Good news! You're about to save a lot of money! This Copycat Popeye's Chicken is so easy you'll never go back to fast food again!
Try these crispy southern baked chicken wings next!
Table of Contents
Shopping list
If you don't have a Popeye's Chicken in your neck of the woods then you don't understand the enormity of posting this recipe. Popeye's makes fried chicken like no other — spicy, smoky, crispy perfection. They have their own special sauce to dip it in but my kids like honey mustard sauce or bbq the best.
Or Ranch. You can't go wrong with Ranch.
- Boneless chicken breast or thighs
- Louisiana hot sauce
- Buttermilk
- Peanut oil (if deep frying)
- Chipotle powder
- All-purpose flour
- Smoked paprika
- Eggs
- Salt
Instructions
There are three ways to make these:
- In a deep fryer
- In a cast iron skillet
- In an air fryer
To me the very best flavor is when they're done in a deep fryer but I think it's good to have options, right?
No matter which way you make these chicken strips you'll start the same. Always marinate for 30 minutes in the buttermilk mixture but not more than an hour.
- Remove a chicken bread strip from the marinade and dredge in flour.
- Dip in the egg mixture.
- Dredge with flour again. Set aside.
- Bring oil to 360F.
- Add the chicken a little at a time without crowding.
- Fry until golden.
- Remove to a paper towel covered plate. Keep warm.
- Serve hot.
- Add your favorite dipping sauce.
In the deep fryer
- Heat the deep fryer to 360F
- Drain the chicken.
- Dip it in the flour mixture.
- Dip it into the egg mixture.
- Dip back into the flour mixture.
- Repeat with all of the chicken.
- Fry in the deep hot oil until the outside is golden and an instant read thermometer registers 165F when poked in the center of the chicken strip.
- Don't overcrowd the fryer.
- Drain and keep warm until serving.
In the skillet
- Add about 2 ½ inches of oil to a heavy skillet.
- Heat on medium heat but watch it while you are preparing the chicken. if it starts to smoke turn it down or remove it from the heat.
- Drain the chicken.
- Dip it in the flour mixture.
- Dip it into the egg mixture.
- Dip back into the flour mixture.
- Repeat with all of the chicken.
- Check the oil and make sure it's at 360F.
- Fry in the hot oil until the outside is golden and an instant read thermometer registers 165F when poked in the center of the chicken strip.
- Don't overcrowd the fryer.
- Drain and keep warm until serving.
Air fryer
- Heat the air fryer to 400F
- Drain the chicken.
- Dip it in the flour mixture.
- Dip it into the egg mixture.
- Dip back into the flour mixture.
- Repeat with all of the chicken.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Add a few of the chicken strips, making sure they don't touch.
- Spray the chicken lightly with cooking spray.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Carefully turn the chicken and cook for 10 more minutes.
- Repeat until all the chicken is cooked.
- Keep warm until serving.
How to reheat chicken strips
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- If you have an oven safe wire rack place it over a baking sheet and put the chicken on it in a single layer. If not just put the tenders on a baking sheet.
- You can also reheat on a grill pan.
- Heat for about 10 minutes, turning once.
Tips
The trick is to marinate the chicken strips in seasoned buttermilk for 30 minutes or so before frying them. This allows the buttermilk to tenderize the meat at the same time the seasonings are absorbed. The chicken comes out juicy and tender with lots of flavor.
The secret to the flavor here is smoked paprika. I am relatively sure that Popeye's uses regular paprika but if they try it my way once they won't go back to their way. I promise you that.
Keep them hot in a warm oven until it's all done. Serve with fries and cole slaw.
I like to use this fried chicken recipe for my spicy fried chicken po' boy sandwich!
What to do with frying oil
Here's the thing. I fry everything in peanut oil. I like it, it fries hot, and it's my preference. If you have allergies to consider then fry in whatever deep frying oil you prefer. If you don't have allergies use the peanut oil.
Once you're done, let the oil cool down completely and then pour it into a container. You can reuse it once or twice if it's still clear - otherwise put it into a container and throw it out.
