In Nashville hot chicken, which spice supplies the dish’s signature heat?

In Nashville hot chicken, cayenne pepper supplies the dish’s signature heat.

Nashville hot chicken is fried chicken coated with a spicy paste or sauce, commonly made with cayenne pepper, fat, and seasonings. The coating is applied after frying, giving the chicken its vivid red appearance and concentrated heat. It is usually served on white bread with pickle slices.

The dish is strongly associated with Nashville, Tennessee, where it became a celebrated regional specialty and a prominent part of African American food culture. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack is widely credited with helping establish Nashville hot chicken’s reputation.

Cayenne is sometimes blended with other spices, so recipes do not all taste identical. Paprika may contribute color, and black pepper can add additional sharpness, but neither is the defining source of the characteristic heat. The dish should also be distinguished from ordinary spicy fried chicken, which may use hot sauce without Nashville-style seasoning.