Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Tenders with Spicy Garlic Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-05 · Updated 2026-07-05

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy chicken tenders coated in a fiery Nashville-style spice blend, served with a rich garlic butter sauce that balances heat and flavor. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs chicken tenders, buttermilk, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 40 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 American cuisine 480 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb chicken tenders
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups vegetable oil
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp hot sauce

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Instructions

Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1 cup buttermilk with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Add 1 pound chicken tenders and marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
Step 2: In a separate shallow dish, mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder for the spicy coating.
Step 3: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F.
Step 4: Remove each chicken tender from buttermilk, dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, and gently shake off excess.
Step 5: Fry the tenders in batches for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. Drain on paper towels.
Step 6: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter with 2 cloves minced garlic and 2 tablespoons hot sauce, stirring until fragrant and smooth.
Step 7: Toss the fried tenders in the spicy garlic butter sauce until well coated. Serve immediately for a bold Nashville hot chicken flavor.