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    Home > Blog > Chicken & Poultry > Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe

    Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe

    by Jenny Park · Published: Jan 29, 2021 · Modified: Jul 16, 2022

    Jump to Recipe
    Our copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe is easy to make at home! Super crispy and juicy fried chicken on brioche buns with pickle chips smothered in a spicy sauce. These are delicious and 100% worth making!
    Popeyes Chicken Sandwich recipe with french fries next to the sandwich.
    Popeyes chicken sandwiche on a cutting board with french fries next to it.
    Close up on a popeyes chicken sandwich recipe with french fries next to it.
    Popeyes chicken sandwich at eye level to see all the sauce and pickles with fries on the side.

    After careful consideration, my husband and I finally did it – we tried the infamous Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.

    This sandwich went completely viral when it first came out and basically sold out everywhere! I remember being shocked by seeing crazy lines out the door, driving by one of their locations.

    After the crowds and lines finally died down, we gave them a try. We both thought the sandwich was really tasty and enjoyed the buttery brioche bun they used, but overall wished it was a little bigger, haha.

    My favorite part of the fried chicken sandwich was the flavorful and crunchy breading, that actually didn’t taste greasy, as well as the juicy chicken that was perfectly cooked. The sandwich seemed easy enough to try and recreate so I decided to tackle it at home.

    After a handful of tests in the kitchen, I ended up with a copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe that I’m really happy with. It’s crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and finished with a simple spicy mayo with nice kick, salty pickles and a perfectly buttered and toasted brioche bun. Our Popeyes chicken sandwich recipe is fairly simple, don’t require any hard to find ingredients and are really delicious.

    How to Make our Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe

    Popeyes Chicken Sandwich recipe ingredients shot overhead.
    Jump to Recipe

    Process

    1. Pour buttermilk into a baking dish and add chicken breasts, turning to coat.
    2. Marinate chicken.
    Chicken breasts in buttermilk in a glass dish.
    Chicken marinating in buttermilk.
    1. In another baking dish combine flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Whisk together.
    Chicken breading mixture in a glass bowl.
    Chicken breading for popeyes chicken sandwich.
    1. Drizzle a couple spoonfuls of buttermilk from the baking dish with the chicken into the baking dish with the flour mixture and gently stir together.
    2. Season chicken breasts with salt and dredge into the flour mixture until fully coated.
    3. Shake off any excess coating and transfer to a baking sheet lined with a cooling rack.
    Jump to Recipe
    Chicken being tossed in a flour mixture to make a chicken sandwich.
    Chicken breaded waiting to be fried.
    1. While breaded chicken sits, preheat some oil in a large skillet to 350˚F.
    2. Carefully slide each chicken breast into the hot oil and fry for several minutes. Gently flip each piece of chicken and continue frying until golden brown, crispy and cooked through.
    3. Transfer cooked chicken onto a clean baking sheet lined with a cooling rack. Season with salt.
    A close up of Popeyes Fried Chicken on a wire rack.
    Ingredients for Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.
    1. Combine mayo and hot sauce into a small mixing bowl and whisk together until thoroughly combined.
    Popeyes chicken sandwich spicy sauce in a bowl.
    Popeyes chicken sandwich recipe sauce in a bowl combined.
    1. To assemble: Spread the spicy mayo on the tops and bottoms of each bun. Place pickles on top of the bottom bun and top with a piece of fried chicken. Place top buns over chicken and gently press. Serve immediately!
    Popeyes chicken sandwich sauce on a bun.
    Pickled and popeyes sandwich sauce on a bun.
    Building a popeyes chicken sandwich on a plate.
    Jump to Recipe

    Making the Fried Chicken and Sauce Ahead of Time

    Fried Chicken

    While we prefer to make and eat this right away for the freshest experience, you can fry the chicken ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.

    When ready to reheat, place chicken pieces onto a cooling rack lined baking sheet and heat for 10 minutes in a oven preheated to 375˚F. The chicken won’t get quite as crisp from when they were first fried, but will still be delicious and full of flavor.

    Sauce

    The spicy mayo can be made up to 1 week ahead of time and can be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator.

    Popeyes fried chicken sandwich recipe up close looking into the side of the sandwich.

