Popeyes has probably come up with more ways to present fried chicken than the number of letters in Louisiana. There’s the Signature Fried Chicken, chicken wings, boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, and several others I’ve missed. The latest addition is Chicken Dippers, which are thin strips of all-white breast meat that’s hand-battered and breaded with Popeyes’ signature Louisiana herbs and spices. It’s served with your choice of dipping sauce, but the chain wants you to try its new Signature Sauce.
When my order arrived in its sleeve, its presentation made me wonder if this was Popeyes’ attempt to offer a competitor to Burger King’s Chicken Fries. Some of the thin, long strips were curvy, while others were straight. The Chicken Dippers also somewhat remind me of the chain’s Rip’n Chicken (R.I.P.), but not rip’able.
Sans sauce, the breaded poultry has the same Popeyes flavor that we all know and love, and it’s tasty enough that I could eat these without dipping them into anything. Also, there was a good amount of Dippers in the sleeve. However, their crunch was underwhelming. Maybe mine were made wrong? There were crunchy moments, but I remember the chain’s tenders being more crunch-tastic.
However, I came away more impressed with Popeyes’ new Signature Sauce. According to the chain’s website, it’s “inspired by New Orleans food culture” and that it “packs a kick of heat, a hint of sweet, and our signature Cajun spices.” It’s like a concentration of what goes into the batter of Popeyes’ chicken. It amps up all those spices and makes these Chicken Dippers, which are already tasty, even tastier. And if you’re concerned about spiciness, the sauce has a little fire, although I’d consider it more of a smoldering.
Speaking of heat, unlike some of Popeyes’ other options, there isn’t a spicy version of this limited time offering.
Popeyes Chicken Dippers are just Popeyes chicken in a different format, but it’s a format that’s more shareable than the chain’s tenders. While I don’t think you’ll feel any FOMO with the thin chicken strips, the Signature Sauce is something you shouldn’t miss. Fortunately, it’s a permanent addition, so you’ll have plenty of time to try it, and you can do so with whatever fried chicken du jour Popeyes offers at the time.
Purchased Price: $5.99*
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Chicken Dippers), 10 out of 10 (Signature Sauce)
Nutrition Facts: 540 calories, 24 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 125 milligrams of cholesterol, 1950 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 33 grams of protein.
*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.
