Popeyes fries their chicken in a blend which includes the use of beef tallow.
Popeyes also uses other oils in some locations and the core flavor and crispy texture of Popeyes chicken is a result of the beef tallow.
The frying practice that popeyes chicken is Popeyes unique taste and stands in contrast to many other fast food chains that have largely moved away from the use of beef tallow.
Beef Tallow is rendered beef fat which is similar to lard, which is rendered pork fat and is solid at room temperature, but melts into a high heat cooking oil.
Beef tallow also imparts a savory and unami flavor to the Popeyes chicken, which results in the Popeyes signature taste.
The beef tallow also helps achieve a crispy and golden brown crust which Popeyes is known for.
And while the beef tallow is a main component in frying of Popeyes chicken, some Popeyes locations may use other oils, and potentially in combination with the beef tallow.
Popeyes has also committed to sourcing sustainably sourced palm oil, although the primary frying fat for their chicken remains beef tallow.
Popeyes uses 100 percent fresh chicken that is marinated for 12 hours in their signature blend of Louisiana herbs and spices and then it's breaded and battered by hand/