Uncover Dave's Hot Chicken Recipe: Crispy, Spicy, and Irresistible

People who already tasted the phenomenal Dave’s Hot Chicken know their dip is impressive and tasty. You can achieve its perfect blend of spicy and sweet with only a few ingredients.

Prepare the ingredients and follow the step-by-step instructions in this recipe on how to cook Dave’s Hot Chicken and its famous mayo dip.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Serving Suggestions
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Dave's Hot Chicken Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

1. For fried chicken

• Bone-in chicken — 3 to 4 lbs.
• Dill pickle juice — 1 ¼ cup
• Sugar — 3 tbsp.
• Hot sauce — ¼ cup
• Buttermilk — 1 ½ cup
• Cornstarch — ¼ cup
• All-purpose flour — 2 cups
• Vegetable oil or peanut oil — 2 quarts
• Creole Seasoning — 3 tbsp.

2. For spicy oil

• Reserved fry oil — ¾ cup
• Ground cayenne pepper — ¼ cup
• Brown sugar — 1 tbsp.
• Smoked paprika — 1 tbsp.
• Chili powder — 1 tsp.
• Garlic powder — 2 tsp.
• Salt — 1 tsp.

3. For dipping sauce

• Mayonnaise — ½ cup
• Chipotle sauce — ¼ cup
• Sugar — 1 tbsp.
• Honey — 2 tbsp.

Instructions

1. Warm the pickle juice in the microwave and stir the sugar until it dissolves.

2. Pour the brine into a large zip bag and put the pieces of chicken inside.

3. Refrigerate the chicken in the brine for at least one hour, but for the best results, brine it overnight.

4. Take two bowls. Mix the hot sauce, buttermilk, and other liquid ingredients into the first dish. Mix the flour, cornstarch, and creole seasoning in the second bowl.

5. Mix each bowl well.

6. After draining the brine, dunk each chicken piece in the flour mixture, then in the buttermilk mixture, and then put it back into the flour mixture. Coat well.

7. Set your breaded chicken pieces on the metal rack and let them rest for at least 15 minutes before frying. This allows the breading to set and adhere to the chicken.

8. Preheat the oven to 250° degrees F.

9. Take a pot and pour enough oil until it is at least 2⁄3 full. Make sure to turn the heat from medium to medium-high.

10. When the oil is hot enough (350°F degrees), carefully dunk the chicken pieces in by using tongs. Fry them for 7 to 8 minutes until they turn golden brown. Repeat for all of the chicken pieces.

11. Prepare a rack with a baking sheet for the fried chicken pieces.

12. Place them in the oven to preserve their crisp.

13. For spicy oil — Scoop ¾ cup of frying oil from the cookpot into a heat-proof bowl. Add the smoked paprika, chili powder, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, salt, and garlic powder into the bowl and stir well.

14. In another mixing bowl, combine the chipotle sauce and mayonnaise. Make sure to mix thoroughly with a large ladle.

15. Add a tablespoon of sugar and remix it.

16. Add two tablespoons of honey. Stir for at least a minute to ensure that everything is perfectly incorporated.

Substitutions

• Greek yogurt — Greek yogurt can be the perfect substitute for mayo as it has low fat and calories. On top of that, one Greek yogurt can provide a good amount of probiotics and protein.

• Maple syrup — This natural ingredient can mimic the sweetness of sugar without overpowering the hot sauce’s other distinct flavors. It is also an excellent alternative for those who prefer dodging refined sugars.

• Adobo sauce — Although it is not the same as chipotle sauce, it can be the best substitute for those who prefer a spicier option. Adobo sauce has a more distinct taste of onion, vinegar, tomato, and other spices.

Serving Suggestions

• With bread — Serving the chicken pieces with the famous Dave’s hot chicken sauce is already perfect, but adding two slices of bread topped with pickles can make the dish immaculate. 

• Creamy coleslaw — Eating something creamy after feasting on an intense spicy chicken dish provides a more soothing and refreshing feeling. Aside from that, its creamy texture can make the meal more blended and enjoyable.

• Cornbread — Aside from biscuits and slices of bread, another baked delicacy that pairs amazingly with spicy fried chicken is cornbread. Its tenderness tastes fantastic with hot fried chicken.

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons

• 3 mixing bowls

• Large ladle or spoon

• Frying pot

• Tongs

• Heat-proof bowl

• Baking sheet

• Metal rack

• Large zip bag

• Microwave

Storage

• The leftovers should be placed in an airtight container. They can last up to three days in the fridge. 

• The leftover chicken sauce can last up to three months in a glass container inside the fridge.

Pro Tips

• Make sure to purchase a good brand of healthy mayonnaise, if there is no time to prepare it from scratch.

• Try to duplicate the measurements in this recipe as exactly as you can to get the same balanced flavor and taste.

• This version is medium-spicy. Adjust the cayenne pepper if you prefer adding more flavor.