Popeyes is a popular fast food chain that is well known for its fried chicken. Many customers wonder if Popeyes offers chicken breasts as a menu item, since this is a popular cut of chicken. The short answer is yes, Popeyes does offer chicken breasts!
Popeyes Chicken Breast Menu Options
Popeyes offers chicken breasts in a few different forms on their menu:
- Chicken Breast Tenders – This is breaded and fried chicken breast cut into strips. It’s one of their most popular items.
- Blackened Chicken Breast – A grilled and blackened seasoned chicken breast fillet.
- Naked Chicken Breast – A grilled chicken breast without any breading or seasoning.
So while Popeyes is primarily known for its fried chicken, they do have some grilled chicken breast options for customers looking for a lighter menu choice.
Nutrition Information on Popeyes Chicken Breasts
Here is some nutrition information on the chicken breast options from Popeyes:
| Menu Item | Calories | Fat (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Breast Tenders (3 pieces) | 180 | 8 | 16 |
| Blackened Chicken Breast | 170 | 3.5 | 30 |
| Naked Chicken Breast | 140 | 1.5 | 30 |
As you can see, the grilled chicken breasts are lower in calories and fat compared to the fried tenders. The grilled options also contain more protein per serving. So if you are looking for a healthier Popeyes choice, go for the blackened or naked chicken breast.
Tips for Ordering
Here are some useful tips for ordering chicken breasts at Popeyes:
- The chicken breast tenders are usually always available, as they are a core menu item.
- The grilled chicken breasts may be regional or limited time offers. Check with your local restaurant on availability.
- Order the naked chicken breast without any seasoning or sauce for the healthiest choice.
- Watch out for high sodium levels in some preparations like the blackened chicken.
- For a healthier meal, opt for a side salad instead of fries.
Price of Popeyes Chicken Breasts
Pricing for Popeyes chicken breasts (as of October 2023) are:
- Chicken Breast Tenders (3 piece) – $4.49
- Blackened Chicken Breast (1 fillet) – $5.99
- Naked Chicken Breast (1 fillet) – $5.99
Popeyes frequently runs special offers, so prices may be slightly lower at times. Compared to other fast food chicken chains, Popeyes prices on chicken breasts are quite reasonable.
How Popeyes Chicken Breasts are Prepared
Here is a quick overview of how Popeyes prepares their chicken breast menu items:
Chicken Breast Tenders
The chicken breast tenders start with whole chicken breast fillets that are sliced into strips. The strips are then breaded with a typical fast food style breading that contains flour, spices, and seasoning. The breaded strips are then deep fried in vegetable oil until golden brown and crispy. They are served hot and fresh to customers.
Grilled Chicken Breasts
The grilled chicken breasts like the blackened and naked fillets start with fresh, boneless chicken breast fillets. They trim any excess fat or cartilage from the fillets before cooking. For the blackened chicken, they coat the fillet in a spice blend containing things like paprika, garlic, onion, and black pepper to give it that classic blackened flavor. The naked chicken is left plain with no seasoning. They then grill the chicken on a flat top grill, cooking to an internal temperature of 165F. The grilled chicken is hot and juicy when served.
Taste and Texture
Here is a description of the taste and texture of Popeyes chicken breasts:
Chicken Breast Tenders
The chicken tenders have a crispy, crunchy breading that is flavorful with spices like black pepper, garlic, and paprika. The chicken inside remains juicy and tender, with a mild chicken flavor. The tenders are easy to dip in sauce and very tasty.
Grilled Chicken Breasts
The grilled chicken breasts are juicy and moist, with a lightly charred smoky flavor from the grill. The blackened chicken has a bolder flavor with a spicy, moderately hot Cajun-style spice blend on the outside but still juicy meat inside. The naked chicken is very mild tasting and takes on the flavor of any sauce or seasoning added.
Sides and Dipping Sauces
Chicken breasts from Popeyes pair well with many of their classic side dishes and sauces:
- Cajun Fries
- Mashed Potatoes
- Biscuits
- Cole Slaw
- Corn on the Cob
- Red Beans and Rice
For dipping sauces and seasonings, try:
- Sweet Heat Sauce
- Bayou Buffalo Sauce
- Buttermilk Ranch
- Mardi Gras Mustard
- Cajun Sparkle Seasoning
Copycat Popeyes Chicken Breast Recipes
You can also find some tasty copycat recipes online to recreate Popeyes chicken breasts at home. Here are some popular recipes:
Copycat Popeyes Chicken Breast Tenders
This mimics the crispy, crunchy tenders by marinating chicken strips in buttermilk then coating in a seasoned breading mixture before frying. Get the recipe here.
Blackened Chicken Breast
Get that bold Cajun spice flavor by making a homemade blackened chicken rub with paprika, thyme, cayenne, garlic, and onion. Coat grilled chicken breasts for a dish just like Popeyes. Find a recipe here.
Healthy Baked Chicken Breast
For a lower calorie option, bake boneless chicken breasts with just a touch of olive oil and cajun seasoning. Get the healthy recipe here.
Purchasing Popeyes Chicken Breast for Home
While Popeyes doesn’t specifically sell packages of fresh chicken breast meat in stores for home cooking, you can always purchase their chicken breasts a la carte from the restaurant to enjoy at home. Just order them fresh, then refrigerate and reheat gently later on. An easy weeknight dinner!
Conclusion
So in summary, yes Popeyes does offer chicken breast menu items including fried tenders, blackened chicken, and grilled naked chicken breasts. While known for fried chicken, the grilled breasts provide a lower calorie option. Chicken breasts can be purchased individually or as part of a meal combo. Try dipping in classic Popeyes sauces and pair with classic southern sides. And you can even replicate the Popeyes chicken breast flavors at home with some easy copycat recipes. So next time you visit Popeyes, feel free to order up some of their delicious chicken breast entrees.