Copycat Popeye’s Chicken Strips are tender, juicy strips of chicken covered in a spicy, crispy coating. They are unbelievably easy to make, too. You’ll never go back to fast food again!
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 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… which may be a bit like getting Perez Hilton to…. ah.. never mind.
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Anyway, I have decided to fight fire with fire so to speak and make copycats of those nasty foods. It took me a few times to get chicken strips I was pleased with but these fit the Happy Meal box nicely.
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. 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.
Now, if you don’t have a Popeye’s 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 the best. Or Ranch. You can’t go wrong with Ranch.
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.
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. Just do it, ‘k?
Keep them hot in a warm oven until it’s all done. Serve with fries and cole slaw.
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If you happen to need an electric deep fryer the Presto 05466 Stainless Steel Dual Basket Pro Fry Immersion Element Deep Fryer
Copycat Popeye’s Chicken Strips
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts sliced in strips
- 1/3 cup Louisiana style hot sauce
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- Peanut oil to fill a deep fryer
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Chipotle chile powder
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 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.
- 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.
If you like Copycat Popeye’s Chicken Strips you may also like…
Homemade Tater Tots Restless Chipotle
Onion Rings Restless Chipotle
Doritioes Crusted Chicken Strips Six Sister’s Stuff
Coconut Crunch Chicken Strips The Cozy Apron
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.
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. :/
Julie @ Texan New Yorker says
Oh my goodness, Popeye’s is one of my guilty pleasures that I’m slightly ashamed of. Thank you so much for this – now I can make them at home guilt-free! With buttery biscuits of course. 🙂
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 🙂
Marcia Hendrie says
Very happy for the popeye chicken I can control the amt. of salt, can’t wait to try.
Marye Audet says
🙂 thanks for reading!