Popeyes’ Upgraded Wings Kick Off Tailgate Season with Flavor-Packed Bites

Just ahead of football season, Popeyes has upgraded its wing game—and the flavors are all MVP-worthy. Starting August 18, every bone-in chicken wing now begins with a mild marinated base: a savory blend of Louisiana seasonings that’s fried golden-crispy to perfection. It’s a clean, flavorful canvas on which fans can layer a spectrum of tastes, from saucy classics to daring dry-rubs. 

Here’s how the new wing lineup stacks up:

• Ghost Pepper Dry Rub brings bold Louisiana seasoning and ghost-pepper heat, delivering a fiery kick for spice seekers.
• Lemon Pepper Dry Rub adds a citrusy zing, bright, tangy, and refreshing on the mild base. 
• Garlic Parm Dry Rub blends savory garlic with Parmesan, offering a rich, herb-forward twist that has quickly become a classic among fans.
• Buffalo Dry Rub gives you a wing flavor you know and love: tangy, mildly spicy, and vinegar-forward, without the sauciness. 

These favorites join as returning sauce staples:

• Signature Hot
• Sweet ’N Spicy
• Honey BBQ

The rubs are now all also built on the new mild base, and prices start at $6 for a 6-piece order, giving customers a total of seven distinctive wing options. The affordable variety and shareability make them perfect for tailgates, casual gatherings, or solo snacking. 

Fan Reactions Heat Up (and Some Critiques Spark)

On Reddit’s r/fastfood, several users have already shared their opinions, with Garlic Parm emerging as an early standout. Meanwhile, some critics have questioned portion size and value, sparking a conversation Popeyes seemingly hoped to satisfy with this broader, flavor-forward lineup. 

“The garlic parm wings are my favorite wings anywhere,” reads a comment on the Reddit thread. “I prefer bone in, but get whatever you prefer.” 

“In my opinion, the only good ones are the original ghost pepper wings, which are not at all spicy, and for all you texture-phobic crispy addicts, they are crispy, since they have no sauce,” another user wrote. “The rest of the wings are messy and boring, IMO.”

Popeyes’ Wing Pairings for a Winning Tailgate

Wings are always the star of the spread, but the right sides and add-ons can turn them into a full tailgate feast. Pairing with coleslaw or a fresh potato salad balances the heat of the Ghost Pepper and Buffalo flavors with something creamy and refreshing.

For game-day grazing, cornbread muffins or biscuits add a Southern comfort touch and help soak up the spices. And of course, no wing spread is complete without dipping sauces. While ranch and blue cheese are classics, honey mustard pairs surprisingly well with Garlic Parm, and a citrus-forward aioli can boost the brightness of Lemon Pepper.

If you want to keep things simple but festive, set out a cooler of cold beer or sparkling seltzers: something crisp to cut through the richness of the fried wings.