Recreating a Popeyes chicken sandwich means mimicking a few key elements in their spicy, juicy, crispy (not to mention) top-secret classic. The chicken sandwich is a seemingly simple Southern fried chicken breast on a warm brioche bun, with spicy mayo and pickles. But even the most tried-and-true Southern methods for frying chicken can’t produce a crust that snaps and shatters the same way as the cult favorite. Despite all intuition and thousands of cooks who would say otherwise, here are a few non-traditional tricks that made our version of Popeye’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich edge out above the rest.
Pat dry and batter fry.
While buttermilk-brined chicken usually goes straight into a flour dredge, this one gets patted completely dry to help the batter adhere to the chicken. Dipping in a thin batter will help the flour dredge cling to the chicken when frying.
Go for egg whites.
Some recipes omit eggs all together, but they help create structure for the breading and achieve the crust’s deeply golden brown color. Too much yolk, however, can make the bread too rich and less crispy. Leaning heavier on egg whites will help maintain a crispier crust.
Be mindful of too much batter.
Resist the urge to pack on multiple layers of batter and dredge in hopes of achieving the crispiest crust. Since we won’t be resting the chicken, the weight of the breading will cause the crust to fall off the chicken while you eat it (major bummer). Drizzling some of the batter into the flour mixture will create a similar effect.
Don’t let it rest.
Resting the chicken after you bread it will give the gluten ample time to form—and crush any chance for a crispy crust.
Directions
- Step 1
Brine the chicken: For smaller chicken breasts, pound out the thicker end of the breast with a mallet or rolling pin until it is about ½” thick. Slice the breast in half into 2, 4 ounce portions. For larger chicken breasts, lay the single piece flay on a cutting board, holding your knife parallel to the cutting board, and slice the chicken through the center as evenly as possible, butterflying the breast open. Separate the 2 halves and cut each into 4-ounce portions. - Step 2In a plastic container with a lid, combine buttermilk, cayenne pepper sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and onion powder and whisk to combine. Submerge the chicken pieces in the marinade and cover the container. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight. After the chicken has marinated, remove from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Step 3Make the spicy mayo: In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (This gets better as time passes.)
- Step 4Make the flour dredge and batter: In a small shallow dish or small bowl, whisk the flour dredge ingredients until combined. In a second shallow dish, combine ingredients for batter. Drizzle 3-4 tablespoons of the batter mixture into the flour dredge, and work it in with your fingers. Place one paper bag inside the other and transfer flour to paper bag if using.
- Step 5In a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven with a candy thermometer attached, heat shortening over medium heat until it reaches 310°F. Then turn the heat to medium-high. When the temperature reaches 340°F, dip each piece of chicken (working quickly) into the batter and then straight into the flour dredge. Toss or shake the chicken in the flour, making sure that the chicken is fully coated with extra flour/batter bits. Add battered chicken to the oil.
- Step 6The temperature should drop almost immediately, getting as low as 315°. Be sure to regulate the temperature so that the oil doesn’t get lower than that. Fry the chicken, flipping occasionally, until the crust is completely golden and the chicken has cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Keep a close eye on the temperature as it will begin to climb again in the final few minutes; don’t let it get above 350 degrees. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a baking sheet lined with paper towels and fitted with a wire rack, and keep warm in an oven set to 200°.
- Step 7Heat a brioche bun in the microwave for 10 seconds. (Popeyes does not toast their buns.) Spread a layer of spicy mayo on each side, and add 3 pickle slices to the bottom bun. Add a piece of fried chicken, sandwich with a top bun, and serve.
If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can scale up or down this substitute: Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. The results may not be identical, but it will still be excellent.
Store cooked chicken in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for 3 to 4 days.
Leftover chicken can easily be fried again or reheated in a 350° oven
