Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has built an empire on its signature southern fried chicken. With its crispy, crunchy coating and juicy, tender meat, Popeyes‘ chicken has earned a cult following and inspired countless imitators. But while Popeyes‘ classic bone-in fried chicken remains a menu mainstay, the chain has experimented with several other preparations and serving styles over the years.
One of the most beloved of these fried chicken variations was the Popeyes Popcorn Chicken. These bite-sized, battered morsels hit the menu in the early 2010s and quickly became a fan favorite. Popeyes promoted the Popcorn Chicken as a limited-time offer rather than a permanent menu item – but during its run, it made a big impact.
So what was it about Popeyes Popcorn Chicken that made it so craveable? How did this poppable poultry snack fit into Popeyes‘ lineup of fried chicken offerings, and why did it ultimately disappear from the menu? Can you still find anything like it at Popeyes today, or will you need to look to another restaurant to get your popcorn chicken fix?
The Debut of Popeyes Popcorn Chicken
Popeyes first debuted their Popcorn Chicken in 2011 as a limited-batch menu item. The launch fit into Popeyes‘ strategy of regularly introducing new variations on their signature chicken to drive customer interest and sales.
"Limited Time Offerings like Popcorn Chicken are a key part of Popeyes‘ menu strategy," says restaurant industry analyst Joel Greenberg. "These types of promotions give customers a fresh way to experience the core product and a reason to visit the restaurant more frequently."
The concept behind the Popcorn Chicken was straightforward: take Popeyes‘ famous fried chicken and shrink it down into bite-sized pieces suitable for snacking. Each morsel featured all-white-meat chicken breast cut into small, nugget-like chunks, coated in Popeyes‘ signature seasoned batter and fried until golden and crispy. The resulting "popcorn" pieces were about the size of an actual kernel of popped corn – hence the name.
Popeyes served up their Popcorn Chicken in a few different sizes and price points:
- Snack Box: ¼ pound of popcorn chicken with a buttermilk biscuit, starting at $3.99
- Combo Box: ¼ pound popcorn chicken, a biscuit, one regular side, and a drink, starting at $4.99
- Large Box: ½ pound of popcorn chicken for $6.99, positioned as a sharing size
The smallest size worked as a quick snack or an add-on to a full meal, while the larger portions could function as an appetizer or a whole meal for a hungrier customer. The product‘s "poppable" nature and low price point made it attractive for on-the-go snacking and sharing with friends.
Sales data shows that the Popcorn Chicken performed well for Popeyes during its limited run. According to industry estimates, Popeyes saw a 5% bump in same-store sales during Q3 2011, the quarter when Popcorn Chicken first launched. Net income for Popeyes restaurants also increased by 24% year-over-year in 2011.
Spicing Things Up with Spicy Popcorn Chicken
Never one to shy away from bringing the heat, Popeyes also introduced a spicy version of their Popcorn Chicken alongside the regular offering. The Spicy Popcorn Chicken started with the same white meat chicken pieces and seasoned batter as the original, but kicked things up a notch with the addition of four different peppers:
- Cayenne Pepper
- Habanero Pepper
- Black Pepper
- White Pepper
This quartet of peppers promised to pack a serious punch of heat into each bite-sized piece. The Spicy Popcorn Chicken clocked in around 30,000-50,000 Scoville Heat Units – about on par with a moderately hot cayenne pepper sauce. For comparison, Popeyes‘ regular spicy fried chicken lands around 10,000-20,000 SHU.
Food bloggers and reviewers who sampled the Spicy Popcorn Chicken gave it high marks for delivering legitimate, tongue-tingling heat without overpowering the underlying chicken flavor. "The spice level was no joke – my nose was running by the time I finished the box," wrote one reviewer. "But the chicken was still juicy and the coating was super crispy, just like Popeyes‘ regular fried chicken. The spice complemented the flavors instead of covering them up."
The Spicy Popcorn Chicken came in the same sizes and price increments as the original version. Customers could choose their spice level tolerance when ordering – though with the intense pepper blend, even the smallest snack size box packed a fiery kick.
The Popcorn Chicken Pop-ularity Pops
After a successful multi-year run and lots of positive feedback from fans, the Popeyes Popcorn Chicken eventually exited the menu. As a limited time offering, it was never intended to be a permanent menu fixture.
Popeyes remained tight-lipped about the specific reasoning behind the Popcorn Chicken‘s menu departure. But restaurant industry experts say the decision likely came down to two main factors: menu variety and profitability.
"Fast food chains have to strike a balance with their menus," says analyst Greenberg. "They want to introduce new and exciting items to generate buzz and bring in customers, but if they add too many things the menu gets cluttered and unwieldy."
With Popeyes regularly cycling in different limited-time chicken dishes, keeping the Popcorn Chicken around permanently would take up valuable menu real estate. The chain likely wanted to reserve that slot to test out other new chicken concepts.
Greenberg also points to profit margins as another key reason that popular limited-time items don‘t always graduate to permanent menu status. "Even if a product sells well, it needs to be profitable for the restaurant," he explains. "The food cost, preparation time, and pricing all factor in. A lower-priced, snackable item like Popcorn Chicken may drive traffic, but not necessarily profit."
