Popeyes is betting big on wings this football season. The chain just relaunched its wing lineup with seven flavors built on a new mild marinated base, backed by a national campaign starring quarterback Baker Mayfield. And to sweeten the deal, Popeyes is giving away free 6-piece wings in the app every Monday after Mayfield scores a touchdown this season.
Instead of just taking Popeyes’ word for it, I sat down with a mountain of wings and worked through the full lineup, from sauced classics like Honey BBQ to new dry rubs like Ghost Pepper and Garlic Parm. Seven flavors, dozens of wings—here’s how they stack up for game day.
The Returning Classics
Popeyes earned its reputation on crunchy, seasoned fried chicken, and the sauced wings stay true to that formula. Honey BBQ is the easiest crowd-pleaser of the bunch, hitting with a mild sweetness and smoky tang that makes it a safe call when you want something classic.
The Signature Hot steps things up—a saucy, red-stained wing with a kick that lands right away. It’s not overwhelming, though. The spice works with that Popeyes crunch instead of drowning it out. Its strength is in the balance, with just enough heat to make you reach for a drink without ruining the next bite.
Sweet ’N Spicy looks great—glossy and evenly coated—and delivers a sticky bite that leans more sweet than hot. The thicker glaze softens the crunch a bit compared to the other sauces, but the chili-garlic notes give it a little kick beneath the sweetness.
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The Rookie Dry Rubs
The dry-rub lineup is new territory for Popeyes, and it’s all about texture. Without the sauce, the wings stay crisp, letting the breading and seasoning take the spotlight. Lemon Pepper has a bright citrus kick that makes it one of the easiest to keep munching on.
Garlic Parm delivers the most memorable bite. You get visible flecks of herbs, a punch of garlic, and a salty finish that practically begs for a dunk in ranch. Buffalo is bright orange, tangy, and crunchy, but it was more unevenly coated in the rub than the others and a bit too salty for my taste.
Ghost Pepper sounds like it would torch your mouth, but it’s surprisingly tame. There’s some heat on the tongue and a peppery afterburn, but it doesn’t bring the fire you’d expect from the name. It still delivers plenty of crisp texture and tons of flavor. As a whole, the rubs let Popeyes focus on the texture , even if some flavors hit harder than the rest.
My Game Day Pick
Starting at $5.99 for six wings, Popeyes makes it easy to load up for game day without blowing the budget. The new dry rubs are a welcome addition, keeping the breading crisp and giving you flavors you can snack on through a whole game. Garlic Parm is the flavor I’d go back to, while Buffalo was a bit much for me.
Popeyes’ new mild-marinated base and expanded lineup give the wings more range than ever. The variety means you can put together a game day spread where everyone at the table finds something to like. For football season, that’s all you really need.
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