These copycat Popeyes Biscuits, made with cold buttermilk, are flaky, buttery, crispy and utterly satisfying. This homemade version captures the charm of a fast-food favorite. While Popeyes is famous for its fried chicken, their biscuits are a standout side that many fans crave.
Popeyes biscuits combine classic Southern homestyle baking with the convenience of a fast-food staple. Making them at home lets you control the texture and flavor so they come out exactly how you like—warm, flaky, and tender.
Soft, flaky biscuits fresh from the oven are hard to beat. With a few basic ingredients and about 30 minutes, you can make a batch that rivals the restaurant version. Here’s how.
What are Popeyes Biscuits?
Popeyes began in Louisiana in the early 1970s and added biscuits to the menu in the 1980s. Their buttermilk biscuits quickly became a crowd favorite, selling in the millions. These are simple Southern-style biscuits made with pantry ingredients and enjoyed as a side with fried chicken or on their own with jam or butter.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Sugar
- Salt
- Unsalted butter – cold and cubed
- Buttermilk – cold
How to Make Copycat Popeye’s Biscuits
1. Preheat oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.
3. Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or potato masher to cut the butter in until there are no large pieces remaining and the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Pour the cold buttermilk into the bowl and fold with a spatula until the dough starts to come together. It will be crumbly with some wet spots.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently form it into a ball, then pat into a rectangle.
6. Fold the rectangle into thirds, turn it, and pat into a larger rectangle. Repeat this folding and patting two more times to create flaky layers.
7. Pat the dough to about 1/2-inch thick and cut rounds with a floured 2.5-inch biscuit cutter. Gather scraps, pat down, and cut until you have 12–14 biscuits.
8. Place the biscuits on the prepared sheet so they are slightly touching. Brush the tops with a little buttermilk for a crispier crust.
9. Bake at 450°F for 15–17 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter if desired. Let cool slightly, then serve.
Tips for Making the Best Popeye’s Biscuits
Biscuits are forgiving when you follow a few key rules:
- Use cold butter and cold buttermilk for the best flaky texture.
- Avoid over-mixing; work the dough just until it holds together.
- Fold the dough into thirds and pat it down several times to build layers for a flaky interior.
- Cut straight down with the cutter and lift it straight up—don’t twist, which can seal the edges and prevent rise.
- Arrange biscuits slightly touching to help them rise tall.
- Brushing tops with buttermilk yields a crispier crust; brushing with melted butter after baking adds richness.
How to Store These Homemade Biscuits
Cover baked biscuits with foil or store in an airtight container. They keep at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
Can I Freeze Popeye’s Biscuits?
Yes. Biscuits freeze well for up to six weeks when wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, foil, or placed in freezer bags. You can also freeze the shaped dough and bake later from frozen—adjust baking time as needed.
Are Popeye’s Biscuits Fried?
No. These biscuits are baked, which gives them a flaky exterior and soft, pillowy interior.
Are Popeyes Biscuits Vegan?
This recipe uses butter and buttermilk, but you can make vegan substitutions: use plant-based margarine for butter, and make vegan buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of soy or oat milk, then use cold.
How Many Calories Does a Popeyes Biscuit Have?
A typical Popeyes biscuit is listed at about 240 calories. The homemade version from this recipe is approximately 138 calories per biscuit.
How to Serve Popeyes Biscuits
Serve these biscuits alongside fried chicken and gravy, Eggs Benedict, corn pudding, or enjoy them with jam or peanut butter for a simple treat.
If you like this recipe, try these other favorites:
If you try this recipe, leave a note about how your Popeyes biscuits turn out in the comments below!
Best Popeyes Biscuits Recipe
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Equipment
-
Baking sheet
-
Mixing bowl
-
2.5-inch cookie cutter (floured)
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Pastry cutter or potato masher
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, (cold and cubed)
- 3/4 cup cold buttermilk, (plus more for brushing)
- Optional: melted butter for brushing tops after baking
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the cold cubed butter and cut it into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or potato masher until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Pour in the cold buttermilk and fold with a spatula until the dough starts to come together; it will be crumbly with some wet spots.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, gather it, and knead gently. Pat into a rectangle and fold into thirds.
- Turn and flatten into a larger rectangle, repeating the fold-and-pat process two more times.
- Pat dough to 1/2-inch thickness, then cut out rounds with a floured 2.5-inch cutter. Re-form scraps and cut until you have 12–14 biscuits.
- Place biscuits on the sheet slightly touching. Brush tops with a little buttermilk.
- Bake 15–17 minutes until lightly golden.
- Remove and brush with melted butter if desired. Let cool slightly, then serve.
Notes
- Keep butter and buttermilk cold for optimal flakiness.
- Do not over-mix; overworking the dough reduces rise.
- Folding the dough into thirds several times creates flaky layers.
- Cut straight down with the cutter—twisting seals the edges and prevents height.
- Baking in a cast-iron skillet can produce crisper edges.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary by ingredients and preparation.
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