Popeyes Biscuits Recipe (From-Scratch Copycat)

If you're looking for a Popeyes biscuits recipe you can make at home, this from-scratch copycat version gets remarkably close to the original. These homemade biscuits have that buttery, golden top and bottom you expect from Popeyes, along with a soft, tender center.

And unlike many copycat Popeyes biscuit recipes that start with biscuit mix, this one is made completely from scratch with flour, buttermilk, butter, and shortening.

I tested this recipe several times and even did the best kind of market research: I went to Popeyes and ordered the real biscuits so I could compare the flavor and texture side by side.

What to Know Right Away:

• Total Time: About 1 hour, including dough rest
• Bake Time: 18 minutes
• Oven Temperature: 450°F
• Yield: 9 to 10 biscuits
• Pan: Metal baking pan or sheet pan
• Best For: A homemade, from-scratch copycat of Popeyes biscuits

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Popeyes Biscuit Recipe

There is a lot to love about these biscuits.

They’re soft and pillowy inside with a rich, buttery flavor. The tops and bottoms bake up golden and crisp, giving you that distinctive Popeyes-style crust.

This recipe is also completely from scratch. You don't need Bisquick or another packaged biscuit mix.

You can make the dough with a food processor or mix it by hand with a pastry cutter. I’ll also show you how to fold the dough without overworking it, why your choice of baking pan matters, and how to avoid dry or flat biscuits.

If you enjoy recreating restaurant favorites at home, you might also like my Subway Honey Oat Bread, Subway Italian Herb and Cheese Bread, Raising Cane's Toast, and Jimmy John's Sub Sandwich Bread.

What Makes Popeyes Biscuits Different?

Popeyes biscuits aren't quite like the super-tall biscuits with lots of distinct flaky layers.

Instead, they have a slightly breadier, more tender interior. They're soft and cakey rather than dry or crumbly, and they hold together nicely when you bite into them.

But one of the things that really makes a Popeyes biscuit memorable is the outside.

The top and bottom develop a buttery, golden crust while the middle stays soft. That's the texture I wanted to recreate with this recipe.

To get as close as possible, we're paying attention not only to the biscuit dough but also to how the biscuits are shaped, buttered, spaced, and baked.

The Secret to That Buttery Popeyes Biscuit Flavor

Yes, there's plenty of butter involved.

The dough uses a combination of cold butter and vegetable shortening. Butter gives you flavor and browning, while shortening helps create a tender biscuit.

Then there's another half stick of melted butter used for the pan and the tops of the biscuits.

That extra butter is important. It helps create the rich flavor and crisp, golden exterior that makes a Popeyes biscuit so recognizable.

Tools You’ll Need

You don't need any unusual equipment to make this recipe.

• Food processor (or a pastry cutter if mixing by hand)
• Rubber spatula
• 2 ⅕ inch biscuit cutter
• Metal baking pan
• Pastry brush

One important tip: use an actual biscuit cutter rather than a drinking glass if possible. A sharp cutter makes a cleaner cut and allows the biscuit edges to rise more easily.

How to Make Popeyes Biscuits

The ingredients are simple, but your technique makes a big difference.

Cut the Cold Butter and Shortening Into the Flour

Add the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt to a food processor and pulse a few times to combine.

Add your cold cubed butter and cold vegetable shortening.

Pulse about 8 to 10 times, just until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs or sand with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.

Don't keep processing until everything is completely smooth.

Those small pieces of cold fat are a good thing.

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

Gently Add the Buttermilk

Pour the cold buttermilk into the flour mixture.

Using a rubber spatula or large spoon, gently lift the mixture from the bottom and fold it over itself.

You aren't kneading the dough.

You're simply mixing until the dry ingredients are incorporated and you have a soft, slightly shaggy dough.

If you see a few dry areas, you can add an additional splash of buttermilk, about one tablespoon at a time.

Let the Dough Rest

Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

This gives the flour time to hydrate before you shape the biscuits.

Fold the Biscuit Dough

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper.

Gently pat it into a rough rectangle.

Fold it in half, then turn the dough 90 degrees and fold it one more time.

These simple folds help create a little layering without turning this into an overly flaky laminated biscuit.

The key is to handle the dough as little as possible.

Pat the Dough to the Right Thickness

Gently pat the dough to about ¾-inch thick.

You can use a rolling pin if you need to, but this dough is soft enough that I usually don't need much pressure.

If the dough feels sticky, lightly flour your hands rather than adding a lot more flour to the dough.

Cut the Biscuits

Dip a 2½-inch round biscuit cutter into a little flour.

Press the cutter straight down through the dough and lift it straight back up.

Don't twist the cutter.

