This paper presents the stabilization and synchronization problem of a class of fractional order chaotic systems with unknown parameters. A systematic step by step approach is explained to derive control results using an adaptive backstepping strategy. The analytically obtained control structure, derived by blending a systematic backstepping procedure with Mittag‐Leffler stability results, helps in obtaining the stability of a strict feedback‐like class of uncertain fractional order chaotic systems. The results are further extended to achieve synchronization of these systems in master–slave configuration. Thereafter, the methodology has been applied to two example systems, that is, chaotic Chua's circuit and Genesio‐Tesi system, which belong to addressed class, in order to show the application of results. Numerical simulation given at the end confirms the efficacy of the scheme presented here.