7 Discontinued Popeyes Menu Items That Need A Comeback

There are plenty of fast food fried chicken chains out there, but Popeyes offers something a bit different. The chain is based on Cajun and Creole cuisine from Louisiana, which means that its chicken tends to pack a bit more flavor than a standard fried chicken sandwich or bucket of bone-in chicken. It's been around since 1972, and in that time, it has debuted plenty of new dishes ... and discontinued many in the process. Some of those dishes have vanished into the forgotten annals of fast food history. But others? We still think about them every day.

We're taking a closer look at some of the discontinued Popeyes menu items that we wish would return to the menu. Whether they actually will or not isn't clear, and those are outcomes that we ultimately have to leave to the Popeyes gods. But in the meantime, we can take a walk down fast food memory lane, remembering some of the defunct dishes that have defined Popeyes' menu over the years. From side dishes and main courses to colorful dessert faves, these are the discontinued Popeyes items that need to make a comeback. And if you can't make it to Popeyes, give these Cajun recipes a try.

Popeyes' food is generally pretty good, but there are a few items that we don't recommend ordering, like the chain's red beans and rice. But once upon a time, there was a better, more flavorful rice dish on the menu: Popeyes' iconic Cajun rice. This side dish was seasoned with chicken, vegetables, and various seasonings, which made for a much more interesting take on a standard bowl of white rice. But in 2021, a writer at The Takeout received confirmation that the Cajun rice had been removed from the chain's menu, much to the chagrin of rice lovers everywhere.

When the news dropped, fans were not happy. One Redditor said that Popeyes had messed up by deciding to discontinue this item, saying that there were some customers who went there specifically for the rice. With that beloved item gone, what reason did they have to come back? Another said that they were "shocked and SO disappointed" when they heard the news, and some have said that they still mourn the dish. On another Reddit thread, a customer said that it had been their go-to side for decades, and that its discontinuation made for the "end of an era." However, one Facebook user claimed that you can still get the Cajun rice at Popeyes in New Orleans, so it might be worth the trip to find out if this is a menu item you especially miss.

There are a few Popeyes desserts to choose from on the menu, and some of them are actually pretty solid. However, there's one once-beloved dessert that you'll no longer find on this section of Popeyes' menu: the Mardi Gras Cheesecake. Ultimately, it was just a basic cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. What made it really stand out, though, was its assortment of Mardi Gras-colored sprinkles for an undeniably festive look. And since eating at Popeyes involves leaning into that whole Louisiana thing anyway, this seems like it must have been the perfect end to a tasty fast food meal. However, it was removed from the menu in 2019 or 2020.

Customers of Popeyes apparently really miss this treat, though. One Redditor remembered the cheesecake from years past, essentially begging the chain to bring it back. A commenter on this thread said that Popeyes could sell a lot of these cheesecake slices if the chain ever decided to bring it back. On an Instagram post, a user questioned whether Popeyes should bring the dessert back, and the comments made it clear that this is a menu item many still miss. Elsewhere, a poster on Facebook wondered why nobody has started a petition to get the chain to bring back this favorite. Craving this throwback treat? Try making a classic cheesecake, then adding green, purple, and yellow sprinkles on top.

If all you're looking for is some fried chicken on a hunk of bread, then Popeyes has you covered with its beloved chicken sandwich. But once upon a time, you could order a chicken sandwich at the chain that just felt more aligned with the fast food joint's whole theme. In 2003, Popeyes came out with a chicken po'boy that featured the chain's signature fried chicken along with pickles, mayonnaise, and lettuce, all served on a baguette. This combo of ingredients is actually pretty similar to the chicken sandwich that's currently on the menu, which replaced the chicken po'boy back in 2019, except that the current sandwich is missing the lettuce and is served on a brioche bun instead of that classic baguette.

