Popeyes Copycat Fried Chicken 🍗🔥

By: Rabia

Crispy, golden, and perfectly seasoned — this copycat Popeyes fried chicken is juicy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and bursting with Cajun flavor!

🥘 Recipe Card

Servings & Timing

  • Yield: 6–8 servings

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus marinating time)

  • Cook Time: 25 minutes

  • Total Time: 40 minutes (active) + marinating

Dietary Badges:

  • Comfort Food

  • Southern Classic

  • Family Favorite

✅ Ingredients

Chicken & Marinade

  • 3 lbs chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, breasts, wings)

  • 2 cups buttermilk

  • 2 tsp hot sauce (like Tabasco)

  • 1 tsp paprika

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp onion powder

  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper

  • 1 tsp salt

Coating

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup cornstarch

  • 1 tbsp paprika

  • 2 tsp garlic powder

  • 2 tsp onion powder

  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust for spice level)

  • 2 tsp salt

  • 1 tsp black pepper

For Frying

  • Neutral oil for frying (vegetable, peanut, or canola)

📖 Instructions

Marinate chicken: In a large bowl, whisk buttermilk, hot sauce, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and salt. Add chicken, making sure pieces are submerged. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight for best flavor.

  1. Prepare coating: In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

  2. Coat chicken: Remove chicken from marinade (shake off excess but don’t rinse). Dredge each piece in flour mixture, pressing to coat well. Place on a tray and let sit 10 minutes so the coating adheres.

  3. Heat oil: In a deep fryer or heavy pot, heat oil to 350°F (175°C).

  4. Fry chicken: Fry chicken in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). About 12–15 minutes for larger pieces, 8–10 minutes for smaller.

  5. Drain & serve: Remove chicken and place on wire rack or paper towels. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Recommended  Old-Fashioned Chocolate Pie

🔑 Notes

  • Buttermilk brine is essential for tenderness and flavor.

  • Cornstarch in the coating gives the chicken that signature crispiness.

  • Letting coated chicken rest before frying helps the crust stick better.

🌟 Variations

  • Spicy Popeyes Style: Double the cayenne in both marinade and coating.

  • Crispy Tenders: Use chicken tenders instead of bone-in pieces for quicker cooking.

  • Oven-Fried (Lighter Option): Bake coated chicken at 400°F on a wire rack over a sheet pan for 35–40 minutes, spraying with oil halfway.

❄️ Storage

  • Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat in oven or air fryer for crispiness.

  • Freezer: Freeze fried chicken up to 2 months. Reheat at 375°F for 20–25 minutes.

💌 Final Notes

This Popeyes Copycat Fried Chicken nails that crispy, juicy, flavorful bite that makes Popeyes famous. Perfect for family dinners, parties, or anytime a fried chicken craving hits.

Rabia
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