Popeyes has become one of the fastest-growing food chains in the UK, renowned for its Louisiana-style fried chicken with a signature 'shatter crunch'. To mark National Burger Day, the chain's Head of Food, Dave, shared exclusive insights into recreating the famous chicken sandwich at home. Popeyes has sold over nine million chicken sandwiches in the UK in the past year.
Dave emphasised that keeping the batter and seasoning cold is crucial for achieving the chicken's crunchiness. He demonstrated how to prepare the chicken breast by stretching it along the seam to flatten it, ensuring even cooking and a flat sandwich. The breast is then coated in a 'blackened seasoning' flour mix containing black pepper, paprika, and herbs, using a three-knuckle roll to press and flatten it further.
The chicken is tossed 20 times in the flour to ensure full coating, then dipped in a batter made from flour, water, and herbs and spices. This batter creates a shell around the chicken during frying, locking in moisture. After a second coating in flour and another 20 tosses to create crunchy bits, the chicken is fried for about six minutes.
Assembling the sandwich is simple: a lightly toasted sweet brioche bun, 14 grams of mayo spread to the edges, the fried chicken, and two sliced pickles. Dave noted that the batter is the secret to the recipe, and home cooks can experiment with their own seasonings.
