CopycatSpices
Copycat Popeyes Cajun Mashed Potatoes
Popeyes' Cajun mashed potatoes are creamy, buttery, and seasoned with a kick of Cajun spice and rich peppery gravy that makes them unlike any other fast-food side.
copycat · popeyes · fast-food · side
🕑Prep10 min
🍳Cook25 min
⏱Total35 min
🍽Serves6
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter (for gravy)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for gravy)
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- 1.Boil the potatoes. Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 15-18 minutes until fork-tender.
- 2.Drain and mash. Drain the potatoes thoroughly and return to the hot pot. Add the 4 tablespoons butter, milk, and heavy cream. Mash until smooth but still slightly chunky — Popeyes' version isn't perfectly smooth.
- 3.Season the potatoes. Stir in the Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust — the potatoes should have a noticeable but not overpowering Cajun kick.
- 4.Make the Cajun gravy. In a separate saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes until golden. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth. Add the onion powder and an extra 1/2 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
- 5.Serve with gravy. Spoon the mashed potatoes into bowls and ladle the Cajun gravy over the top. Serve hot alongside fried chicken.
Copycat Popeyes Cajun Mashed Potatoes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Popeyes’ mashed potatoes and Cajun gravy are the side dish that makes you forget you came for the chicken. They’re creamy and buttery like any good mashed potato, but the Cajun seasoning adds warmth, the garlic powder adds depth, and the peppery gravy ties it all together with a savory, slightly spicy finish.
The Yukon Gold potatoes are important — they’re naturally buttery and creamy, with less starch than Russets. They mash into a smooth-but-textured consistency that holds up under the gravy instead of turning into glue.
Mashed Potato Mastery
- Start with cold water. Putting potatoes in cold water and bringing it to a boil cooks them evenly. Dropping them into boiling water cooks the outside before the inside is done.
- Don’t over-mash. Over-mashing releases too much starch and makes the potatoes gummy. Mash until mostly smooth with some small chunks remaining.
- Warm your milk and cream first. Cold dairy lowers the temperature and can make the potatoes seize up. Warming them first gives you a smoother mash.
The Popeyes Side Game
A regular side of mashed potatoes at Popeyes costs about $3-4. This recipe makes six generous servings for about $4 total. That’s about $0.67 per serving with the Cajun gravy included.
