50 States, 50 Sizzling Dishes: The Ultimate Foodie Road Trip Through The USA

Nashville Hot Chicken from Tennessee

The origin story Nashville hot chicken is as spicy as its namesake! While the exact truth is hotly debated, Thornton Prince of Prince’s Hot Chicken certainly played a starring role. The “revenge bird” story (his wife allegedly dousing his fried chicken in Cayenne to teach him a lesson) is a juicy anecdote, but it might be more folklore than fact.

Instead, some historians point to Prince’s family cooking and the vibrant African American culinary traditions of the 1930s. Regardless of its exact birth, Nashville hot chicken took flight. Today, over 400 shops in the city serve their fiery versions, each claiming the “hottest” crown.

Next: Texans pride themselves on this.

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