Is Popeyes’ Chicken Spicy? What You Need To Know

Everyone enjoys the occasional indulgence in their guilty pleasures. One guilty pleasure most of us share every day is our love for junk food. There’s so much variety to choose from when it comes to junk food, but the latest hype is around the chicken at Popeyes’.

If you’re curious about the hype and wondering if the spice is something you can handle, then there’s no way to find out without trying the chicken first. Most people generally consider Popeyes’ chicken spicy because they are used to eating sandwiches with milder sauces. Popeyes’ chicken is spicy because it uses a spicy variation of the mayo sauce. But if the spicy chicken is not your thing, then they also have milder options. 

If you’re a junk food fanatic and want to learn more about this restaurant and the food quality served here, keep reading.

When Did Popeyes’ Chicken Come Out?

You may be surprised to hear that Popeyes’ chicken is far from a new venture despite a recent spike in popularity. The first branch of the franchise opened on the 12th of June in 1972. 

It launched in Arabi, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. Al-Copeland pioneered the restaurant, and it was an attempt to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

How Many Branches Of The Franchise Exist Today?

The total number of Popeyes’ are 2,830 in the United States as of August 15, 2022. The state with the most number of Popeyes locations in Texas; it has 396 locations, which is 13% of all Popeyes locations in the U.S. 

What started as a singular branch has now expanded worldwide too. There are 3400 restaurants in over 25 countries, including China, Spain, and Brazil.

When Did Popeyes Launch Its Spicy Chicken?

The new chicken sandwich launched by Popeyes is relatively recent. It was launched in the August of 2019. As soon as the sandwich was launched, it caused a storm on social media and started trending; this caused a spike in its popularity. Popeyes also spent 24 million on advertisements.

Why Is The Sandwich Considered Spicy?

The meat used in the sandwich itself does not have a spicy taste. The meat is tender and mild. The spice in the burger comes from the flavor of the batter. The batter is made of hot mayonnaise sauce that is mixed with pepper and cayenne. This is then mixed with a little bit of hot sauce and red chili, adding to the spicy taste. 

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What Is The New Popeyes Sandwich?

The new sandwich is called the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich; it is available for a limited time only. It consists of classic ingredients with an additional hand-battered crispy chicken on a bun and with pickles. 

This is topped with a new sauce that’s a mix of buttermilk ranch and spicy buffalo. The sandwich costs 4.99 dollars. 

Does Popeyes Have Options That Are Not Spicy?

Popeyes does offer the mild version of its chicken on several products. This is especially applicable when ordering a family meal. Family meals have the option of mild, spicy, and sometimes even a mix of both. 

Even popeyes chicken tenders come in these options available. It all boils down to the sauce you’re using to prepare the chicken. 

Is Popeyes Better Than KFC?

This depends on your personal preference. If you want more diversity and consistent strong flavors, then Popeyes is the better choice. But if you are a fan of the regular chicken sandwich and want something more mainstream, then KFC is a good option. 

When it comes down to cost, they are almost the same, so that is not a huge differentiating factor. 

Is Popeyes Better Than Chick-Fil-A?

Again, that depends on your personal taste. But Chick-Fil-A has been around for a very long time and is among the leading fast-food chains in the US. It may be a little pricier than Popeyes, with a full meal costing 7.99 dollars, but it also has more variety in flavors. 

However, the taste is not as strong as that of Popeyes. 

How To Make Popeyes Chicken At Home?

If you want to eat chicken that tastes exactly like Popeyes but don’t want to spend the extra cash, or may want to ensure that hygiene is maintained during preparation, then there is a way to prepare the chicken at home for yourself.

  • Preheat oven to 300F
  • Then soak the chicken in salt water or buttermilk for up to 24 hours before beginning this recipe.
  • Put the eggs in one small bowl and beat them.
  • Put the flour and spices in a second bowl.
  • Add the batter to the chicken.
  • The recipe for the individual batters is available online.
  • After the chicken is mixed with the batter, put it in the oven.

Is Popeyes Chicken Healthy?

Popeyes chicken comes with keto-friendly options that can be healthy for those trying the keto diet. Generally, chicken is pretty unhealthy because of the high amount of calories. 

Most of these calories come from saturated fats and the high amount of oil that is used to make them. The average calories that are in one sandwich are around 690 calories, 42 grams of fat.

Which Options At Popeyes Keto-Friendly? 

The ranch sauce is can be used in moderation with the Keto diet. You must skip the sides if you want to order a keto-friendly option. These may include butter and biscuits and fries. The blackened chicken peppers are unbreaded and can be used in a keto diet. 

Essentially aim to avoid all carbs and focus on the meaty dishes only. 

What Kind Of Oil Does Popeyes Use?

Popeyes uses palm oil. The palm oil that is used is RSPO certified and credits its entire menu globally. They also use other forms of vegetable oils and peanut oil. Instead of lard, they use soybean oil. 

The Conclusion

Popeyes chicken is a popular fast-food chain that offers various foods with mild and spicy flavors. The chicken is indeed spicier than most fast-food chains in the US but that’s mostly because of its sauce; you can opt for an option of your liking too. 

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