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Popeye’s CopyCat Fried Chicken

Popeye's CopyCat Fried Chicken
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This homemade Popeye’s CopyCat Fried Chicken recipe delivers the classic Cajun-inspired flavors and ultra-crispy coating synonymous with the iconic fast-food favorite. Featuring a buttermilk marinade and a secret blend of spices with double breading, this recipe produces juicy, tender, and crunchy fried chicken perfect for family dinners or southern-style comfort food cravings.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

  • Bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, or breasts) – about 3-4 pounds
  • 2–3 cups buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (for marinade)

Seasoned Flour Coating

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For Frying

  • Oil for frying (peanut oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil) – enough for deep frying

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Marinade: Soak the chicken pieces in a mixture of buttermilk and 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Let them marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator to tenderize and infuse flavor deeply.
  2. Make the Seasoned Flour Mix: In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour with Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to create the flavorful coating.
  3. Dredge the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the buttermilk, allowing the excess to drip off. Coat each piece thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture. For extra crunch, dip dipped pieces again into the buttermilk briefly and dredge once more in flour (double dredging).
  4. Heat the Oil: Pour oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven and heat it to 350°F (175°C). Maintaining this temperature is important for even cooking and crispiness.
  5. Fry the Chicken: Carefully place the coated chicken pieces into the hot oil in batches to avoid crowding. Fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally until chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
  6. Drain and Rest: Transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil. Let it rest for a few minutes so the juices redistribute and the crust stays crispy.

Notes

  • Use a thermometer to keep oil temperature steady at around 350°F for perfect crispiness.
  • Marinating the chicken overnight improves flavor and juiciness.
  • Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding, which causes soggy coating.
  • Rest cooked chicken on a wire rack to keep it crispy by allowing excess oil to drip off.
  • Adjust the level of Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper according to your preferred spice heat.

Nutrition

Keywords: Popeye's, fried chicken, copycat recipe, Cajun seasoning, homemade, southern comfort food, crispy chicken

Find it online: https://recipesemilly.com/popeyes-copycat-fried-chicken/