    Tips and Tricks for our Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe Success

    • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to regular dairy milk and allowing the mixture to sit for a minute.
    • Add some cayenne pepper (1/4 to 1 teaspoon) to the flour mixture to really bump the heat up!
    • Allow breaded chicken to sit out for 15 to 20 minutes. It will really help the flour coating to adhere to the chicken better and prevent the coating from falling off when fried. It will also help to dry the dredging mixture out, creating a crispier, crunchier coating once the chicken is fried.
    • Although not necessary, I love swiping a small amount of mayo on the tops and bottom of each brioche bun and lightly toasting them, mayo side down, in a skillet. This creates a nice lightly toasted texture to the insides of each bun, while keeping the outside of the buns buttery and fluffy.
    Jump to Recipe

    Variations for our Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe

    • Shredded iceberg lettuce can be added to the sandwich for some fresh, crunchy texture.
    • Cabbage slaw is also a great addition to the sandwich for a creamy or vinegar crunch to the sandwiches.
    • Spicy mayo can be swapped out for a buttermilk ranch dressing or even barbecue sauce.
    • Slices of cheese (we prefer American) can be added to the sandwiches. If you add the slice of cheese to the tops of the freshly fried chicken, the heat should slightly melt the cheese without having to bake them off in the oven.

    I love fried chicken sandwiches, and this copycat Popeyes chicken sandwich recipe really hits the spot. It’s a fun splurge meal to enjoy, especially with a side of French fries or potato chips. They’re also so much easier to make than you would think!

    For a yummy variation, try our Chick Fil A Sauce on your next chicken sandwich! If you love fried chicken as much as I do you will also love our Chicken Fried Potatoes (a fun vegetarian take on fried chicken!), or our Baked Nashville Honey Hot Chicken Sandwiches!

    Popeyes fried chicken sandwich on a cutting board with french fries.

    More Sandwich Recipes You Will Love

    • Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
    • Grilled Tri Tip Sandwich
    • Carne Asada Torta
    • Turkey Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches
    • Slow Cooker Pickled Pulled Pork Sandwiches
    • Pork Katsu Sandwich
    Click here for more Chicken Recipes!

    Check out our Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Google Web Story.

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    A close up of Popeyes Chicken Sandwich with fries on a wooden board.

    Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe

    5 from 81 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    Our copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe is easy to make at home! Super crispy and juicy fried chicken on brioche buns with pickle chips smothered in a spicy sauce. These are delicious and 100% worth making!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 11 mins
    Inactive Time: 30 mins
    Total Time: 56 mins
    Servings: 2 people

      INGREDIENTS  

    fried chicken

    • 1½ cups buttermilk
    • 2 skinless chicken breasts small, about 5 ounces each.
    • 1 cup flour
    • 3 tbsp cornstarch
    • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
    • 2 tsp garlic powder
    • 2 tsp onion powder
    • 1½ tsp salt

    frying

    • 2 cups fryer oil

    spicy mayo

    • ⅔ cup mayo
    • 2 tbsp hot sauce

    assembly

    • 2 brioche buns lightly toasted
    • ¼ cup pickle chips

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Pour buttermilk into a baking dish and add chicken breasts, turning to coat. Allow mixture to sit for 30 minutes.
    • In another baking dish combine flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Whisk together.
    • Drizzle a couple spoonfuls of buttermilk from the baking dish with the chicken into the baking dish with the flour mixture and gently stir together.
    • Season each chicken breast with salt and dredge into the flour mixture, on both sides, until fully coated.
    • Shake off any excess coating and transfer to a baking sheet lined with a cooling rack.
    • While breaded chicken sits, preheat 3 inches oil in a large skillet to 350˚F.
    • Carefully slide each chicken breast into the hot oil and fry for 5 to 6 minutes. Gently flip each piece of chicken and continue frying for an additional 4 to 5 minutes or until golden brown, crispy and cooked through.
    • Transfer cooked chicken onto a clean baking sheet lined with a cooling rack. Season with salt.
    • Combine mayo and hot sauce into a small mixing bowl and whisk together until thoroughly combined.
    • To assemble spread the spicy mayo on the tops and bottoms of each bun. Place pickles on top of the bottom bun and top with a piece of fried chicken. Place top buns over chicken and gently press. Serve immediately!

