Nashville Hot Crispy Chicken Pizza: White sauce base, topped with Nashville hot sauce-tossed fried chicken, dill pickles, green onion, mozzarella and drizzles of ranch and hot honey
Chicago-Nashville Pizza Connection
Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom | Based in Houston
Dennis Gill
There’s just no slowing the Nashville hot juggernaut, as menu developers confirm there is no limit to inventive applications of the flavor system, and customers show no sign of wearying of its distinctive kick. At Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom, Nashville hot inspired an early 2025 LTO lineup of items, anchored by the Nashville Hot Crispy Chicken Pizza. Acknowledging that the Music City favorite has been a go-to flavor for wings, Dennis Gill, senior director of culinary and innovation, says, “This pizza is the perfect way to showcase that signature heat in a whole new form.”
The build starts with the brand’s housemade dough spread with a creamy white sauce and features fried chicken pieces tossed in Nashville hot sauce, a layer of dill pickles, mozzarella and drizzles of cool ranch and hot honey. “The flavor experience is an exciting roller-coaster ride, with creamy, spicy, tangy, sweet and savory found in each bite,” says Gill. The layering of sauces proved transformative. “We knew we wanted bold flavors, but the combination of four different sauces gave an unexpected depth of flavor,” he says. “It’s the ultimate Old Chicago-meets-Southern-comfort pizza experience.”
About the Author
Patricia Fitzgerald serves different roles on the Flavor & The Menu team, including writing custom content, Kitchen Collaborative chef spotlights and digital editorial content, as well as acting as a contributing editor for the print magazine. As owner of PFitzCommunications, she specializes in various areas of foodservice and hospitality, while also maintaining clients in other industries and professions. She can be reached at pfitzcommunications@gmail.com.Read More Stories by Patricia Fitzgerald
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