But for some customers, the presence of that new chicken sandwich just doesn't hit the spot quite in the same way. One particular Redditor said that they still fantasized about the spicy version of the chicken po'boy, and a commenter on the same thread added that the po'boys were ostensibly better and more affordable than the sandwich that's on the menu now. A blogger even wrote a whole post about how they mourned this sandwich now that it's gone. And another Redditor just flat-out admitted it: The chicken po'boy is better than the chicken sandwich.

These days, you see meal bowls everywhere, from the frozen section of your local grocery store to your favorite fast food joint. But Popeyes was on the leading edge of the bowl craze, rolling out its Big Easy chicken bowl in 2008. It was made with a base of rice and beans, which was adorned with chicken, shredded cheese, and a rich, savory, Cajun-spiced gravy. But the Big Easy chicken bowl didn't stay on the menu forever — by 2015, it had left the menu for good.

Although this is a bowl from back in the day, there are still some who remember it and miss it. The dish was featured on a list of the most-missed fast food items, and a fan took to Facebook specifically to announce just how much they loved the meal. And another Facebook user couldn't even contain their excitement while posting a comment about the now-discontinued dish: "Please bring back the Big Easy Chicken bowl!!!!! I'm begging y'all!" they exclaimed.

Now, there are probably a lot of people out there who will rightfully assume that Popeyes' green beans deserved to be discontinued, just because it doesn't sound like the most decadent side dish in the lineup. But there's something that feels sort of novel about green beans at a fast food restaurant, and they once provided an ideal side for those who wanted something a bit lighter and fresher. In 2021, though, the chain decided to end the reign of the green bean, relegating it to Popeyes' history. And to make matters worse, Popeyes didn't even announce that the menu item was on its way out until an outlet reached out to them to confirm that the side dish was, in fact, actually discontinued.

It turns out that fans actually really like the chain's green beans. A Reddit user pointed out that with this change, there wasn't anything else on the menu that was green now that the beans were gone, which is why they wanted the chain to bring the dish back. Another echoed the same sentiment, saying that the green beans were perfect for balancing out the bread and meat in Popeyes' dishes. There are others who have also called for the return of this fresh-tasting and surprisingly delicious side, which goes to show that the people want their greens.

If you're lucky enough to live in Canada, then you can still order Popeyes' onion rings when you go through the drive-thru. Unfortunately, though, you're not going to have the same luck in the U.S., since this one beloved side dish has now been discontinued for a while. It's not quite clear when they left the menu, but by sometime in the early to mid-2010s, they were gone for good. Although you can still get standard French fries if you want a crispy, fried side, they just don't hit the same savory notes as those onion rings once did.

This is made obvious by the slew of Redditors who are begging for this side dish to come back. A Reddit user took to the forum to question whether there was anyone who still had onion rings at their local Popeyes — others commented to say that they weren't available at their local Popeyes locations, either. Another said that they used to love the onion rings while they were still on the menu and that, after all this time, they still hope they come back someday. A poster even questioned if someone had made a petition to try to get Popeyes to come to their senses. Someone actually has done just that, though the petition has just under 500 signatories at the time of writing.

Good fried chicken is delicious on its own, but it gets even better when it's paired with the flavor of sweet, fluffy waffles. That's exactly what you could order at Popeyes at one point in the chain's history with its chicken waffle tenders. No, this wasn't just standard chicken and waffles made with tenders instead of larger pieces of chicken. Rather, the chicken was actually coated in a waffle batter. When paired with the accompanying honey maple sauce, it offered a sweet and savory combo that's hard not to love. However, these chicken waffle tenders were a limited edition item from the start. They were originally rolled out in 2013, then made a reappearance the following year. Since then, though, Popeyes' chicken waffle tenders have only lived in the memories of those who once adored them.

Even though this dish has been off Popeyes' menu for years, fans still remember it fondly. One reminisced on the dish from nearly 10 years prior, wondering what happened to the menu item. Another posed a similar question, saying that they needed them to come back. A Reddit user even said it was the best-ever menu item available at Popeyes — that seems like pretty high praise for a limited-time item. They loved just how sweet and crisp the chicken was. Unfortunately, though, it doesn't look like this one shows any signs of making a comeback.