✔ Made and tested at home · 6 copycats: chicken, biscuits + Cajun sides
These 6 Popeyes copycat recipes bring Louisiana-style fast food home, from the crunchy chicken sandwich and chicken po boy to flaky buttermilk biscuits, creamy red beans and rice, Cajun fries and garlic mashed potatoes.
Start with the chicken sandwich and a pan of biscuits. Add red beans and rice or Cajun fries on the side for the full meal.
- Easiest win: the biscuits, cut and baked in under 30 minutes.
- Biggest crunch: the chicken sandwich, double-dredged in seasoned flour and cornstarch.
- Make ahead: the red beans and rice reheat well for lunches.
Each one is a homemade version made with supermarket ingredients, so the flavor is close rather than identical, and you control the heat and the salt. They are grouped below by type, and every card links to the full recipe with step photos.
Chicken
Buttermilk soaks and a double dredge give the craggy, crunchy crust.
1. Chicken Sandwich
Buttermilk-soaked chicken breast fillets double-dredged and fried crisp, on toasted brioche with pickles and Cajun spicy mayo.
Get the recipe →
2. Chicken Po Boy
Cajun-seasoned fried chicken tenders in toasted French rolls with mayo, shredded lettuce and dill pickles.
Get the recipe →Biscuits and Sides
The sides are half the reason to order Popeyes.
3. Buttermilk Biscuits
Cold butter, buttermilk and a few folds for flaky layers, baked close together at 425°F and brushed with butter.
Get the recipe →
4. Red Beans and Rice
Red beans simmered with onion, garlic and red pepper flakes, partly blended until creamy and spooned over white rice.
Get the recipe →
5. Cajun Fries
Russet fries fried twice with a thin seasoned batter for extra crunch, then tossed in a peppery Cajun seasoning.
Get the recipe →
6. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Yukon Golds simmered with garlic and mashed with butter, hot milk and cream until fluffy, never gluey.
Get the recipe →Tips for Popeyes Favorites at Home
- Soak in buttermilk. A spiced buttermilk soak keeps the chicken juicy and helps the coating stick.
- Drizzle the dredge. A few spoonfuls of buttermilk stirred into the flour makes the craggy bits.
- Keep biscuit butter cold. Cold butter makes steam pockets, and that is what gives flaky layers.
- Hold the oil steady. Fry chicken at 325 to 350°F so the crust browns while the inside cooks.
- Check the chicken. Cook chicken to 165°F inside.
More Fried Chicken Favorites
For more fried chicken nights, try my KFC copycat recipes and Chick-fil-A copycat recipes, and you will find every restaurant in my copycat recipes collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular Popeyes copycat recipes?
The chicken sandwich and biscuits are the most searched, followed by red beans and rice and the Cajun fries.
How do I get the Popeyes crunch at home?
Soak the chicken in spiced buttermilk, double-dredge it in seasoned flour with cornstarch, and fry at 350°F. Drizzle a little buttermilk into the flour for extra craggy bits.
Can I make Popeyes biscuits ahead?
Cut the biscuits and freeze them on a tray, then bake from frozen, adding a few minutes.
Are the red beans and rice vegetarian?
Not as written, because the recipe uses lard for flavor. Swap in butter or oil for a vegetarian version.
Is the Popeyes chicken sandwich spicy?
The chicken is mildly seasoned. The heat comes from the Cajun spicy mayo, so use plain mayo for a mild sandwich.
Are these the restaurant’s own recipes?
No. These are copycat recipes inspired by Popeyes menu items and made in my home kitchen. Recipe Fairy is not affiliated with Popeyes.
