How Many Calories Are in Popeyes Chicken Strips?

Popeyes is known for its mouthwatering, crispy chicken strips This popular fast food chain offers both mild and spicy chicken strips, providing a tasty protein option But with fried foods, calories are always a concern. If you love Popeyes chicken strips, how many calories are you really taking in with each order? Let’s break it down.

A Look at Popeyes Chicken Strips Nutrition Facts

The number of calories in a Popeyes chicken strip order depends on the size you get. Here are the nutrition facts:

• 3-piece chicken strip meal This smaller size option provides around 445 calories per serving Specifically, a 3-piece mild or spicy chicken strip meal contains about 21 grams of fat, 29 grams of carbs, and 38 grams of protein.

• 5-piece chicken strip meal: The 5-piece adds about 715 calories to the meal. It has 34 grams of fat, 47 grams of carbs, and 60 grams of protein.

• Eight-piece chicken strip meal: People who are really hungry can get this. This option has approximately 1,100 calories. It has 92 grams of protein, 71 grams of carbs, and 51 grams of fat.

So as you can see, the more chicken strips you eat, the more calories pile up. Even just three chicken strips packs nearly 450 calories.

Estimating Calories Per Chicken Strip

Based on the nutrition facts listed above, we can guess that one Popeyes chicken strip has about

• 150 calories
• 7 grams of fat
• 10 grams of carbs
• 13 grams of protein

This is just a rough guess, but it gives you a good idea of how many calories are in each chicken strip. Each extra strip you eat makes your meal 150 calories higher.

How Popeyes Chicken Strips Compare to Other Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is notorious for being high in calories and fat. How do Popeyes chicken strips stack up to other popular fried chicken options?

• KFC chicken strips – KFC’s chicken strips contain around 140 calories per strip. So they are slightly lower in calories than Popeyes.

• Chick-fil-A chicken strips – Chick-fil-A is famous for its chicken, but their strips are lower in calories at just 120 per strip.

• Popeyes fried chicken – Pieces of bone-in Popeyes fried chicken contain 150-250 calories each. The chicken strips are similar.

• McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets – At around 50 calories each, McNuggets are much lower in calories than Popeyes strips. But they are smaller.

So Popeyes chicken strips are on the higher calorie side, though fairly comparable to other fried chicken options. The breading and frying add lots of extra calories.

Tips for Enjoying Popeyes Chicken Strips More Lightly

Popeyes chicken strips are hard to resist. Luckily, there are some easy ways to enjoy this treat while limiting the calorie impact:

• Downsize your order – Stick to the 3-piece meal or even just get 2 strips á la carte. This cuts calories significantly.

• Split your order – Share a 5 or 8-piece with a friend. You each get the flavor for fewer calories.

• Skip the fries – Order a side salad instead of french fries to slash calories.

• Watch your sauces – Sweet BBQ and honey mustard dips add extra calories. Go easy on dipping.

• Balance your diet – Be mindful of lighter, nutrient-dense foods the rest of the day to compensate.

• Try grilled – You can request grilled instead of fried chicken strips for less fat and calories.

The Bottom Line

A 3-piece Popeyes chicken strip meal will cost you around 445 calories. Each additional strip adds roughly 150 calories. Though high in calories, enjoying Popeyes chicken strips in moderation can be part of a balanced diet. With some simple tweaks, you can still satisfy your crispy chicken craving without overdoing it on calories.