Al Copeland founded Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in New Orleans, Louisiana, back in 1972. These days it’s famous for its spicy chicken, with 2,500 restaurants worldwide in 47 states and 27 countries, and also a favorite of Queen Bey herself. However, compared with other fast food joints in the US, Popeyes’ vegan options are rather limited. This is disappointing, considering Popeyes only recently launched in the UK, and it already offers a plant-based option for vegan diners. Nevertheless, at Vegan Unlocked, we remain undeterred when it comes to scouting out all the vegan options available across the country, and with our secret menu, editor’s picks and full menu, you’ll still be able to satisfy your cravings for southern cuisine.
The Vegan Unlocked Research Team searched through all the options on the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen menu and found a couple of customizable options and a few on-menu items you can enjoy with some substitutions.
Popeyes scores 2.3 out of 5 stars with few vegan options. So, when attending this dining venue, you’ll only encounter a handful of vegan-friendly options, and because so many options are fried in beef tallow, fries (usually a vegan go-to), are off the menu.
This score is calculated based on the number of vegan offerings on Popeyes menu “as is” or with an easy substitution, a restaurant vegan customizability score and finally, the number of vegan options vs non-vegan options. Learn more about Vegan Unlocked Ratings.
Secret Menu
When eating out at a chain that offers limited plant-based options, it can feel like a bit of a conundrum figuring out what’s vegan-friendly and what’s not. Especially when some chains are secretive about their ingredients list or how they cook their products. At Vegan Unlocked, we believe that there are plant-based opportunities everywhere, so we sent in our team of vegan researchers to do some digging. Their results show that even in a place like Popeyes, which seemingly fries everything in animal fat, you can still create some delicious inventions when you put your imagination to the test.
Don’t fancy trying out an inventive creation. Scroll on to find Popeyes vegan menu items and our editors’ top picks just below this section.
Saucy BBQ Corn
This custom creation is straightforward and delicious. Order up corn on the cob, and tell them to hold the butter. Then smother your corn in Bold BBQ sauce and enjoy.
Vegged-up Po’boy
Order up the Po’boy without chicken, seafood, or sauce and request that Popeyes pack it with veggies, then drench it in cocktail sauce.
All the Vegan Options at Popeyes
Sides
- Corn on the cob
- Baguette
- Grits (when made with water)
- Po’boy, without chicken, seafood and or sauce.
Sauces, Add Ons, Toppings
- Apple sauce
- Bold BBQ sauce
- Cocktail
- Sweet Heat
Drinks
- Coffee (available for breakfast)
- Orange Juice (available for breakfast)
- Coke
- Diet Coke
- Hawaiian Punch
- Mountain Dew
- Sprite
- Fanta Strawberry
- Fanta Orange
- Pepsi
- Diet Pepsi
- Dr. Pepper
- Unsweetened Tea
- Sweet Tea
Editor’s Picks: What Are the Top Vegan Meals at Popeyes?
If you’re in the mood for something a little saucy, order up the BBQ Corn from our secret menu. It’s the summer sizzler on the menu and packed with absolute bags of flavor.
Sometimes, you just need something to kickstart your day, and at Popeyes, the morning satiator is its grits. It’ll keep you satisfied until lunch and is delicious in its simplicity.
The Vegged-up Po’boy at Popeyes is the best lunch-on-the-go sandwich that’s up for grabs at Popeyes. However, availability can vary from restaurant to restaurant, so, be sure to check with Popeyes staff.
Note: Vegan Unlocked is a tool dedicated to helping people find plant-based options. We are not an allergen resource, and want to encourage our friends with allergies to proceed with caution. We cannot control and don’t always know when cross contamination takes place. As far as cross-contamination of vegan foods with animal products, this is completely up to your comfort level as an individual. Read our stance on cross contamination.
Frequently Asked Popeyes Questions
Are Popeyes Fries Vegan?
Although the fries themselves are vegan-friendly, some report that both the fries (including the cajun fries) and hashbrowns are fried in beef tallow, meaning they’re not plant-based.
Does Popeyes Have Vegan Meat?
Popeyes has not yet joined the vegan meat train and does not offer alternative plant-based meats on its menu.
Are Popeyes Red Beans and Rice Vegan?
No, Popeyes red beans and rice are cooked with pork, so they’re not vegan-friendly.
You can find out more information on Popeyes by visiting their website here.
Planning on visiting Popeyes soon?
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The Popeyes Vegan Menu Was Brought to You by…
Madaline Dunn
Madaline is a vegan journalist, writer, and editor specializing in sustainability, current affairs, and social justice and the ways in which they intersect. Her work focuses on innovation and progress, prioritizing rigorous investigation. When she’s not writing, she’s in the kitchen experimenting with new plant-based recipes, reading a good book, or thinking about her next cup of coffee.
Cristina Garrido
Cristina is a vegan cook and recipe developer. She’s worked in several vegan kitchens, as a collaborator for different cooking blogs and now works as a consultant helping restaurants interested in making their menus more vegan-friendly. She’s passionate about cultural foods and culinary innovations. Her non-food related interests include thrifting, sustainability and exploring her new adoptive country, Portugal.
