prince Jeffries, owner of Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack’s great-uncle.

Andre’s great-uncle Thornton was a womanizer, and after a late-night out, his girlfriend cooked him a fried chicken breakfast. As revenge for the late-night outing, his girlfriend added extra cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.

Thornton loved his piece of chicken so much that he developed his own hot seasoning recipe for the hot chicken restaurant he opened with his brothers. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack became famous because of this spicy fried chicken.

Today, Nashville Hot Chicken is served throughout the city and has become one of Nashville’s signature dishes.

Ingredients to Gather

• Cayenne Pepper – contributes fiery heat and a slightly smoky, earthy depth to the flavor of Nashville hot chicken seasoning mix.
• Salt – amplifies the other spices, balancing the overall taste and adding a savory element that makes the seasoning more robust and satisfying.
• Dry Mustard Powder – adds a subtle tangy heat and a hint of sharpness to the flavor.
• Sugar – adds sweetness to the hot chicken seasoning mix, which balances the heat and spiciness of the peppers.
• Smoked Paprika – contributes a rich, smoky flavor and a mild sweetness, enhancing its complexity.
• Ground Black Pepper – adds a sharp, intense heat and a slightly woody flavor.
• Granulated Garlic – brings a savory depth and subtle sweetness to the Nashville hot chicken seasoning mix.

Seasoning Mix Toolbox

• Mortar and Pestle or Spice Grinder – Using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder allows you to freshly grind spices, enhancing their aroma and flavor. 
• Spice Jars – Storing your freshly ground spices in cute spice jars not only keeps them fresh but also adds a charming, personal touch to your kitchen.

You can use this tasty spice mixture as much or as little as you like. But since the primary ingredient is cayenne pepper, it packs the heat.

How to Make It

Note: The recipe card below contains the full list of ingredients, exact measurements, and complete step-by-step instructions.

Step 1: Mix the cayenne pepper, salt, dry mustard powder, sugar, ground black pepper, and granulated garlic in a shallow bowl.

Step 2: Store in a sealed container and keep in a cool, dry place.

Pro Tips

More Seasoning Mix Recipes: Best Taco Seasoning Mix, Easy Creole Seasoning Mix, DIY Herb Salt Recipe, The Best DIY Seasoning Mixes, Homemade Poultry Seasoning, Easy Fajita Seasoning and more!

Storage

Homemade Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning stays fresh for 6-12 months when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark pantry. For the best flavor, use it within six months and label the jar with the date you made it.

How to Use Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning

• Roasted Vegetables – if you’re looking for a way to add more flavor to your vegetables, this spice mix will do the trick. The best part about this idea is sprinkling the Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning on just the adults’ portion of the vegetables before roasting them in the oven so the kids can enjoy a milder version.
• Egg or Potato Salad – adding this spicy seasoning mix will add great flavor to your favorite recipe.
• Dips and Sauces – this Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning will spice up any dip or sauce you already make.
• Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe – add this seasoning mix to your favorite fried chicken flour mixture and coat your pieces of chicken in this spicy mixture.

Save the pin above to your favorite Pinterest board so you’ll always have this Homemade Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning recipe handy whenever you’re craving bold, spicy flavor.

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While browsing a bookstore, I came across the recipe in this cookbook. It was their famous recipe, and I knew I had to make it myself.

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