Spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with Blue Cheese Slaw

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

A fiery Nashville hot chicken sandwich paired with a tangy blue cheese and cabbage slaw for a bold Southern-inspired meal. This American-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 95 minutes, pairs boneless chicken thighs, buttermilk, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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.

Ingredients

• 4 pieces (about 1 lb) boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• for frying vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp hot sauce
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 2 cups shredded green cabbage
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 4 hamburger buns

Know when the chicken is done: thermometers under $100 → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1 cup buttermilk with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Add 4 boneless chicken thighs and marinate for at least 1 hour.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 2 tbsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, and 1 tsp garlic powder for the spicy coating.
3. Step 3: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350°F. Remove chicken from marinade, dredge each piece in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
4. Step 4: Fry chicken thighs in hot oil for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on paper towels.
5. Step 5: Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter and stir in 3 tbsp hot sauce to create the Nashville hot sauce. Brush the sauce generously over the fried chicken.
6. Step 6: For the slaw, combine 2 cups shredded green cabbage, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles, and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Toss gently.
7. Step 7: Toast 4 hamburger buns lightly. Assemble sandwiches by placing hot chicken on the bottom bun and topping with a generous scoop of blue cheese slaw. Cover with top bun and serve immediately.