Nashville hot chicken is a spicy fried chicken dish that originated in Nashville, Tennessee. It is typically served with white bread and pickle chips to help offset the intense heat from the cayenne pepper sauce. When dining on this quintessential Nashville dish, pairing it with the right sides can take the experience to the next level. So what are the best sides to serve alongside Nashville hot chicken?
The Origins of Nashville Hot Chicken
Before exploring the best side dishes, it helps to understand the history behind Nashville hot chicken. This dish has its roots in the 1930s or 1940s in Nashville. The most well-known origin story credits the creation of hot chicken to the girlfriend of Thornton Prince, who was purportedly upset with him after he came home late one night from partying. She fried a chicken and added copious amounts of pepper to it as payback. However, the plan backfired because Prince loved the spicy chicken and opened up his own restaurant called BBQ Chicken Shack to serve this dish. Other theories point to his sister-in-law as the creator of the original Nashville hot chicken recipe after she accidentally used too much pepper. Over the years, other restaurants started serving their own versions, making Nashville hot chicken into the local specialty that it is today.
Cooling Down the Heat
Nashville hot chicken packs some serious spice from the cayenne pepper and other hot spices used to coat and season the fried chicken. The Scoville scale measures the pungency and spiciness of chili peppers and sauces, with higher Scoville Heat Units (SHU) meaning more intense spice. The cayenne pepper used in Nashville hot chicken can range from 30,000 to 50,000 SHU. For comparison, a jalapeño pepper hits around 5,000 SHU. This means that Nashville hot chicken is exceptionally fiery.
With such extreme spiciness, the right side dishes are crucial for cooling things down between bites of chicken. The traditional slices of plain white bread act like a sponge to soak up some of the heat. Pickles also cleanse the palate. When selecting additional sides, starchy, creamy, or acidic foods are your best bet.
The Best Side Dishes for Nashville Hot Chicken
Here are the top side dish recommendations to serve alongside a platter of fiery Nashville hot chicken:
Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw is a classic pairing for Nashville hot chicken. The mayonnaise-based coleslaw provides a cooling contrast to the spicy meat. The crunchy cabbage also acts as a palate cleanser in between bites. Opt for coleslaw recipes without too much added sugar so that the natural creaminess shines through. Coleslaw works well to offset heat and doesn’t overpower the star of the dish.
Potato Salad
Another traditional Southern side dish that complements Nashville hot chicken is potato salad. Much like coleslaw, the creamy potatoes mixed with mayonnaise help tame the burn from the chicken. Potato salad also incorporates hard-boiled eggs, mustard, celery, onion, and other vegetables to add extra flavor. The potatoes provide a neutral, starchy base to balance out the spices. This versatile side dish can be served chilled or at room temperature.
Mac and Cheese
For the ultimate comfort food side, macaroni and cheese is the perfect match for Nashville hot chicken. The ooey-gooey cheese sauce coats and soothes your mouth after eating spicy chicken. Mac and cheese is a crowd-pleaser and allows you to incorporate different cheese flavors. Toppings like crispy panko breadcrumbs or herb sprinkle add extra texture. Mac and cheese is simple to prepare ahead of time so it’s ready to serve alongside the chicken fresh out of the fryer.
Baked Beans
Baked beans are a staple for BBQ and cookouts in the South, making them a natural complement for Nashville hot chicken. Beans are naturally creamy and help to neutralize spiciness. Traditional baked bean recipes also include sweetness from brown sugar, maple syrup, or molasses. Add in smoky flavors from bacon, ground beef, or ham hocks. Baked beans offer protein to make this side dish more filling. Keep a pot warm on the stove or bake a batch in the oven to serve alongside the fried chicken.
Collard Greens
For a nutritious vegetable pairing, collard greens immersed in pot likker (the flavorful cooking liquid) work well with a platter of Nashville hot chicken. The smooth, hearty greens soaked in broth help to balance the chicken’s spice level. Cook the greens low and slow with ham hocks or bacon for flavor. The slight bitterness pairs nicely with the crispy, savory chicken. Collard greens provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals to round out this quintessential Southern meal.
Cornbread
In lieu of white bread, consider serving cornbread with Nashville hot chicken for soaking up sauce. This Southern staple acts like a sponge to help temper the heat. Cornbread can be served warm right out of the oven or skillet to complement the hot chicken. The grainy, mildly sweet cornbread offsets the chicken’s flavor. Opt for a moist cornbread recipe rather than one that is dry and crumbly. Buttermilk, creamed corn, or extra oil help produce nice, moist cornbread.
