Baked Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Breasts

Combine water, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and stir until the ingredients are fully incorporated. Add hot sauce to the mixture and continue stirring until it is well combined. Place chicken pieces in the bowl with the brine solution and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Strain the brine from the bowl.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place a metal rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray for non-stick performance.

In another bowl, mix together flour, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper until the ingredients are well combined. Dip each chicken piece into the coating mixture, pressing it onto the chicken to ensure even coverage. Place the coated chicken pieces on the prepared rack.

Place the chicken pieces in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and spray each piece with cooking spray on both sides. Return the chicken to the oven and continue baking until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 10 minutes.

Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat until it starts to shimmer. Mix cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, sugar, and garlic powder together in a bowl. Add the spice mixture to the oil and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Brush the spicy oil mixture onto cooked chicken pieces, adding additional layers for an extra kick.