Popeyes And 'Hot Ones' Collab Brings Viral Spice Challenge To Fast Food Fans

Popeyes is officially entering the "Hot Ones" hot seat, and your taste buds may never recover. On September 15, the fried chicken giant launched a first-of-its-kind collab with the massively popular YouTube series "Hot Ones," bringing the viral spice challenge to restaurant menus nationwide. In a cultural crossover that blends bold flavor and pop culture heat, Popeyes becomes the first-ever quick-service restaurant wing brand to be featured on the show's legendary platform, and fans can now take on the challenge themselves.

Inspired by the iconic hot sauces made famous by "Hot Ones," the limited-time Popeyes x Hot Ones menu delivers four spice-tiered items, from mild to Last Dab level inferno, that allow fans to flex their heat tolerance in real life. And yes, it's all served with Popeyes' signature crispy, juicy, Louisiana-style flavor. This collab brings the sauce... literally. Four unique items make up the Popeyes x Hot Ones collection, each reflecting a different level of spice and served with specialty dips and sauces inspired by the show's hottest moments.

First up, the Sizzlin' Sriracha Dippers (Mild). These are chicken dippers marinated in pickled garlic sriracha, served with buttermilk ranch and a Hot Ones Sriracha sachet.

Next, the Smokin' Rojo Sandwich (Medium). A crispy chicken fillet slathered in Hot Ones' Los Calientes Rojo sauce, topped with tangy pickles on a toasted brioche bun.

Followed up the Darin' Dab Ghost Wings (Hot). These can come either bone-in or boneless, each of which are coated in ghost pepper dry rub, served with Hot Ones' Last Dab Ranch.

And finally, The Last Dab (Extremely Hot). The infamous final boss of spice served as a $1 add-on sachet for those who dare to dab it themselves.

If you want it all, Popeyes is offering a Hot Ones bundle, including all three menu items and the Last Dab packet, for $16.99, available at participating locations while supplies last. Prices may vary.

To celebrate the launch, "Hot Ones" dropped a special reunion episode featuring Keke Palmer, who returns to the wing gauntlet, but this time, with the Popeyes x Hot Ones menu in front of her. The custom episode premiered on YouTube at 1 p.m. EST on September 15 and features Palmer powering through questions and heat levels with her signature sass and charm.

This marks a historic first for the show, as Popeyes becomes the only quick-service restaurant brand to be integrated into the Hot Ones lineup, a testament to the brand's cultural footprint and fearless flavor strategy.

According to Popeyes, this isn't just another limited-time drop, it's a full-blown flavor moment.

"Partnering with Hot Ones was a natural fit," Bart LaCount, Chief Marketing Officer at Popeyes, said in a press release sent to The Blast. "They're a cultural phenomenon known for pushing boundaries, and at Popeyes, we've built our brand on doing the same with bold flavor experiences. This menu is more than a product launch, it's a cultural event."

Sean Evans, host of "Hot Ones," echoed the sentiment. "Popeyes has built a cult following around bold, craveable flavors, so bringing our heat to their wings just made sense," Evans said. "We've created something that's going to test spice lovers in the most delicious way possible."

What started as a niche food-meets-interview concept has grown into one of the most influential digital series in pop culture. "Hot Ones," hosted by the ever-calm and occasionally sweating Sean Evans, has become a viral sensation by flipping the traditional celebrity Q&A format on its head, quite literally turning up the heat with every question.

Each episode features a guest eating 10 increasingly spicy chicken wings, each coated in a signature hot sauce, as Evans fires off thoughtful, deep-dive questions that often catch stars off guard. From Oscar winners like Jennifer Lawrence and Viola Davis to global athletes like Stephen Curry and Shaquille O'Neal, the show has welcomed hundreds of A-listers onto the infamous hot seat.

With over 300 episodes, going onto 28 seasons, and multiple Emmy nominations, "Hot Ones" has transcended its YouTube roots. The show now boasts spinoffs like "Truth or Dab" and "Hot Ones Versus," and its hot sauces are sold in retail stores nationwide. First We Feast, the brand behind "Hot Ones," has cultivated a fanbase of 15 million subscribers and generated over 3 billion views to date.

So when a fast food giant like Popeyes teams up with "Hot Ones," it's not just a menu collab, it's a cultural event.