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Popeye's Cajun Sparkle Recipe
Popeye's Cajun Sparkle
By Todd Wilbur

Recipe Type: Seasoning
Calories: 3
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Recipe Rating: 3.6 (11 reviews)
 

At these New Orleans-inspired quick-chicken restaurants portable paper pouches of this seasoning blend hold about 1/4 teaspoon of tasty sprinkle, and Popeyes doesn't sell it in stores. The only way you'll get a decent portion to use on your home foods is to either horde dozens of envelopes of the Cajun seasoning or whip up your own home version. I recommend the latter. One secret ingredient in this basic seasoning blend is MSG, or monosodium glutamate, which is an important part of the delicious flavor. You'll find MSG near the other herbs and spices in your market under the brand-name Accent. If you don't want MSG on your food you can certainly leave this ingredient out of the mix. You won't get the best Top Secret clone, but the blend will still be very good on anything that needs a dash of salt, flavor, and a little bit of spicy heat.
 
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon rubbed dried sage
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon MSG (such as Accent Flavor Enhancer)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle on stuff. Eat.

Makes 2 tablespoons.
        
Greg Emery  
Submitted on 12/15/11
I used to be a Multiple Unit Manager for Popeyes. While this is a good recipe, it is not Cajun Sparkle. Way to much salt. Also missing a spice.
Randal Hart  
Submitted on 02/12/11
I use only about half the salt when I make a new batch and it turns out much better. My favorite thing to sprinkle it over is a pork chop. Season it up and throw it on a George Foreman grill and you have a quick, easy and delicious entree.
Pipeye  
Submitted on 10/31/07
Ehh, it's a good seasoning, but nowhere close if you compare it to the real thing head-to-head.
Tom McCullough  
Submitted on 08/27/07
You nailed it! This is awesome and exactly like you get at Popeyes. Hurry and develop the fried chicken recipe.
notevenclose  
Submitted on 01/10/07
This formula is not even close to Popeye's Cajun Sparkle. There is way too much garlic powder used in this formula. Use just a tiny tiny bit of garlic powder and go heavier on the black pepper, paprika, cayenne, some turmeric and a little chili powder in it. Also instead of using regular table salt use a already blended version of Seasoning Salt and doctor it up with what I listed above.
ian t.  
Submitted on 08/08/06
Todd, This is right on the money. Perfect!
Montana Shelley  
Submitted on 08/06/06
Great on Fish. I left out the MSG.
K. Bush  
Submitted on 08/03/06
This is one great Seasoning. It goes well on anything. I tried it with and without the MSG. It is 100% better with the MSG than without. I triple the recipe and put it in an old Season-All shaker.
Janet  
Submitted on 08/03/06
YUMMY! I am hundreds of miles from a Popeye's so this was great to put on my chicken tonight.
mary welle  
Submitted on 08/02/06
This was really good rubbed on chicken breasts before grilling. It gave it a bit of zing. next, i'm going to try it on steak or hamburger.
Ann  
Submitted on 08/01/06
Way too salty! Cut back on the amount of salt.