This Air Fryer Popeyes Chicken Sandwich copycat gives you a craggy, golden crust, juicy buttermilk-marinated chicken, thick pickles, and plenty of mayo on a toasted brioche bun. It skips the drive-thru line and the pot of oil.
When the Popeyes chicken sandwich craving hits, this is the version I make at home. The chicken soaks in a buttermilk marinade, gets dredged in a seasoned flour crust, and air fries at 390°F until it’s crackly on the outside and juicy inside. Pile it on a buttery bun with pickles and classic or spicy mayo, and it tastes like the real thing.
If you’d rather have the bone-in version, try my Air Fryer Popeyes Fried Chicken. To build a full Popeyes-style meal, add Copycat Popeyes Cajun Fries and a scoop of Popeyes Mac and Cheese.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Crispy, craggy crust: Baking powder in the breading and a light coat of cooking spray give you real crunch without deep frying.
- Juicy chicken: The buttermilk marinade tenderizes and seasons the chicken all the way through.
- Classic or spicy: Make it like the original Classic, or stir up the quick spicy mayo below.
- Make-ahead friendly: Marinate the night before, and dinner takes about 35 minutes the next day.
- Budget-friendly: Two restaurant-style sandwiches cost a fraction of the drive-thru price.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded to an even ½-inch thickness. Boneless thighs also work and stay extra juicy.
- Buttermilk and egg: The buttermilk tenderizes the chicken, and the egg helps the breading stick.
- Hot sauce: A Louisiana-style hot sauce adds flavor to the marinade without much heat.
- All-purpose flour and baking powder: Baking powder makes the crust lighter and crispier in the air fryer. Gluten-free all-purpose flour works too.
- Seasonings: Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Cooking spray: Don’t skip it. It’s what turns the flour golden instead of dusty.
- To serve: Brioche buns, mayonnaise (or spicy mayo), and thick dill pickle chips. Here’s how to toast hamburger buns in the air fryer.
How To Make an Air Fryer Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
Step One – Marinate: Pound the chicken breasts to an even ½-inch thickness. Whisk the buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce together, add the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
Step Two – Make the breading: In a shallow dish, mix the flour, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Drizzle in 1 to 2 tablespoons of the marinade and toss it with your fingers to make little shaggy clumps. Those clumps become the crunchy bits.
Step Three – Dredge: Lift each piece of chicken out of the marinade and let the excess drip off. Press it firmly into the flour mixture on both sides. Let it rest for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats so the coating sets.
Step Four – Air fry: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. Spray the basket, add the chicken in a single layer, and spray the tops until no dry flour shows. Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes. Flip, spray again, and cook another 6 to 8 minutes, until golden and 165°F (74°C) inside.
Step Five – Assemble: Toast the buns. Spread 1 tablespoon of mayo (or spicy mayo) on each cut side. Add the chicken and 3 or 4 pickle chips, then close the sandwich.
Spicy Popeyes-Style Mayo
To make it like the Spicy sandwich, stir together ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 to 2 teaspoons Louisiana-style hot sauce, ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning (my Copycat Cajun Seasoning works great), and a pinch of garlic powder. Chill it for 10 minutes so the flavors blend. You’ll have enough for two sandwiches.
Recipe Tips
- Pound the chicken evenly. Even thickness means the outside won’t burn before the center reaches 165°F.
- Spray every dry spot. Dry flour stays pale and chalky in the air fryer. A light, even coat of spray gives you a golden crust.
- Don’t crowd the basket. Leave space around each piece so the air can circulate. Cook in batches if you need to.
- Want an extra-thick crust? Dip the breaded chicken back into the marinade, then into the flour again, before air frying.
- Rest it briefly. Let the chicken sit on a wire rack for 2 to 3 minutes so the crust stays crisp under the sauce.
- Use thick pickles. Thick dill chips give that signature crunch and tang.
What To Serve With It
- Copycat Popeyes Cajun Fries
- Popeyes Mac and Cheese (Copycat)
- Air Fryer KFC-Style Buttermilk Biscuits
- Air Fryer Culver’s Fried Pickles
- Dipping sauces: Popeyes Delta Sauce, Blackened Ranch, or Popeyes Mardi Gras Mustard
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
- Storing: Refrigerate the cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep the buns, pickles, and mayo separate so nothing gets soggy.
