What oil does Popeyes fry in?
Popeyes cooks with beef tallow blended with vegetable oils (canola/soybean) for fried chicken and cajun fries; blend can vary by location.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Popeyes
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Sweet Heat | 0.0g |
| BoldBQ | 0.0g |
| Jalapeno Pepper | 1.0g |
| Mac & Cheese | 3.0g |
| Homestyle Mac & Cheese Regular | 3.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Popeyes report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Popeyes use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Popeyes uses: beef tallow blended with vegetable oils (canola/soybean) for fried chicken and cajun fries; blend can vary by location. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.