POPEYES, Fried Chicken, Mild, Thigh, meat and skin with breading
Whole food · Fast Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a classic piece of Popeyes mild fried chicken: a juicy thigh, bone-in with skin and breading, offering a satisfying crunch that gives way to tender, flavorful meat. The breading is seasoned but not spicy, allowing the savory, rich taste of the chicken to shine. Nutritionally, it's a dense source of protein and fat, with a notable calorie count per 100 grams.
Calorie split: 25% protein · 14% carbs · 61% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore the signature crunch of the breading and the juicy, flavorful dark meat of the thigh. It's a beloved comfort food and a staple of American fast-food culture, often enjoyed on its own or as part of a hearty meal.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high fat and calorie content, along with significant sodium from the seasoning and frying process, can be a concern for those monitoring heart health or blood pressure. To counteract this, pair it with a large, vinegar-dressed green salad or steamed vegetables to add fiber and volume, and practice portion control by enjoying it as an occasional treat rather than a daily meal.
Key benefits
- High-quality protein for muscle maintenance and satiety
- Provides essential nutrients like iron and B vitamins from dark meat
- The skin and breading offer a satisfying textural contrast
- A convenient, ready-to-eat source of calories and energy
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Popeyes original recipe chicken is marinated for 12 hours in a blend of Louisiana seasonings before it's battered and fried, a process that deeply infuses the meat with flavor.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 46.4 g |
| Energy | 310 kcal |
| Energy | 1298 kj |
| Protein | 19.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 21.0 g |
| Ash | 2.3 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 11.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.50 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 10.1 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 30.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 21.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 153 mg |
| Potassium, K | 243 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 685 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.3 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.08 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.14 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 28.4 ug |
| Thiamin | 0.14 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.34 mg |
| Niacin | 5.7 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.23 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.48 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 19.0 ug |
| Retinol | 19.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 64.0 iu |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.24 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.10 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.03 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.07 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 7.3 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.35 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 4.6 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.14 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 2.2 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 9.1 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.10 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.95 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.08 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 7.9 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.10 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 2.3 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 2.1 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.11 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.67 g |
| Cholesterol | 107 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.14 g |
| Threonine | 0.63 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.56 g |
| Leucine | 1.2 g |
| Lysine | 0.82 g |
| Methionine | 0.28 g |
| Cystine | 0.22 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.72 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.58 g |
| Valine | 0.69 g |
| Arginine | 1.1 g |
| Histidine | 0.45 g |
| Alanine | 1.1 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.3 g |
| Glutamic acid | 4.4 g |
| Glycine | 1.6 g |
| Proline | 1.5 g |
| Serine | 0.74 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.47 g |
FAQ
Is the mild version less calories than the spicy?
The calorie and macronutrient profile is virtually identical between Popeyes mild and spicy fried chicken. The difference is solely in the seasoning blend used in the breading.
Why is the thigh higher in calories than the breast?
Chicken thigh is a darker, fattier cut of meat compared to the leaner breast. Combined with the skin and breading, this results in a higher fat and calorie content per gram.
Is this a good post-workout food?
While it provides protein, the high fat and calorie content make it less ideal than leaner protein sources for post-workout recovery. The body may prioritize digesting the fat over efficiently using the protein for muscle repair.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.10 kcal/g · 25% calories from protein · 0.5 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 2.82 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.