Twisting can seal the edges of the dough and interfere with the biscuit's rise.

 Butter and Arrange the Biscuits

Brush your metal baking pan with melted butter before adding the biscuits.

Arrange the biscuits with about 1 inch of space between them.

I like a loose honeycomb arrangement.

Keeping them from touching allows more of the sides and bottoms to develop that buttery golden crust.

Brush the tops generously with the remaining melted butter.

Bake Until Golden

Bake the biscuits at 450°F for about 18 minutes, or until they're golden brown on both the tops and bottoms.

Let them cool slightly before serving, although they're especially good while they're still warm.

What Kind of Pan to Use for the Best Biscuits

Use a metal pan whenever possible.

A 10x10-inch metal baking pan works well, but you can also use a standard metal baking sheet or Nordic Ware cookie sheet.

I don't recommend glass or ceramic for this recipe.

For the best results:

• Brush the bottom of the pan with melted butter.
• Leave a little room between each biscuit.
• Use a metal pan rather than glass or ceramic.
• Bake until both the tops and bottoms are golden.

Why Did My Biscuits Turn Out Dry?

One of the most common biscuit problems is adding too much flour.

Measure your flour carefully and don't keep adding flour just because the dough feels soft or slightly sticky.

This should be a soft dough.

Overmixing can also make biscuits tougher, so stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together.

Finally, watch your baking time. Once the biscuits are beautifully golden, take them out.

Can I Make Popeyes Biscuits Without Shortening?

You can replace the shortening with additional butter, but the finished texture will be slightly different.

The combination of butter and shortening is intentional in this recipe. Butter contributes flavor and browning, while shortening helps create that soft, tender texture.

For the closest result to this tested version, I recommend using both.

Are Popeyes Biscuits Made With Buttermilk?

Buttermilk works especially well in this copycat recipe because it helps create a tender biscuit with a subtle tang.

The acidity also interacts with the other ingredients and helps give the biscuit its soft texture.

I recommend using real buttermilk whenever possible.

Why Does Butter Go on the Bottom of the Pan?

This is one of my favorite parts of the recipe.

Brushing melted butter onto the pan before adding the biscuits gives the bottoms direct contact with both the hot metal and the butter.

That helps develop a crisp, golden bottom rather than a pale, soft one.

Then we brush more butter over the tops.

It's definitely not a low-butter biscuit, and that's part of what makes it so good.

How to Store and Reheat Popeyes Biscuits

These biscuits are best when they're warm and freshly baked, but leftovers reheat well.

• At room temperature: Store biscuits in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• To freeze: Allow the biscuits to cool completely, wrap them well, and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
• To reheat: Warm them in the oven or air fryer for the best texture.

You can also microwave an individual biscuit under a slightly damp paper towel for about 15 to 20 seconds. It will be softer than an oven-reheated biscuit, but it works when you're in a hurry.

What to Serve With Popeyes Biscuits

When I was testing this recipe, I went to Popeyes and ordered biscuits along with my personal favorite: red beans and rice.

That's still one of my favorite combinations.

You can also serve these homemade Popeyes biscuits with:

• Cajun gravy
• Fried chicken
• Red beans and rice
• Butter and honey
• Sausage gravy
• Eggs and bacon
• Breakfast sandwiches

We've eaten quite a few batches during testing, and leftover biscuits make especially good breakfast sandwiches with eggs, cheese, and sausage or bacon.

My Best Tips for Homemade Popeyes Biscuits

After making this recipe multiple times, these are the things I'd pay the most attention to:

• Keep the butter, shortening, and buttermilk cold.
• Don't panic if the dough feels soft. That's part of what keeps the biscuits tender.
• Don't overmix. Fold just until the dough comes together.
• Fold the dough twice. This provides some layering without overworking it.
• Use a sharp biscuit cutter.
• Press straight down instead of twisting the cutter.
• Use a metal baking pan.
• Give the biscuits some room. You want those buttery edges exposed to the heat.
• Don't skimp on the melted butter.
• If the dough becomes difficult to handle, chill it briefly before cutting.

Storage and Reheating Tips

• Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days
• Freezing: Wrap tightly and freeze in a zip-top bag; reheat in the oven or air fryer
• Microwave: Reheat with a damp paper towel for 15–20 seconds, but know they’ll be softer

More Recipes You Might Enjoy

If you loved this copycat Popeyes biscuit recipe, here are a few more homemade versions of fast-food favorites that readers can’t get enough of:

• Subway Honey Oat Bread Recipe
• Subway Italian Herb and Cheese Bread Recipe
• Raising Cane’s Toast Recipe
• Jimmy John's Sub Sandwich Bread