- Freezing: Wrap cooked chicken tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating: Air fry at 375°F for 4 to 6 minutes, until hot and crisp. The microwave will soften the crust.
FAQs
Is this the same as the real Popeyes chicken sandwich?
It’s a homemade copycat. The buttermilk marinade, seasoned crust, brioche bun, thick pickles, and mayo match the original. Because it’s air fried instead of deep fried, the crust is a little lighter and less greasy.
How do I make it spicy like Popeyes?
Use the spicy mayo above, add ¼ teaspoon more cayenne to the breading, and add an extra teaspoon of hot sauce to the marinade.
Can I skip the 2-hour marinade?
In a pinch, marinate for 30 minutes. The longer soak makes the chicken noticeably juicier and more tender.
Why is my breading powdery?
There’s dry flour that didn’t get sprayed. Spray the chicken until no white spots remain, and spray again after flipping.
Can I use frozen chicken?
Thaw it completely first. Frozen chicken won’t marinate properly, and the coating won’t stick.
Can I use chicken thighs?
Yes. Boneless, skinless thighs stay very juicy. Cook them to 175°F for the best texture.
More Copycat Popeyes Recipes
- Air Fryer Popeyes Fried Chicken
- Copycat Popeyes Seafood Po’Boy
- Air Fryer Popeyes Cajun Flounder Sandwich
- Copycat Popeyes Tartar Sauce
- Popeyes Delta Sauce
More Crispy Chicken Copycats
12 Copycat Deli Sandwiches & Sliders
Copycat Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders (+ Nashville Hot)
Copycat Hardee’s Chicken Biscuit
10 Easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipes
Air Fryer Popeyes Chicken Sandwich (Copycat)
Description
Ingredients
Buttermilk Marinade
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts , (about 8 oz each), pounded to ½ inch
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Louisiana-style hot sauce
Seasoned Breading
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray
Spicy Mayo (optional, for the Spicy version)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
To Serve
- 2 brioche buns
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, or the spicy mayo above
- 6 dill pickle chips
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken
- Pound the chicken. Place the chicken breasts between plastic wrap and pound them to an even ½-inch thickness so they cook evenly.
- Make the marinade. Whisk the buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce in a bowl. Add the chicken, turn to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
Bread the Chicken
- Mix the breading. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Drizzle in 1–2 tablespoons of the marinade and toss with your fingertips to form small clumps.
- Dredge. Lift each breast from the marinade and let the excess drip off. Press it firmly into the breading on both sides. Let it rest for 5 minutes so the coating sets.
Air Fry
- Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Spray and cook. Spray the basket and add the chicken in a single layer. Spray the tops until no dry flour shows. Air fry for 6–8 minutes.
- Flip and finish. Flip the chicken, spray any dry spots, and air fry 6–8 minutes more, until golden and 165°F (74°C) inside. Rest on a wire rack for 2–3 minutes.
Assemble
- Make the spicy mayo (optional). Stir together the mayonnaise, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Build the sandwiches. Toast the brioche buns. Spread 1 tablespoon of mayo or spicy mayo on each cut side. Add the crispy chicken, top with pickles, and serve right away.
Equipment
- Meat mallet or rolling pin
- Instant-read meat thermometer
- Shallow dishes (2)
- Wire Rack
- Cooking Spray
Notes
- No dry flour: Unsprayed flour stays pale and chalky. Spray until every spot looks damp, and spray again after flipping.
- Extra-thick crust: Dip the breaded chicken back into the marinade, then into the breading again, before air frying.
- Short on time: Marinating for 30 minutes works, but 2 hours or more gives juicier chicken.
- Chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless thighs work well. Cook them to 175°F.
- Air fryer sizes vary: Start checking at 12 minutes total. Smaller baskets may need batches.
- Storage: Refrigerate the chicken separately for up to 3 days. Reheat at 375°F for 4–6 minutes.
- Make it a Popeyes meal: Serve with Copycat Popeyes Cajun Fries and Popeyes Mac and Cheese.
Nutrition
Share this recipe
We can’t wait to see what you’ve made! Mention @forktospoon or tag #forktospoon!
