Grocery deli sandwich legend Publix’s latest inspiration is from the Music City.
The retailer’s Publix Deli Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich will be available through June 30.
“Publix’s famous chicken tenders are marinated in spices, breaded and fried, then glazed with a sauce that features garlic, cayenne pepper and brown sugar before being placed between two slices of King’s Hawaiian bread,” according to the company. “A pickle adds the finishing touch.”
Since Nashville hot chicken has become a trend on restaurant menus, Publix did its homework to make sure the sandwich had the most authentic flavors, according to the retailer. After creating the recipe, the category team and a company chef traveled to Nashville to sample the best hot chicken local restaurants had to offer to make sure its version hit the mark.
“We’ve heard from many people in the Nashville area,” said Audrey Peace, Hot Prepared Foods Category Manager at Publix. “They said we really nailed the flavor.”
Nashville hot chicken is known for being quite spicy, but Publix’s chefs didn’t want it to be too much for its customers. However, they landed on a tangy profile that will appeal to most hot chicken lovers.
“No one can say it isn’t spicy,” Peace said.
This isn’t the first time Publix has dipped its toe in the Nashville hot chicken trend. In late 2022, it introduced the flavor as an eight-piece fried chicken meal. Following that, Publix glazed its chicken wings in a marinade, before moving on to chicken tenders.