Copycat Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich

Make this classic Copycat Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich at home to serve for lunch or dinner. Crispy fried chicken is breaded in a seasoned buttermilk coating and served on toasted brioche buns with creamy mayonnaise and thick pickle slices. Each savory bite is juicy, tender, and delicious.

Whether you prefer cooking at home or don’t live near Popeye’s, this copycat recipe tastes like the popular chicken sandwich everyone raves about! The juicy chicken is marinated, fried to perfection, then topped with crunchy pickles, and placed on a buttery bun. It’s the ultimate chicken sandwich! 

This will quickly become one of your favorite chicken recipes. Top it with homemade spicy mayonnaise and elevate it to the next level. Make this once, and your family will ask you to make it again! Thankfully, you won’t mind – this crispy chicken sandwich recipe is super easy to make. 

Why You’ll Love Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich

• Easy to customize with your favorite toppings.
• Tastes just like the famous Popeyes chicken sandwich.
• The crispy chicken breast is fried to perfection and bursting with flavor. 

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

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Here are the ingredients to make a DIY Popeyes chicken sandwich. 

• Chicken Breasts – For best results, pound chicken breasts until they are very thin.
• Buttermilk – You’ll use this as the chicken marinade. 
• Cajun Seasoning – This spice mix infuses flavor into the small chicken pieces. 
• Black Pepper – Use as much black pepper as you want in the flour mixture. 
• Garlic Powder – It’s better to use garlic powder than garlic salt to control how salty it is. 
• Onion Powder – This enhances the flavors of the garlic and pepper.
• Sugar – This sweetens the breading. 
• Flour – Use either all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour if you need it. 
• Cornstarch – Adding a bit of cornstarch will help the breading crisp up as it fries. 
• Vegetable Oil – This oil is best for deep frying. 
• Brioche Buns – A toasted brioche bun is what Popeye’s uses. 
• Mayonnaise – This is optional, but add some homemade spicy mayo to the sandwich. 
• Pickles – These are also optional but add flavor to the sandwich. 

How to Make Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich

• Step One: Pound your chicken breasts lightly and trim any fat off them if needed.
• Step Two: In a small bowl, combine the cajun seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and sugar. 
• Step Three: To your 1 cup of buttermilk, add one tablespoon of the seasoning mix. 
• Step Four: Pour the buttermilk mixture over the chicken. 
• Step Five: Let the chicken marinate for 1 hour overnight. 

• Step Six: When ready to fry, combine the remaining seasoning mix with the flour and cornstarch in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
• Step Seven: Take 3-4 tablespoons of the buttermilk marinade and stir it into the flour mix; you want to make chunky pieces of flour to give the chicken some good crispy bits.
• Step Eight: Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, dip it back into the buttermilk, and dredge in the flour again.  Try to press any of the chunky flour pieces into the chicken. 
• Step Nine: Add 4 cups of oil or enough to cover the chicken ¾ of the way in a large, heavy pot or deep frying pan.
• Step Ten: Heat the oil over medium-high heat until a bit of flour dropped in the pan sizzles immediately.
• Step Eleven: Add two chicken pieces to your hot oil and fry for 5-6 minutes; flip and repeat with the other side.  Thicker breasts might need more time, and thinner might need less, use a meat thermometer to check and ensure your chicken is at 165 degrees.
• Step Twelve: Remove your chicken breasts to a cooling rack and repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
• Step Thirteen: Time to assemble the sandwiches.
• Step Fourteen: Put them on the brioche buns and serve.
• Step Fifteen: You can take it further, butter the buns, and toast them in a pan.
• Step Sixteen: If you like, spread the buns with mayo and add thick pickle slices. Enjoy! 

Equipment Needed

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• Rolling Pin or Meat Tenderizer– Use something to pound the chicken breast thin or use a knife to cut the chicken breast. 
• Medium Bowl – You’ll need bowls for the breading and marinade mixtures.
• Deep Pot or Pan – Use something deep to make a fried chicken breast. 
• Wire Rack – Use this to cool the chicken. 
• Resealable Bag –  This will hold the chicken as it marinates. 

What to Serve with Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich

Popeyes chicken sandwiches are the perfect things to make for lunch. Here are some of my favorite sides with a classic chicken sandwich.    

• Ramen Noodle Salad
• Sweet Potato Home Fries
• French Fry Casserole
• Muffin Tin Mashed Potatoes
• Corn Salad

Variations and Substitutions

• Make it spicier. Add a dash of cayenne pepper to the spice mixture. 
• Fry the chicken in a Dutch oven. 
• Make the chicken in the air fryer. Bread them like normal, then put them in the air fryer at 380F for about 18 minutes. 
• Serve them on sesame seed buns instead of a buttery brioche bun. 

Storage Instructions 

These taste the best when hot and fresh out of the fryer. They are so crispy and delicious! You can also make them ahead. Store the fried chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Tips and Tricks

• Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
• Cover the chicken cutlets with plastic wrap before you pound them and make them thin.
• You could also place the chicken between two pieces of parchment paper. 
• Pat the freshly fried chicken with paper towels to remove excess grease. 

What Is Popeye’s?

Popeyes is a national fast food restaurant chain known for making extra crispy fried chicken pieces and serving them with southern sides. They are known as a “Louisanna kitchen,” so they serve Cajun-flavored food, like spicy, golden brown chicken. They also serve seafood options like shrimp and catfish. 

How To Make Your Own Buttermilk

If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can make your own. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of whole milk. This will make it curdle slightly and give it the tangy flavors that buttermilk is known for. 

Toppings

Top chicken with homemade spicy mayo sauce and your favorite pickles. Make homemade spicy mayo by adding hot sauce to the mayonnaise. Add as much hot sauce as you can handle. 

How To Toast Brioche Buns 

Either use your oven or an air fryer to toast the buns. Place each bun on a baking tray and broil them in the oven on HI for about 5 minutes. Or place them in the air fryer and hear them at 300F for about 5 minutes. 

How Can I Get The Chicken To Be As Crispy As Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich?

The secret to getting crispy chicken is to make sure the chicken is well coated. You should also remember to add cornstarch. The cornstarch will make it crispier than if you use flour alone. 

What Type of Pickles Does Popeye’s Use On Their Chicken Sandwich?

Popeye’s uses dill pickles on their chicken sandwiches like other fast food restaurants. But if you want to make them taste different, you can use spicy pickles. 

FAQ

Sandwich Recipes    

Want more easy sandwich recipes that you can make at home? Here are some of my favorites:

• Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese 
• Egg Salad Sandwich 
• Blueberry Brie Grilled Cheese 
• Hoisin Chicken BLT Sandwich
• Caramel Apple Grilled Cheese
• Slow Cooker Rodeo Sloppy Joes
• Copycat Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich

Try Big Mac Sauce, Copycat McDonald’s Sausage Egg McMuffins, Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls and Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets.

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