Who is widely credited with creating Nashville hot chicken in the early 20th century?

Thornton Prince is widely credited with creating Nashville hot chicken in the early 20th century.

The dish is traditionally associated with Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville, Tennessee. According to the commonly told story, Prince’s reputation for enjoying spicy food helped inspire the intensely seasoned fried chicken that became a local specialty.

Nashville hot chicken is usually fried chicken brushed or coated with a spicy paste containing cayenne pepper and oil. It is commonly served on white bread with pickle slices, a combination that helps balance the heat.

Thornton Prince is sometimes confused with later members of the Prince family, who continued operating the restaurant and helped spread the dish. The exact origin story is partly based on family tradition, but Prince remains the name most closely linked with its creation.