If you love Popeye’s fried chicken, you also know the chicken’s not complete without a few of its amazing sides!
Popeye’s has eight sides to choose from these days (I’ll share my favorite that they discontinued at the end).
Let’s rank them, starting with the weakest side dish…
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I almost didn’t include the jalapeno pepper, but decided to keep it in for completeness sake.
It’s a cool feature for the spice lovers, but it’s got to be last place vs. the “real” sides.
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The Popeye’s coleslaw has its fans, but other restaurants like Cane’s do it better. And it’s up against stiff competition on this list, as you’ll see further up the rankings!
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The Cajun fries come crispy and seasoned, which makes it something different than a normal set of fries.
Even a fan of regular fries like myself has to admit the extra flavor and texture of the Cajun fries is SUCH a good complement to the fried chicken.
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Some dismiss the mac & cheese at Popeye’s as Stouffer’s-like, but no less a food critic than Anthony Bourdain loved it.
Believe it or not, he’d get cravings for it in the morning.
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I mean, red beans and rice at a fast food joint? Points just for having it on the menu.
But Popeye’s goes further. It’s so darn delicious, whether you mix it all together or eat it in rice and beans chunks.
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It’s the Cajun gravy that sets this side apart.
Love that any time Popeye’s says “Cajun,” it means business!
The little flavor bursts in the gravy pair so well with the mashed potatoes.
You’re darn right I’m dipping some chicken in it!
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When Popeye’s discontinued Cajun rice around 2021, fans wept.
Luckily, Popeye’s eventually came to their senses and brought it back.
The rice includes bell peppers, cayenne, onion, garlic, Cajun and Creole seasonings, and a mix of ground beef and ground chicken.
I’m drooling!
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We had to put the buttery buttermilk biscuits #1 because they’re so good and even better paired with your favorite piece of fried chicken.
The beauty is that you don’t have to choose. The pro move is to just go ahead and get enough chicken to justify getting all eight sides!
I wish there was one more side, though…
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I would have rated the onion rings #1 if Popeye’s hadn’t discontinued them.
Their flour-y batter was so tasty and was fried so well.
The rumor is that they were a pain to make and took too long. To that, I say quality takes time…I’m willing to wait!
Anyway, let us know in the comments if you’d do the rankings any differently. See you at Popeye’s!
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