Some cities recycle cooking oil so you may want to check into that if you fry a lot.
Dips
These chicken tenders are good plain or dipped in your favorite sauce.
- Chipotle Aioli is one of my favorites. Spicy and creamy.
- Jezebel Sauce is a southern favorite. Spicy, sweet, and tangy all at the same time.
- Ranch
- BBQ Sauce
- Bleu Cheese Dressing
- Honey Mustard
- Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce? MY FAVORITE!!
Or, cut the bread sandwich sized instead of strips and use it for sandwiches!
Related recipes
- Homemade Tater Tots are crispy on the outside, light and delicate on the inside. Add bacon, cheese, onion, chives, or jalapenos for variety.
- This is delicious with a side of Dr Pepper baked beans.
- Onion Rings are light and crispy. They come out perfect every time. You'll never go back to the ones at the local fast food spot.
- These copycat Popeye's Chicken Tenders are PERFECT in my copycat Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits!!
- Y'all - honestly... I make the BEST chicken spaghetti... creamy, cheesy...try it and see.
Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
If you happen to need an electric deep fryer the Presto 05466 Stainless Steel Dual Basket Pro Fry Immersion Element Deep Fryer is the one I have used for a couple of years. I love it!
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
KaffeeKlatch
I have a child, who shall remained unnamed here, who does not appreciate having a food writer mom. If this child had its way I would work in a fast food restaurant and bring home Popeye's chicken strips every night.
Do you know how depressing it is to place a complex dish with a French name in front of someone only to have them ask to be taken to the local fast food place?
I am devastated.
And by devastated I mean determined to change the child's preferences...
Anyway, I have decided to fight fire with fire so to speak and make copycats of those foods. It took me a few times to get chicken strips I was pleased with but these fit the Happy Meal box nicely.
In fact, the child who shall not be named said, Thanks for dinner mom! It was reallly good!
I thought I heard Twilight Zone music and I was tempted to check the back yard for pods.
We love this copycat Popeye's blackened chicken, too.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Copycat Popeye’s Chicken Strips
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- ⅓ cup Louisiana style hot sauce
- ½ cup buttermilk
- Peanut oil to fill a deep fryer
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
- 3 eggs
Instructions
- Cut each chicken breast into four or five strips.
- Combine the hot sauce and buttermilk in a small bowl.
- Put half of this mixture in with the chicken, reserving the other half.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes but not more than an hour or two.
- Combine the flour, chipotle, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Beat the eggs with the other half of the buttermilk mixture.
- Drain the chicken.
- Dip it in the flour mixture.
- Dip it into the egg mixture.
- Dip back into the flour mixture.
- Repeat with all of the chicken.
Deep Fryer
- Heat the deep fryer to 360F
- Fry in the deep hot oil until the outside is golden and an instant read thermometer registers 165F when poked in the center of the chicken strip.
- Don't overcrowd the fryer.
- Drain and keep warm until serving.
Skillet
- Add about 2 ½ inches of oil to a heavy skillet.
- Heat on medium heat but watch it while you are preparing the chicken - if it starts to smoke turn it down or remove it from the heat.
- Check the oil and make sure it's at 360F.
- Fry in the hot oil until the outside is golden and an instant read thermometer registers 165F when poked in the center of the chicken strip. Don't overcrowd the fryer.
- Drain and keep warm until serving.
Air fryer
- Heat the air fryer to 400F.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Add a few of the chicken strips, making sure they don't touch.
- Spray the chicken lightly with cooking spray.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Carefully turn the chicken and cook for 10 more minutes. Repeat until all the chicken is cooked.
- Keep warm until serving.
Notes
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- If you have an oven safe wire rack place it over a baking sheet and put the chicken on it in a single layer. If not just put the tenders on a baking sheet.
- Heat for about 10 minutes, turning once.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published October 4, 2014. Last updated March 26, 2020 to add air fryer and skillet instructions, images, video, and better readability.
