Popeyes Fried Chicken Recipe

This Popeyes Fried Chicken Recipe will Change You

I’ve eaten fried chicken my entire life, just like almost all of you. As American’s, we’ve become experts with what makes fried chicken really good. You have the following components for what’s considered ‘The Best’:

• The Fried Chicken Smell: Great tasting fried chicken has a smell that can’t be beat.
• The Size of the Chicken: Regardless if you’re a breast, wing, drum, or thigh person, size really does matter.
• The Fried Chicken Crunch: Those crunchy textures that you bite into are so important for a great piece of fried chicken.
• The Fried Chicken Seasoning: There is nothing worse than fried chicken that has no seasoning. But you can’t just throw salt and pepper on it and call it a day. The combination of herbs is crucial to hit the flavor palette correctly.
• The Cost of the Fried Chicken: You’ll never see me paying top dollar for fried chicken when I have options that have been in the fried chicken game for 50+ years that will destroy the high end restaurants trying to copy.

I’m a lover of all types of fried chicken and the location doesn’t matter. There is a hidden gem in Pennsylvania when I visit my sister that has probably some of the best grocery store fried chicken I’ve ever tasted (not mentioning the name to avoid losing my gem! 😜).

I want to challenge you with some knowledge bombs today and have you walking away with some fun trivia facts and also the recipe to make some mighty good fried chicken following Popeye’s famous recipe.

How Long Has Fried Chicken Been Around?

Short answer: A looong time! Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese have been frying chicken in fats in oils. In the 1600’s and 1700’s, West African slaves came to the United States and modified the bland version of fried chicken by using their seasoning and spices along with the recipe of marinating the chicken in buttermilk.

In the 1930’s a man by the name of Harland Sanders opened up a little restaurant inside a gas station in Kentucky and it is now known as Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sanders had a unique method of cooking chicken quickly under high pressure and timing was perfect because during World War II, red meat was rationed, which led to a boom in eating chicken.

Popeyes launched in New Orleans in 1972 and provided their own spin on the classic. 🍗

My Experience with Popeyes Fried Chicken

It wasn’t until August 2023 that I had my first experience with Popeyes fried chicken. I was just ending a 6 month break with eating meat or dairy; and my taste buds were as plain as ever, ready for a change. The social media accounts were brand new, and I wanted to choose some restaurants that I’ve never eaten at to get some authentic reactions.

My first food comparison was Popeyes versus KFC. I’ve eaten KFC many times and I’m a huge fan of the KFC Original Recipe. My friends and family urged me to test it against Popeyes so that was the video.

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A post shared by Kory Alden • Fast Food Club (@fastfoodclub)

Doing a fresh comparison between two fried chicken restaurants was very interesting, especially when you’re comparing the side orders. The overall experience was complete shock, even after the camera wasn’t on. I was surprised how good the fried chicken and sides were, and thought I would continue to test Popeyes against another big contender: Jollibee (another restaurant I’ve never eaten at).

My point with this story is that Popeyes is absolutely delicious and has become one of my favorite restaurants to cover. You can scan my social media to see I’ve done a handful of videos filled with menu hacks and food tastings.

Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken Recipe

Today, I'm excited to share the secret Popeyes Fried Chicken Recipe! Get ready for that crispy, crunchy, juicy fried chicken at home without the long lines. With a mix of spices and a buttermilk base, this recipe gives you that same iconic Popeyes flavor.

• 6 cups vegetable oil
• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp salt
• 2 tbsp white pepper
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp paprika
• 3 eggs
• 3½ lb chicken (1 whole chicken, trimmed and cut into 8 pieces)

1. Heat oil over medium heat in a deep fryer or in a deep skillet on the stove.

2. Combine the flour, salt, white pepper, cayenne pepper, and paprika in a bowl.

3. In another bowl, break eggs and beat until well-blended.
4. Dip each piece of chicken into eggs; then coat generously with the flour mixture.
5. Drop each piece into the hot oil and fry for 15 to 25 minutes or until the chicken is a dark golden brown.
6. Drain chicken on paper towels and serve warm.

• Oil Temperature: Maintaining the correct oil temperature is crucial for getting the perfect crisp without absorbing too much oil. A temperature between 350°F (175°C) to 375°F (190°C) is ideal.
• Chicken Preparation: Make sure the chicken is at room temperature before frying to ensure even cooking.
• Safety: When working with hot oil, always use caution to prevent splatter and burns.
• Serving Suggestion: Serve your Popeyes-style fried chicken with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or biscuits, for a complete meal experience.

Main Course

American

copycat recipe, fast food, fried chicken