NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN SIDES RECIPES

Steps:

• Toss chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Transfer chicken to a bowl; cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Whisk buttermilk, pickle brine, hot sauce, and egg together in a mixing bowl. Pour marinade over chicken and stir to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover and let chicken marinate in refrigerator 2 to 4 hours.
• Mix flour and salt together in a shallow flat dish. Remove chicken from marinade and blot with paper towels. Reserve marinade. Toss chicken in flour until thoroughly coated. Return chicken to marinade, coating all sides; remove chicken from marinade allowing excess to drip back into the bowl. Coat the chicken once again in flour mixture. Place on a rack. Repeat with all chicken pieces. Allow to sit out about 15 minutes to allow coating to dry out a bit.
• Place butter and lard in a large pot. Add cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Place over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until fats melt. Remove from heat; keep sauce warm.
• Fill cast iron skillet about 1/3 of the way with vegetable oil. Heat oil to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Carefully place chicken into hot oil, skin side down. Maintain an oil temperature of 325 degrees F, adjusting heat as need. Fry until instant read thermometer reads 160 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes per side.
• Transfer chicken to a rack to drain. Brush with the sauce on both sides.

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the ground chicken, hot sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne and garlic in a bowl. Gently mix with your hands.
• Divide the meatball mixture into 12 portions, then form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs using wet hands (meat sticks to dry hands).
• Push a piece of cheese into each meatball and pinch to seal.
• Heat the butter and vegetable oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Transfer the pan to the oven for 10 minutes to finish cooking.
• For the sauce: While the meatballs are cooking, combine the butter, hot sauce, honey and brown sugar in a small saucepot over high heat. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil and cook until the mixture comes together, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, mix in the garlic powder, salt and pepper, and stir until smooth.
• Pour the sauce over the cooked meatballs and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley.
• For the sliders: Add a pickle chip to each bun, then set a meatball on top. Skewer with a toothpick. Serve warm.