Jeff says
Honestly one of the worst recipes I’ve tried in several years to the point where I’m writing this review. The spice measurements were wrong and cooking times mentioned do not align with properly cooked/seasoned chicken.
Marye says
Funny how it worked for so many others, Jeff. But it happens sometimes that for some reason things don't work out - thanks for your thoughts.
Erika says
The chicken was delicious!!! Soft in the inside, crunchy in the outside. Love the flavor, it was perfect, just the right amount of saltiness.
chuck says
Need baking powder to get a gd crunch , followed yours and just flour gets soggy
Marye says
I didn't have that problem. 🙂
Robert Prazeres says
can you use chicken parts as well as strips with this recipe ?
thanks, Bob...
Marye says
I've only used boneless chicken - I'm sure you could but the bake times would be longer.
Alex says
Is this calorie count per tender or per breast? I know I sound crazy asking for calories on fried chicken but I’m trying to enjoy the foods I love in moderation within a calorie budget. I assume the air fryer would be less calories than deep frying too?
Marye says
It's for 1/6 of the recipe.
Betty-Ann says
The flavour was amazing! My guys were very happy with my first try at this. I did find that the batter did not stick to the chicken on some pieces. I also used my cast iron frying pan to cook them. It worked well, but I think a deep frier might be easier. I will definitely try this again. This recipe was a great find. The funny thing is I was searching for a vanilla cake recipe!
Joe Nobile says
I don't understand the .33.53 .67 what does this mean in teaspoons or cups
Marye says
Joe - I have no idea what you are seeing - I can't find that anywhere in the recipe - sorry.
Chef Charles says
If you want something identical to Popeyes try another.
It you are willing to eat something immensely better that needs no external help and are willing to potentially hate yourself later that night or in the morning, then here ya go!
Marye says
LOL! I had to read this a couple of times to get what you were saying. Thank you! I really love these.
Alan says
Just what I wanted to make, great taste, spice, and crunch!
Marye says
so glad you liked it. 🙂
Craig says
Anytime you bread/coat anything for deep frying you must wait and let the coating set for at least 15 minutes before dropping in the fryer. This will keep the problem of coating coming off during the fry.
Cam says
Thank you. I was just looking to see why this was happening.
Kota says
It's funny, I can totally hear the conversation of the comments spoken by moms like it kills me. "Buttermilk Huh? Great trick" I'm literally crying. No but I love the recipe, I'll bring it to my mother's table and see what she thinks. Thanks! Happy mother's days!
Marye Audet says
hope she liked it!
Abby says
I LOVE Popeyes Spicy Chicken Tenders....I am in Washington state so unless I'm up for a couple hour drive to satisfy that craving,it ain't happening?.Anyhoo,What brand of Chipotle Chili Powder do you use? Thank you!
Marye Audet says
I usually grind up dried chipotles and make my own. 😉
Lia says
Made this today and some of the breading came off while cooking. Not sure what I did wrong
Marye Audet says
I'd say that either the first time you dredged in flour it wasn't covered enough OR the oil wasn't hot enough. :/
Marye Audet says
Of course!
Jennifer A Stewart says
We just got our first Popeye's here in Waycross a few months ago. Line was down the street for three weeks! Like they have never had chicken before. Now I don't have to brave the line with this fabulous recipe!
Florian @ContentednessCooking says
Those look amazing, great recipe!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
We don't have a Popeye's but one of my kids used to love KFC. And I don't know how he knew about it, because I never took him there. LOL Even though he is in college now, I bet if I make these when he is on break, he will be thrilled.
heather @french press says
we have never had popeyes chicken, but I can tell already these would be a HUGE hit with my kiddos.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Buttermilk, huh? Great trick. I can think of more than a few kids (and adults) at my house who would be VERY pleased to see this show up on their dinner plate...Looks delicious Marye!
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
This unnamed child sounds like my sister 🙂 Though, I think she would be SUPER happy with this recipe because she realizes at times how expensive Popeye's can be! I cannot wait to give this a try because I loved Popeye's chicken before I went vegetarian many years ago 🙂