Review: Popeyes Spicy Chicken Wrap

Bottom Line: The Popeyes Spicy Chicken Wrap is rather hefty, and it delivers a satisfying kick of heat as it rises above the snack wrap pack.

McDonald’s just brought back its fan-favorite chicken snack wrap this past month (you can read my review on that here), but the competition was already ahead of them. Burger King and Jack in the Box have had their versions on the permanent menu for a while, Sonic just brought back its wrap from last year, and even Taco Bell is getting into the fray (you can read my review on that here). So it should come as no surprise that chicken slinger Popeyes would want to get in on this, and they introduced their own take on the chicken snack wraps in June. Here is the rundown on the spicy version:

Packed with a Popeyes hand-breaded and battered chicken tender, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese, crunchy pickles, and topped with Spicy Sauce, all tucked into a soft, warm tortilla inspired by their famous biscuits.

They also have a regular and a honey mustard version, with the former having mayo as its sauce and the latter having . . . well . . . honey mustard. Plus, they have another option that swaps in a blackened chicken strip for the deep-fried tender. That one will be next on my list to try.

As you would expect from Popeyes, the tender is nice and crispy, with good taste and crunch. It is seasoned well, with a bit of a Cajun kick, and you get some of the tender in every bite. The pickles are a nice addition, adding pucker and tang. The sauce—heavy on the mayo flavor—adds more tang and some creaminess. The shredded cheese brings a little sharpness, while the lettuce is sparse but noticeable. And as with the other wraps, the tortilla does not really stand out, but it holds things together well enough.

The heat from this wrap seems mild at first, but after a few bites, you know it’s there—and it eventually lands just above Medium on my scale, leaving my lips burning. That is pretty good for the drive-thru, and I would rank it the best among the competition as far as heat and flavor, delivering a hefty and satisfying wrap.

Nutrition-wise, the Spicy Chicken Wrap comes in at 470 calories, which is on the high side compared to the other wraps. The blackened chicken version comes in a little lower at 430 cals. But regardless, you may want to avoid the Cajun Fries (270 cals) and go with the Coleslaw (140 cals) or the Mashed Potatoes and Cajun Gravy (110 cals).

At $3.99, the price is on the high side for one of these wraps, but it is rather sizeable and filling. These appear to be around for the dreaded limited-time-only, but if sales are good, Popeyes may keep them on the menu to draw people away from the Golden Arches drive-thru. As mentioned, I will be trying the blackened version next, so stay tuned for a review on that one.

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 470
Fat: 27g (10g Sat/0 Trans)
Protein: 21g
Carbs: 39g
Sodium: 1470mg