Copycat Popeye's Chicken Strips

There are two types of people in this world: those who politely eat their Popeye's chicken strips with a fork and those who go full gremlin, dunking and devouring like nobody’s watching. I respect both, but let’s be real—these crispy, spicy, Popeye’s-style tenders are best enjoyed with zero shame and extra napkins.

First published October 4, 2014. Last updated February 26, 2025 for readability and editorial improvements.

Table of Contents

• 🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
• ...it was perfect...
• 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
• 🔪 Step-by-step guide: how to make copycat Popeye's chicken tenders
• 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat
• 💭 Insider tips: things to know
• 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
• 🍴Must have tools
• What to do with frying oil
• 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
• 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with copycat Popeye's chicken tenders
• 📖 Recipe
• ✍🏻 A note from Marye...
• 💬 Comments

Forget waiting in the drive-thru only to hear, "Sorry, we’re out of chicken." (The audacity!) This homemade version is golden, crunchy, and seasoned just right—no long lines, no upcharge for extra sauce, and absolutely no judgment if you double the batch for research purposes. Grab your hot sauce, fire up the fryer, and let’s make some magic.

🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial

Want to see these crispy, golden beauties come to life? Click on the video and watch as I take you step-by-step through the magic of making Popeye’s-style chicken strips at home—no drive-thru, no disappointments, just pure crunchy perfection. Bonus: You’ll get to hear me ramble about why these are absolutely life-changing.

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

• Boneless chicken breast or thighs
• Louisiana hot sauce
• Buttermilk
• Peanut oil (if deep frying)
• Chipotle powder
• All-purpose flour
• Smoked paprika
• Eggs
• Salt

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.

🔪 Step-by-step guide: how to make copycat Popeye's chicken tenders

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

There are a couple of ways to make these:

• In a deep fryer
• In a cast iron skillet

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.

1. Remove a chicken breast strip from the marinade and dredge in flour.
2. Dip in the egg mixture.
3. Dredge with flour again. Set aside.

In the skillet

4. Add about 2 ½ inches of oil to a heavy skillet.
5. Check the oil and make sure it's at 360F.
6. Fry chicken in batches 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.
7. Don't overcrowd the fryer.
8. Drain and keep warm while you fry the remaining batches of chicken.
9. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

In the deep fryer

1. Heat the deep fryer to 360F
2. 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.
3. Don't overcrowd the fryer.
4. Drain and keep warm until serving.

🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat

If, by some miracle, you don’t inhale every last crispy bite, here’s how to keep those Copycat Popeye’s Chicken Strips from going sad and soggy:

• Fridge: Pop them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days—but let’s be honest, they won’t last that long.
• Freezer: Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months (future-you will be so grateful).
• Reheating: Skip the microwave unless you enjoy disappointment. Instead, reheat in the oven (375°F for 10-15 minutes) or air fryer (400°F for 5-7 minutes) to bring back that crispy, crunchy glory.

💭 Insider tips: things to know

1. Marinate Like You Mean It – Let that chicken soak in buttermilk for at least 4 hours (overnight is even better). This isn’t just for fun—it makes the chicken ridiculously tender and flavorful.
2. Double Dredge for Double Crunch – One dip in flour is cute, but two? That’s how you get those big, craggy, crispy bits that make Popeye’s famous. Coat, dip back into buttermilk, then flour again—trust me, it’s worth it.
3. Season Every. Single. Step. – Don’t just season the flour; season the buttermilk, too! If you don’t, you’ll end up with flavorless chicken hiding under a tasty crust—tragic.
4. Use a Thermometer (Yes, Really) – Keep that oil at 350-375°F for the crispiest results. Too hot? Burnt outside, raw inside. Too cool? Greasy, sad chicken. A thermometer keeps you from committing fried chicken crimes.

📖 Make it your own: yummy variations

1. You can use boneless chicken thighs - more flavor AND more budget friendly.
2. After frying, brush your chicken strips with a spicy, buttery cayenne glaze (melted butter + cayenne + honey + a splash of pickle juice). It’s fiery, messy, and completely addictive—just have some napkins (or a fire extinguisher) handy.
3. Toss the freshly fried strips in a mix of melted butter, minced garlic, and a heavy sprinkle of grated Parmesan. It’s like garlic bread and fried chicken had a delicious, crunchy baby.
4. Take your tenders up a notch by drizzling them with hot honey (or just mix honey with a dash of cayenne). The sweet-heat combo is absolute perfection—like if Popeye’s and a Southern grandma decided to team up.

🍴Must have tools

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 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.

📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love

• Homemade Tater Tots are crispy on the outside, light and delicate on the inside. Add bacon, cheese, onion, chives, or jalapenos for variety.
• These copycat Popeye's Chicken Tenders are PERFECT in my copycat Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits!!

🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with copycat Popeye's chicken tenders

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!

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.

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.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

✍🏻 A note from Marye...

I know y'all don't always like the stories bloggers tell so when I have one I try to put it at the very bottom so you can read or skip as you like.

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.