Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

copykat popeyes famous fried chicken recipe

Recipe by
Jim McGuire
Caseyville, IL

What can you say that's bad about Popeye's Fried Chicken?

yield 5 serving(s)
prep time 12 Hr 30 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Deep Fry

Ingredients For copykat popeyes famous fried chicken recipe

  • CHICKEN
  • 1/2 qt
    whole buttermilk
  • 1 c
    Louisiana hot sauce
  • 1 Tbsp
    smoked paprika
  • 1 Tbsp
    tumeric
  • 1 Tbsp
    dried dill
  • 2 Tbsp
    kosher salt
  • 10
    chicken pieces (I use legs and thighs)
  • SPICE MIXTURE
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    dry mustard
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    onion powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    ground turmeric
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp
    cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    cumin
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp
    white pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    celery salt
  • 1 Tbsp
    sugar
  • BATTER
  • 1 c
    all purpose flour
  • 3/4 c
    cornstarch
  • 1 tsp
    baking soda
  • 3
    eggs, beaten
  • 3 Tbsp
    water
  • 1/4 Tbsp
    cayenne pepper

How To Make copykat popeyes famous fried chicken recipe

  • 1
    To marinate the chicken, add the buttermilk, hot sauce, smoked paprika, turmeric, dill weed, and salt to a large plastic bowl with a tight fitting lid and whisk well. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl, making sure they are submerged in the mixture completely. (I use a gallon sized zip top bag myself.) Refrigerate 12-24 hours. Pour off the chicken marinade and shake off excess buttermilk mixture from the chicken. DO NOT RINSE THE CHICKEN.
  • 2
    To make the spice mixture, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Use 1/2 the seasoning to generously season the chicken pieces.
  • 3
    To batter the chicken, combine the all purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and remaining spice mixture. Coat the chicken in the seasoned flour. In a medium glass dish, combine the eggs, water, and cayenne pepper.
  • 4
    Dunk each piece if chicken in the egg mixture then back into the flour mixture. Once all the pieces are coated, fry in hot oil at 350 degrees F. (I personally cook my chicken to 180 degrees F, not 165 F.) This will take dark meat 16 minutes and white meat 14 minutes, generally.
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