KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken was introduced in 2016 as a limited time offering at participating KFC locations across the United States. The spicy fried chicken was inspired by the famous hot chicken dishes of Nashville, Tennessee. Since its debut over 6 years ago, fans have wondered whether this popular menu item is still available for purchase. In this article, we’ll take a look at the background of KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken and examine if you can still get this spicy fried chicken today.
What is Nashville Hot Chicken?
Nashville Hot Chicken originated in Nashville, Tennessee and is a local specialty characterized by fried chicken that is seasoned with a spicy cayenne pepper sauce. Traditionally, the chicken is fried and then dipped or brushed with a spicy oil made from cayenne peppers. The result is a crispy, juicy fried chicken with a fiery kick of heat.
This dish was invented back in the 1930s by the Prince family, who ran a chicken shack called Brien Prince’sChicken Shack. As the story goes, one night Thornton Prince’s girlfriend at the time complained that his fried chicken was bland. So he decided to douse hers in hot pepper oil to teach her a lesson. But instead of deterring her, she loved it and word quickly spread about Thornton’s spicy fried chicken. Soon lines were around the block to get a taste of what became known as Nashville Hot Chicken.
Over the decades, Nashville Hot Chicken continued to grow in popularity beyond just Nashville. Today it can be found in restaurants across the country that serve their own take on this spicy Southern specialty.
KFC Brings Nashville Hot Chicken Nationwide
In 2016, KFC decided to capitalize on the Nashville Hot Chicken craze by adding it to their menu at locations across the United States. They tested the spicy chicken in Pittsburgh first before rolling it out to participating restaurants nationwide as a limited time offering.
KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken came in two heat levels:
- Nashville Hot – KFC’s take on medium spicy Nashville Hot Chicken
- Smoky Mountain BBQ – Nashville Hot Chicken paired with a smoky sweet BBQ sauce
Both versions were made using the Colonel’s chicken freshly breaded and fried until crispy, then tossed in a creamy, fiery sauce made with cayenne peppers.
The chicken was served alongside crinkle cut fries and a biscuit. Optional dipping sauces like ranch and honey were also available to help temper the heat.
KFC heavily promoted the launch of Nashville Hot Chicken with TV commercials, social media campaigns, and in-store marketing. For many customers, it was their first taste of something inspired by the authentic Nashville Hot Chicken.
Was KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken a Limited Time Offering?
When KFC first introduced Nashville Hot Chicken in 2016, it was advertised as being available for a limited time only while supplies lasted. The fast food chicken chain never specified exactly how long the spicy menu item would be available.
Some speculated it would only stick around for a few weeks or months at most. However, Nashville Hot Chicken ended up being so well received that KFC kept it on the menu much longer than a typical limited time offering.
In many locations, KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken was available for over half a year before it was removed from the menu. A few select places kept it even longer, like restaurants in Nashville that served it for a full year.
So while it was originally intended to be a short term menu item, the popularity and sales of Nashville Hot Chicken led KFC to extend its availability nationally.
Has Nashville Hot Chicken Returned to KFC?
Since its removal from the menu after an extended availability, fans of KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken have been eager to know if it will ever make a comeback.
Unfortunately, as of late 2022, Nashville Hot Chicken is still not available nationwide at KFC. Once it was taken off the menu in 2017, it has yet to return as an ongoing menu item.
However, there have been a few brief stints and test markets where Nashville Hot Chicken has returned for a limited time:
- May 2018 – KFC brought back Nashville Hot Chicken to restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee and surrounding areas for a few weeks.
- July 2019 – Select locations in Orlando, Florida offered Nashville Hot Chicken for a limited time.
- November 2021 – KFC locations in Atlanta, Georgia briefly tested the return of Nashville Hot Chicken.
So while it has not made a nationwide comeback, KFC does appear to be periodically testing the waters to see if customers in certain test markets are still interested in the spicy fried chicken.
The intermittent, limited time releases of Nashville Hot Chicken give hope that it could return again in the future. But as of now, it remains just a fond memory for fans.
Where Can You Get Nashville Hot Chicken Today?
If you’re craving the spicy flavors of Nashville Hot Chicken, here are a few options for where you may still be able to find it:
1. Independent Nashville Hot Chicken Restaurants
Visiting a restaurant that specializes in Nashville Hot Chicken is your best bet for authentic versions of the dish. Chains like Hattie B’s, Prince’s Hot Chicken, and Party Fowl all serve various heat levels of true Nashville-style fried chicken. These restaurants are mainly located in Tennessee, but have been expanding to other cities.
2. Regional Fast Food Fried Chicken Chains
Some fast food chains that specialize in fried chicken have added Nashville Hot Chicken options to their menus. For example, Bojangles, Popeyes, and Church’s Chicken all currently offer spicy Nashville-style chicken at many locations. Availability varies by location.
3. Limited Time Offers at KFC
As mentioned earlier, KFC does still occasionally bring back Nashville Hot Chicken for brief limited time releases in select test markets. Keep an eye out around major cities like Nashville, Orlando, and Atlanta to potentially catch it during a temporary local comeback.
4. Copycat Nashville Hot Chicken Recipes
You can always try making Nashville hot chicken yourself at home with copycat recipes found online and in cookbooks. While not exactly the same as the KFC version, these recipes can allow you to recreate the general spicy fried chicken experience. The keys are using fried chicken, cayenne pepper, and adjusting the heat level to your personal spice preferences.
Conclusion
While KFC’s popular Nashville Hot Chicken is currently not available nationwide, there are still ways you can get your hands on some spicy and crispy fried chicken. Watch for its limited time comebacks in test markets, visit a dedicated hot chicken restaurant, or DIY it at home.
KFC has brought back Nashville Hot Chicken a few times in recent years for brief stints, so there is still hope it could return again in the future. Fans will have to stay tuned to see if this fiery fried chicken returns to KFC menus full time.
| Year | KFC Nashville Hot Chicken Availability |
|---|---|
| 2016 | National launch as limited time offer |
| 2017 | Removed from menu after extended availability |
| May 2018 | Briefly returned to Nashville, TN area |
| July 2019 | Limited time release in Orlando, FL |
| November 2021 | Tested briefly again in Atlanta, GA |
| Current | No longer available nationwide |