Fans were undoubtedly disappointed to see Popeyes Popcorn Chicken disappear. A 2014 petition on Change.org urging Popeyes to "Bring Back the Popcorn Chicken" garnered over 2,000 signatures. Social media posts bemoaning the loss of the menu favorite continue to pop up to this day.
Popeyes Chicken Nuggets: The Popcorn Chicken Successor?
While Popeyes Popcorn Chicken may be gone, fans can still get a similar fix with the chain‘s current Chicken Nuggets. Launched in July 2021, the nuggets bear some key similarities to the Popcorn Chicken:
- Made with 100% white meat chicken breast
- Hand battered and breaded in Popeyes‘ signature coating
- Available in both classic and spicy versions
The main difference comes down to size and shape. The Popcorn Chicken pieces were quite small and irregularly shaped, while the new Nuggets are larger and more uniform – think a standard chicken nugget rather than a popcorn kernel.
Popeyes Chicken Nuggets come in a range of piece counts and price points:
- 8-piece: $3.99
- 12-piece: $4.99
- 24-piece: $8.99
- 36-piece: $12.99
- 48-piece: $16.99
That‘s a wider spread of sizes compared to the Popcorn Chicken – the largest 48-piece offering tips the scales at almost two pounds of nuggets! Smaller 4- or 6-piece servings also appear as part of kids‘ meal combos.
In a head-to-head matchup, does the new school Chicken Nugget outperform the old school Popcorn Chicken? It depends on what you‘re looking for. The Popcorn Chicken had the edge in terms of crispy, craggy breading and ultra-compact popability. But the larger nuggets provide a more substantial bite, with more chicken to balance out the fried exterior.
The Chicken Nuggets seem to be a hit so far – Popeyes reported nearly doubling its sales growth in the months following the menu addition. Only time will tell if the nuggets can inspire the same level of devoted fandom as the fondly remembered Popcorn Chicken.
Popcorn Chicken Options from Other Chains
If Popeyes‘ nuggets don‘t quite scratch the popcorn chicken itch, never fear – several other fast food brands currently feature popcorn-style chicken on their menus:
KFC Popcorn Nuggets
- Breaded white meat chicken in bite size pieces, available in individual servings or as part of combos
- Introduced 2015, after previous popcorn chicken offering was discontinued in 2011
- Recently launched Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets with 100% white meat, available in 2 flavors: Original Recipe or Extra Crispy
Sonic Popcorn Chicken
- All white-meat Jumbo Popcorn Chicken, served plain or tossed in Honey BBQ or Buffalo sauce
- Available in snack, medium, and large sizes, or as part of a Jumbo Popcorn Chicken Combo with fries or tots
Chubby Chicken – Popcorn Chicken (Hawthorne, CA)
- Crispy breaded chicken pieces tossed in choice of sauce: Norm, Spicy Kung Pao, Szechuan Spicy, Sweet & Sour, Honey Garlic
- Available in small and large sizes; priced at $6.99 for small (as of 2021)
Each chain puts their own spin on the popcorn chicken concept, so devotees of the Popeyes version may need to sample a few to find their new favorite. Or spread the popcorn chicken love around and grab some from each spot.
DIY Popcorn Chicken: Make Popeyes‘ Version at Home
The truly devoted Popeyes Popcorn Chicken fans can take a crack at recreating the recipe in their own kitchens. Popeyes keeps their signature seasonings tightly under wraps, but a cottage industry of "copycat recipes" aims to crack the code.
Most copycat recipes call for:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into small 1/2-inch cubes
- Seasoned flour coating with all-purpose flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt & pepper
- Wet batter with eggs and buttermilk or milk
- Neutral frying oil like canola or vegetable oil
The basic process:
- Cut chicken and make the seasoned flour and wet batter
- Coat the chicken pieces in flour, then wet batter, then flour again
- Fry coated chicken pieces in 350°F oil for 3-4 minutes until golden brown
- Drain and serve with favorite dipping sauces
Making a big batch of copycat popcorn chicken takes some time and effort. But the ability to pop crispy, juicy, Popeyes-style chicken morsels into your mouth anytime the cravings hit? That just might be priceless.
Will Popeyes Popcorn Chicken Make a Comeback?
While there‘s been no official word on a popcorn chicken revival, it‘s not outside the realm of possibility. Popeyes has resurrected several other popular limited-time menu items for victory laps, like the Ghost Pepper Wings or the seasonal Cajun-Style Turkey at Thanksgiving.
Persistent pleas from passionate fans could persuade Popeyes to give the Popcorn Chicken another run. A new wave of customers discovering Popeyes for the first time would probably welcome the chance to sample a menu favorite they missed out on the first time around.
But unless and until Popeyes decides to pop popcorn chicken back on the menu, aficionados will have to remain content with the chain‘s Chicken Nuggets to get their bite-sized chicken fix close to home. Those willing to play the field can venture out and sample other restaurants‘ riffs on crispy popcorn chicken.
One thing‘s certain: Popeyes‘ Popcorn Chicken made a lasting impression and proved that good things can come in small packages – as long as those small packages are filled with fried chicken.
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