Popeye's Biscuits Recipe to Make at Home (2024)

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits meals are a beloved American institution.

As a kid, I still have fond memories of when Dad would bring home dinner from Popeyes after work. As you probably know, just about everything on their menu is insanely delicious, but my favorites are their chicken with red beans and rice. And, of course, you have to have a buttermilk biscuit or two — that just goes without saying!

And boy, I remember those occasions when the store would forget our biscuits. Thankfully, the store manager was always helpful, and my dad would always return either that night or another with some lagniappe (a little extra) for his inconvenience.

Founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is the second-largest (behind KFC) quick-service fried chicken chain.

When you think of comfort food with a touch of Southern flair, chances are Popeyes’ biscuits come to mind. These delectable, buttery morsels have become a staple side dish at the popular fast-food chain, drawing customers from far and wide to sink their teeth into this fluffy, golden delight.

As a biscuit aficionado, it’s natural for you to be curious about what makes these flaky masterpieces stand out from other contenders in the market. Well, Popeyes has managed to strike the perfect balance between richness and lightness, with a hint of irresistible tenderness added to the mix.

Popeyes is famous not just for its deliciously juicy fried chicken. Fans of the restaurant also crave Popeyes fries, their signature red beans and rice, the sensational Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, and Popeyes biscuits.

Popeyes buttermilk biscuits are perfectly dense, buttery, and incredibly flaky.

Also, there are so many ways to enjoy these delicious fluffy biscuits once you know how to make the copycat recipe at home. You can serve them with your own fried chicken recipe, as a breakfast course, or as a main course dinner of biscuits and sausage gravy.

A Popeyes biscuit is also delicious as a decadent dessert when it’s served hot and drizzled with warm honey or served with preserves.

Copycat Popeyes Biscuits Recipe

Many home chefs consider any recipe that involves dough to be overwhelming and intimidating. However, we are here to tell you that making biscuits is easier than you think.

When you’re learning how to cook, making bread of any type from scratch seems like a daunting adventure, but it’s totally doable, especially with quick bread like biscuits.

In fact, making biscuits is a great way to wade into the world of bread baking, because when you follow the directions, Popeyes’ biscuits are nearly fool-proof.

It’s pretty difficult to mess up a copycat Popeyes biscuit recipe and you can make a perfect flaky buttery Popeyes biscuit even if you’re a newbie in the kitchen.

Ingredients in a Popeyes Biscuit

Here are the ingredients you need to make Popeyes buttermilk biscuits.

Flour

This copy cat recipe uses all-purpose flour. Don’t attempt to make these biscuits with self-rising flour unless you make adjustments with the baking soda and baking powder.

Butter

Then, butter is added. Make sure your butter is cold. This is essential. You can even freeze your butter for 15-20 minutes before you dice it up and add it to your dry ingredients.

When your butter is cold, your biscuits will turn out soft and fluffy. You won’t get the same texture if you use butter that has been melted. Your butter is going to be nice and firm, so you need to cut it into smaller pieces that are about the size of a pea.

You don’t want your butter pieces to melt, so be sure you avoid overmixing your dough.

Milk and Buttermilk

After you get your butter cut up in your dough, you will add your cold buttermilk and cold milk. Be sure your milk is cold so that it doesn’t melt your butter. This is essential for making perfect Popeye’s buttermilk biscuits.

Also, you can technically use regular milk instead of buttermilk in your biscuit recipe, but the buttermilk sure does give a nice tanginess to your biscuits, so we recommend definitely using it. You can use either low-fat or full-fat buttermilk for this biscuit recipe.

If you don’t have buttermilk in your fridge and can’t get to the supermarket, you can make your own buttermilk by adding a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of milk. This isn’t the best option, but it’s OK as a last resort.

Another hack you can do is to use sour cream that has been watered down. To make this, use equal parts water and sour cream and whisk it thoroughly until it has the consistency of buttermilk. Using sour cream to make buttermilk isn’t ideal, but if you have no other option, it can work.

Baking Powder and Baking Soda

The baking soda and baking powder are what make Popeyes biscuits so fluffy and tall.

Sugar

Technically, you can omit the sugar. It’s mostly added for flavor. You can also use honey instead.

Salt

Use sea salt or regular table salt.

Tricks and Tips for the Best Biscuits

Following these tips and best practices will ensure that you bake the perfect Popeyes biscuit.

• Use butter that is COLD. This point can’t be overstressed. The cold butter will create steam inside your biscuits as they bake. That’s what makes the biscuits expand and turn into beautiful buttermilk biscuit layers.
• Use a pastry cutter to cut your butter into pieces that are about the size of green peas. Don’t allow your butter to melt before baking.
• Make sure your buttermilk and milk are as cold as you can get it so that it doesn’t melt your butter when you add it to the flour mixture.
• Ensure that you’re using fresh baking soda and baking powder. Check the expiration dates on the boxes. If you use expired baking soda or baking powder, your biscuits won’t rise as much as you want them to.
• Use buttermilk that is good quality so that you can have the perfect tangy taste.
• Avoid over-mixing your dough in this copycat recipe because this will result in melting the butter and making your biscuits tough. Mix gently until all of the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
• To make sure your biscuits have the signature layers, you need to fold the dough three times and gently roll it out. This is an easy trick to make sure you get those gorgeous, tasty and flaky layers in your biscuits.
• When you’re cutting your biscuits with a biscuit cutter, don’t seal off the dough edges. Try to avoid twisting your biscuit cutter because that’s what seals off the edges. This can prevent your dough from properly rising. Just press down on the dough and life, allowing the cutter to naturally release the biscuit.
• Make sure you place your biscuits on the baking sheet so that they’re quite close together. The edges can even touch. This way, the biscuits have to go up, resulting in super tall and soft biscuits.
• Brush some melted butter on top of your biscuits as soon as they come out of the oven.
• Consider serving these delicious buttermilk biscuits with some creative toppings. Besides milk gravy or sausage gravy, you can use cheese or tomato gravy.
• To make these biscuits a dessert of sweet brunch treat, use honey, jalapeno jelly, apple cider jelly, bourbon jelly, jam, or preserves.

Storing and Freezing Copycat Popeyes Biscuits

You can store your Popeyes biscuits in an airtight container to keep them from drying out. They will keep well at room temperature for two days.

To make your copycat Popeye’s biscuits last longer, you can store your Popeye’s biscuit for 5-6 days in the refrigerator. Reheat them in the microwave for 10-30 seconds, depending on your microwave’s wattage.

Copycat Popeyes biscuits also freeze exceptionally well. To freeze your biscuits, put them in a freezer container and wrap the container in plastic wrap. Be sure to write the date on the container. They will keep beautifully in the freezer for up to two months.

You can also wrap up and freeze an individual biscuit to pull out on busy workdays.

Popeyes Biscuits Recipe

Watch this video to learn why the Popeye’s biscuit recipe is so exceptional.