Today, we’re going to be looking at a Popeyes blackened chicken recipe. It’s one of their most popular dishes, so why wouldn’t you want to learn how to recreate the dish from the comfort of your home? Let’s take a look at how to make these flavorful favorites.
What Is Popeyes?
Popeyes or Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is a well-known fast-food chain. It’s most famous for its fried chicken. While it originated in the US, there are Popeye restaurants all around the world. They have almost 3,500 locations! As well as fried chicken, they also have chicken sandwiches, seafood, and a range of sides and desserts.
What Is Blackened Chicken?
Blackened chicken may look burnt, but that is definitely not the case. It’s simply chicken that has been cooked in a blend of incredible spices. They can be cooked in an oven, air fryer, grill, or skillet. One thing’s for sure – the coating will look almost black, and full of flavor.
Ingredients in Popeyes Blackened Chicken
Depending on which recipe you follow, the ingredients for a copycat Popeyes blackened chicken may differ massively. However, the recipe we’re using contains the following ingredients:
- chicken breast
- butter
- vegetable oil
- smoked paprika
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- oregano
- brown sugar
- chipotle powder
Nutritional information
You may be wondering the nutritional value of our copycat Popeyes blackened chicken. Each serving contains the following:
- Calories: 218
- Carbs: 3g
- Protein: 33g
- Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 107mg
- Sodium: 985mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar 1g
Popeyes Blackened Chicken Recipe
Now let’s move on to why we’re here! How to recreate these spicy favorites at home. The recipe we’re using is inspired by a recipe from Restless Chipotle.
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
Chicken:
- 2lb of chicken breast or tenders (sliced)
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
For the seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of oregano (dried)
- 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Step 1: Prepare
Preheat your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or foil, if you have no parchment paper). Gather all of the ingredients you need. If using breasts, slice into chicken tender like strips.
Step 2: Coat the chicken
Add the seasoning ingredients into a bowl and stir to ensure everything is evenly distributed. Grab a large bowl and add the chicken, half of the vegetable oil (two tablespoons), and your seasoning.
Mix and toss well, so that each chicken piece is completely covered. Leave for at least 20 minutes. Or anywhere up to 24 hours (it should then be covered and kept in a refrigerator).
Step 3: Cook the chicken
With the remaining half of the oil (2 tablespoons), add to a skillet. Once hot, add the tenders (do not overlap). Sear for around 2 minutes on each side. Do not sear for longer than that. Then place your chicken tenders onto your prepared baking sheet. Place in the center of your oven for around 10 minutes. Take out of oven and leave to cool slightly.
Step 4: Serve
Leave the chicken to rest for around 5 minutes. In the meantime, add the butter to the pan so it melts. Stir continuously until completely melted. Now pour the butter over the blackened chicken. Your chicken is now ready to serve. Enjoy!
NOTE: If you’d like to air fry your chicken instead of baking, do not sear the chicken. Just place the chicken tenders into a preheated air fryer (380F) for around 8-10 minutes. Be sure to check the chicken often to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
My reliable assistant in every Popeyes Blackened Chicken preparation is the CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer. My dishes are always perfect with it.
Conclusion
I hope this post has given you an idea on how to follow a Popeyes blackened chicken recipe. Blackened chicken is not only one of the most popular dishes from Popeyes, but it’s also one of the healthiest…and tastiest too. It goes without saying that homemade food tastes so much better, and is more rewarding too – and this recipe takes almost no time at all!
Do you know of any tips or tricks when it comes to making blackened chicken? Or have your own recipe you’d like to share? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring.
Popeyes Blackened Chicken Recipe: How To
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 lb of chicken breast or tenders sliced
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
For the seasoning
- 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of oregano (dried)
- 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder
Instructions
- PreparePreheat your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or foil, if you have no parchment paper). Gather all of the ingredients you need. If using breasts, slice into chicken tender like strips.
- Coat the chickenAdd the seasoning ingredients into a bowl and stir to ensure everything is evenly distributed. Grab a large bowl and add the chicken, half of the vegetable oil (two tablespoons), and your seasoning. Mix and toss well, so that each chicken piece is completely covered. Leave for at least 20 minutes. Or anywhere up to 24 hours (it should then be covered and kept in a refrigerator).2 lb of chicken breast or tenders, 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of oregano (dried), 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder, 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- Cook the chickenWith the remaining half of the oil (2 tablespoons), add to a skillet. Once hot, add the tenders (do not overlap). Sear for around 2 minutes on each side. Do not sear for longer than that. Then place your chicken tenders onto your prepared baking sheet. Place in the center of your oven for around 10 minutes. Take out of oven and leave to cool slightly.4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- ServeLeave the chicken to rest for around 5 minutes. In the meantime, add the butter to the pan so it melts. Stir continuously until completely melted. Now pour the butter over the blackened chicken. Your chicken is now ready to serve. Enjoy!4 tablespoons of butter
Notes
Nutrition
FAQs
What is Popeyes Blackened Chicken?
Popeyes blackened chicken is simply chicken tenders that have been cooked in a blend of unique spices. It get its name from it's almost black appearance once the seasoning has been added, and they've been cooked. They're a popular alternative for those trying to follow a healthier diet. This is because their blackened chicken tenders and naked chicken tenders are not breaded.
How Are Popeyes Blackened Chicken Cooked?
When you're making Popeyes blackened chicken at home, you can cook them almost any way. You can fry them, air fry them, grill them or bake them. However, if you're getting them direct from Popeyes, they will be seasoned and then fried. They just do not have any breading, like most of the other chicken pieces at Popeyes.
Is Blackened Chicken From Popeyes Healthy?
Reasonably, yes. In fact, they made it onto the list of the top 10 healthy menu items from Popeyes. This is because the blackened chicken, along with the naked chicken tenders are the only two mains that are not breaded, and then fried. They are high in protein and relatively low in fat; making them the perfect healthy option.
What Does Blackened Chicken Taste Like?
Blackened chicken is not for those that like their food plain or bland. It packs a real punch in flavor and spice. The crispy black exterior is packed full of herbs and spices. Whereas the inside should be moist and juicy. The perfect mixture of savory and spicy. If you don't like spicy food - it may be best to avoid this recipe.
My name is Ania, and I am very glad to see you here. I have always loved cooking; even some of my earliest memories are flipping through a cookbook and making pudding standing on a stool because I was too small to reach the stove.
You should know that I am not a professionally trained chef, just a big food lover who grew up in a family obsessed with cooking and focused on what we eat.