Dinner Rolls
Simple oven-baked dinner rolls also work nicely for serving alongside Nashville hot chicken. Soft, fluffy rolls are perfect for pulling chicken meat into and helping to ease spice. Dinner rolls tend to have more structure than plain white sandwich bread but still have nice absorbency. Butter or brush the tops with oil before baking for extra richness. Dinner rolls fill out the meal and give you an alternative to plain bread.
Biscuits
Buttery, flakey biscuits are a fitting bread item to serve with Nashville hot chicken. Biscuits can soak up sauce while providing a nice contrast to the crispy chicken skin. Their fluffy texture helps to cleanse the palate of lingering heat. Make traditional Southern-style biscuits using white flour, baking powder, butter, and buttermilk. Bake a batch fresh to serve warm alongside the chicken. Drop biscuits are also fast and easy for soaking up spice.
Waffles
For a sweet and savory spin, consider pairing Nashville hot chicken with waffles. While less traditional, waffles can also help temper the heat thanks to their fluffy texture. The slight sweetness balances the spiciness nicely. Belgian waffles, buttermilk waffles, or cornmeal waffles all work well here. Top the waffles with butter, honey, or syrup. Waffles add crunch and a fun, cooling complement.
Dips and Bread Options for Tempering Heat
In addition to side dishes, condiments, dips, and breads help provide relief from Nashville hot chicken’s blazing spice level. Here are some options to set out on the table:
- Ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing for dipping
- Honey mustard sauce
- Compounds butters – try infused with herbs or lemon
- Sour cream
- Greek yogurt dip
- Tzatziki sauce
- Guacamole or avocado slices
- Hummus
- Creamy onion or garlic dip
- Corn muffins
- Focaccia slices
- Hawaiian rolls
Nashville Hot Chicken Side Dishes By Heat Level
Nashville hot chicken is served at varying levels of spice, from mild to extra hot. Here are side recommendations based on the chicken’s heat level:
| Heat Level | Best Side Dishes |
|---|---|
| Mild | Potato salad, coleslaw, mac and cheese, baked beans |
| Medium | Coleslaw, cornbread, collard greens, biscuits |
| Hot | Coleslaw, cornbread, dinner rolls, waffles |
| Extra Hot | Cornbread, dinner rolls, biscuits, creamy dips |
The mildest versions of Nashville hot chicken pair well with classic creamy and starchy sides like potato salad, coleslaw, mac and cheese, and baked beans. These help provide cooling contrast.
For medium heat chicken, sides like coleslaw, cornbread, collard greens, and biscuits work well. The greens and bread absorb sauce while providing texture.
As the chicken gets hotter, cornbread, dinner rolls, waffles, and biscuits are go-to sides. The fluffy and absorbent breads soak up spice best.
For extra hot chicken, cornbread, rolls, and biscuits are essential. Round out the spread with creamy, cooling dips like ranch, blue cheese, yogurt dips, and guacamole to help extinguish the fire.
Nashville Hot Chicken Side Dishes to Avoid
While starchy, creamy sides work well with Nashville hot chicken, some options are less fitting for pairing:
- French fries or tater tots – Too greasy and heavy
- Mashed potatoes – Can be bland and gluey
- Pasta salad – Doesn’t have enough contrast or absorbency
- Potato chips – Too greasy and salty
- Green salad – Too light and not absorbent enough
- Fruit salad – Not complementary flavors
- Sautéed vegetables – Can taste burnt or overpowering
- Corn on the cob – Can be difficult to eat with fingers after touching chicken
These sides don’t have the ideal starch, creaminess, or absorbency to balance out highly spicy Nashville hot chicken. Go for sides that have some weight and moisture instead.
Conclusion
Nashville hot chicken requires sides that can stand up to intense spiciness. Opt for traditional Southern dishes like coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and collard greens. Bread items like rolls, biscuits, and cornbread are great for absorption. Mac and cheese and waffles provide creamy and sweet contrasts. Serve plenty of cooling condiments and dips like ranch, honey mustard, and yogurt sauces. Avoid greasy or overly light sides that won’t have the right balance. With the right selections of cool, creamy sides and absorbent breads, you can create the perfect meal to accompany fiery Nashville hot chicken.