The Popeyes New blackened chicken sandwich is a popular menu item at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurants. With its crispy buttermilk battered and hand battered white meat chicken fillet, mayonnaise, and pickles on a buttery brioche bun, this sandwich is a tasty treat for many. However, for those watching their calorie intake, the calorie count of the Popeyes blackened chicken sandwich may be a concern. In this article, we will provide a quick answer on the calorie count of this sandwich, followed by more detailed nutritional information, comparisons to other similar sandwiches, and conclusions on how this sandwich fits into a balanced diet.
Quick Answer
The Popeyes New blackened chicken sandwich contains 689 calories in the classic version with regular mayonnaise. The spicy version with spicy mayonnaise contains slightly more at 699 calories.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the complete nutrition facts for the Popeyes New blackened chicken sandwich, sourced from the Popeyes website:
Classic
| Serving Size | 1 sandwich (221g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 689 |
| Fat | 39g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g |
| Cholesterol | 125mg |
| Sodium | 1465mg |
| Carbohydrates | 48g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 6g |
| Protein | 42g |
Spicy
| Serving Size | 1 sandwich (224g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 699 |
| Fat | 40g |
| Saturated Fat | 8g |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g |
| Cholesterol | 125mg |
| Sodium | 1513mg |
| Carbohydrates | 49g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 6g |
| Protein | 42g |
As you can see, the majority of calories in the Popeyes blackened chicken sandwich comes from fat at 39-40 grams and protein at 42 grams per sandwich. The classic version contains 689 calories while the spicy contains 699 calories.
How it Compares to Other Sandwiches
To put the Popeyes blackened chicken sandwich’s calorie count into perspective, let’s compare it to some other popular chicken sandwiches from fast food chains:
Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
- 440 calories
- 19g fat
- 1.5g saturated fat
- 95mg cholesterol
- 1440mg sodium
- 41g protein
Wendy’s Homestyle Chicken Sandwich
- 530 calories
- 28g fat
- 4.5g saturated fat
- 125mg cholesterol
- 1280mg sodium
- 38g protein
McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- 480 calories
- 23g fat
- 4g saturated fat
- 75mg cholesterol
- 1340mg sodium
- 22g protein
Comparing these nutrition numbers shows that the Popeyes blackened chicken sandwich is on the higher end for calories and fat compared to sandwiches from other popular fast food chains. Chick-fil-A’s original chicken sandwich is considerably lower with only 440 calories and 19g fat. Wendy’s and McDonald’s sandwiches land in between with 530 and 480 calories respectively.
When it comes to protein, Popeyes has the most at 42g while Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s are close behind. McDonald’s has noticeably less protein at 22g. For sodium, Popeyes is the highest at 1465-1513mg.
Health Impact of the Popeyes Blackened Chicken Sandwich
When examining the impact of the Popeyes blackened chicken sandwich on health and diet, there are a few key points to consider:
Calorie Count
At 689-699 calories, this sandwich accounts for a significant portion of most people’s recommended daily calorie intake. The recommended calorie intake for the average moderately active adult is 2000-2400 calories per day. One Popeyes chicken sandwich consumes over a quarter of that allowance. Those wanting to lose weight may need to limit even further to around 1200-1600 calories per day, making this sandwich too high to fit into their reduced calorie diet.
Fat Content
With 39-40g of fat, the Popeyes sandwich contains a high dose of fat. The American Heart Association recommends limiting total fat intake to between 25-35% of total calories. For a 2000 calorie diet, this equates to about 56-78g of fat per day. One Popeyes chicken sandwich therefore provides over half of the recommended daily limit for total fat. It’s also high in saturated fat at 7-8g. Saturated fat should be limited to less than 10% of total calories or 22g on a 2000 calorie diet. So this sandwich alone hits over a third of the saturated fat limit.
Sodium Content
The sodium content of 1465-1513mg is also very high for one sandwich. Health experts recommend limiting sodium intake to less than 2300mg per day, and ideally closer to 1500mg. Eating this Popeyes sandwich would take up the majority of that limit in just one meal. A high sodium intake is associated with increased blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Those with high blood pressure or on a sodium-restricted diet should be cautious about eating such a high sodium meal.
Protein Content
On the positive side, the Popeyes blackened chicken sandwich provides a significant dose of protein at 42 grams. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein is 50 grams per day for the average adult. So this sandwich is delivering nearly an entire day’s worth of the muscle-preserving and filling nutrient protein in one meal. The high protein could help support satiety and appetite control.
Conclusion
The Popeyes New Blackened Chicken Sandwich contains 689 calories for the classic version and 699 calories for the spicy version. It is a high calorie, high fat, and high sodium meal. When eaten in moderation alongside fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and heart-healthy fats as part of a balanced diet, this sandwich can be occasionally incorporated into an overall healthy lifestyle. However, frequent consumption could lead to weight gain and negative health impacts for certain individuals, especially those limiting calories, saturated fat, or sodium. When choosing this popular sandwich option, it’s important to account for the rest of your daily food intake and adjust accordingly to stay within public health recommendations for calories, fats, sodium, and other nutrients. Moderation and balance is key.