      NOTES  

    FAQs
    • What if you don’t have buttermilk? You can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to regular dairy milk and allowing the mixture to sit for a minute.
    • Why add some of the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture? This will create little pebbles in the dredging mixture, which will turn into thicker patches of fried coating in each piece of potato, which will maximize the flavor and crunchy texture once the potato rounds are fried.
    •  Can you adjust the spicy levels?Absolutely! We only added heat to the sauce portion of the sandwich, which can definitely be adjusted based on preference. If you want the chicken itself to be spicy, you can stir in a few dashes of hot sauce to the buttermilk that the chicken sits in, or you can add some cayenne pepper to the flour mixture (I recommend starting with 1/4 teaspoon on work your way up if you like it pretty spicy!) or you can do both!
    • Can this be made ahead of time? While we prefer to make and eat this right away for the freshest experience, you can fry the chicken ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. When ready to reheat, place chicken pieces onto a cooling rack lined baking sheet and heat for 10 minutes in a oven preheated to 375˚F. The chicken won’t get quite as crisp from when they were first fried, but will still be delicious and full of flavor.
    • Can the sauce be made ahead of time? Yes! The spicy mayo can be made up to 1 week ahead of time and can be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator.
    Tips and Tricks for Success
    • Allowing the breaded chicken to sit out for a little while (15 to 20 minutes), will allow the flour coating to adhere to the chicken better and prevent the coating from falling off when fried. It will also help to dry the dredging mixture out, creating a crispy, crunchy coating once the chicken if fried.
    • Although not necessary, I love swiping a small amount of mayo on the tops and bottom of each brioche bun and lightly toasting them, mayo side down, in a skillet. This creates a nice lightly toasted flavor and texture to the insides of each bun, while keeping the outside of the buns buttery and fluffy.
     
    Calories: 1414kcal Carbohydrates: 113g Protein: 48g Fat: 85g Saturated Fat: 24g Cholesterol: 267mg Sodium: 3431mg Potassium: 887mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 11g Vitamin A: 2856IU Vitamin C: 12mg Calcium: 301mg Iron: 5mg
    CUISINE: American
    KEYWORD: fried chicken, sandwich
    COURSE: dinner, lunch, Main Course

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    January 29, 2021 / 43 Comments

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

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    January 29, 2021 / 43 Comments

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    1. Jenny Park

      July 16, 2022 at 12:38 pm

      I’m confused as to what you’re saying here? I’m also not sure why a gas stove has to do with the results of the chicken sandwiches? I’ve only used this recipe on a gas stove, with great results every single time. The oil temperature is what’s important when frying the chicken. If you’re saying it was “rocks” then it seems like you cooked your chicken for way too long.

      Reply
    2. Shay

      April 09, 2022 at 8:12 am

      I made this chicken in the air fryer and turned out so bad, i wish i could show a picture 😂 All the coating fell out, yellow/ burnt on the sides. Dont try to make this recipe in the airfryer

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        April 09, 2022 at 1:59 pm

        Yes, this recipe should definitely not be made in an air-fryer!! We have another recipe specifically for breaded chicken made in an air-fryer: https://www.spoonforkbacon.com/air-fryer-chicken-tenders/

        Reply
    3. Fred

      November 04, 2021 at 3:40 pm

      Can hardly wait to try this…thing I like about the coating i you can use it for fish, pork chops and of course the chicken! Awesome and thanks for putting this together for us!!!

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        November 05, 2021 at 12:50 pm

        Whoa…pork chops! What a great idea!

        Reply
    4. MG

      October 23, 2021 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      My child asked me to pick up a chicken sandwich at a local fast food place and I was like, that’s a no. Had all the ingredients on hand, with the exception of buttermilk as I no longer use cow’s milk. As a substitute I made vegan buttermilk (nutmilk mixed with apple cider vinegar). Otherwise followed the recipe. The result: a crunchy and delicious chicken sandwich. Definitely adding to my list of repeat recipes.

      Reply
    5. Ocarolina

      August 27, 2021 at 8:23 am

      The play button for the video covers the entire pans and dishes on every video. How are you supposed to see what is being done if the big play button is in front of it?

      Reply
      • Teri Lyn Fisher

        August 27, 2021 at 9:00 am

        The play button disappears after a few seconds after you press play.

        Reply
    6. Mason

      July 26, 2021 at 9:06 am

      5 stars
      Very helpful. Thank you!

      Reply
    7. Janet

      June 07, 2021 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      I tried this last night i didn’t have breast i used thighs and it was so good 😊 😋

      Reply
    8. Jose

      April 06, 2021 at 3:42 pm

      How can I make the chicken spicier?

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        April 07, 2021 at 7:57 am

        You could add some hot sauce and/or cayenne pepper to the buttermilk before soaking the chicken breasts

        Reply
    9. Hannah

      March 28, 2021 at 8:43 am

      Another mouth-watering dish. This is perfect for snack and movie time, My kids love spicy food so they will surely like this popeyes chicken sandwich recipe of yours. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
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