KANSAS CITY — The Nashville Hot flavor profile has been around since the 1930s, and its adoption had been a slow burn across the country until recent years. Now, Nashville Hot is heating up mainstream menus, spreading its spice far beyond the Tennessee town in which it was created and past only poultry applications.
Seafood gets spicy in Red Lobster’s new Nashville Hot Shrimp. The spicy seafood features crispy cornflake-crusted shrimp tossed in a sweet and spicy rub and drizzled with honey.
At Firehouse Subs, the fiery flavor appears in the new Nashville Hot Brisket Sandwich. Featuring smoked and sliced U.S.D.A. Choice beef brisket with spicy Nashville Hot seasoning, the sandwich includes spicy pickle chips, mayo, sweet and tangy slaw and melted pepper jack cheese and is served on a toasted cornbread roll.
Krystal kept the Nashville Hot flavor to its poultry roots with the new Nashville Hot Chik. The spicy sandwich features a lightly battered and fried 100% white meat chicken breast seasoned with cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic, salt and black pepper. The chicken is topped with dill pickle slices and served on a square bun.
“We had a great time experimenting with these piquant flavors,” said Brandon Freeman, senior manager for culinary innovation at Krystal. “We wanted to create something bold, vibrant and surprising.”
