Copycat Popeyes Biscuits Recipe

These copycat Popeyes biscuits are everything you love about the original—crispy and golden on the outside, soft, buttery, and extra fluffy on the inside. They’re the definition of the perfect biscuit: rich, tender, and full of Southern comfort in every bite. Honestly, they’re so good you might never need the drive-thru again. In fact, this homemade version easily rivals (and might even beat) the real thing. Serve them alongside crispy fried chicken or my homemade Popeyes chicken sandwich for the ultimate restaurant-style meal made fresh in your own kitchen.

Why You'll Love These Homemade Popeyes Biscuits

Popeyes really knows what it’s doing when it comes to buttermilk biscuits. I know the fried chicken gets all the attention, but honestly, the biscuits are my favorite thing on the menu—they’re buttery, flaky, and perfectly golden. After craving them for weeks (and realizing there’s only one Popeyes location in Buffalo, which is super far from my house), I decided it was time to make my own copycat version so I could enjoy them anytime I wanted.

I tested and tweaked this recipe until it captured everything I love about the real thing—the buttery, tangy, slightly sweet flavor, the fluffy interior, and that crisp, golden-brown shell. These copycat Popeyes biscuits taste exactly like the ones from the restaurant, maybe even better since they come out fresh from the oven. Don't just take my word for it, look at what this reader said:

The biscuits were actually great. I will make them again for sure. -Nancy K

What makes this recipe even better is how easy it is to prepare. Even if you’ve never made biscuits from scratch, this recipe walks you through every step. There’s no need for fancy equipment or special skills—just a few pantry staples and about 30 minutes from start to finish. Most of the work happens in the oven, which gives you plenty of time to focus on the main course.

Speaking of the main course, I love serving these buttery biscuits with Popeyes mac and cheese, Popeyes cajun rice or Popeyes red beans and rice for the ultimate restaurant-style meal at home. They also pair perfectly with southern style meatloaf or these pigs feet for a comforting homemade dinner that tastes straight out of the South. For breakfast, they're great with sheet pan eggs.

Popeyes Biscuits Ingredients

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, very cold or frozen
• ¾ cup cold buttermilk, plus 1–2 tablespoons if needed
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted, for brushing

I like brushing the biscuits with melted butter right when they come out of the oven, but you can also spread some of this Texas Roadhouse cinnamon butter on them for a different delicious flavor.

How to Make Popeyes Biscuits

Step 1: Make The Dough

Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add cubed frozen butter to the flour mixture, then toss gently so the butter pieces are coated and evenly distributed. You should still be able to see small pieces of butter throughout the flour.

Step 2: Add the Buttermilk

Pour in ¾ cup cold buttermilk and stir gently with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. If you still have dry flour at the bottom of the bowl, add another tablespoon or two of buttermilk as needed.

Step 3: Fold The Dough

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently bring it together with your hands. Pat it into a rectangle, fold it into thirds, then flatten it again. Repeat this process 2 more times to create layers without overworking the dough.

Step 4: Cut the Biscuits 

Pat the dough out to about 1 inch thick. Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut straight down through the dough without twisting. Gently press the scraps together once and cut out the remaining biscuits.

Step 5: Bake and Finish with Butter

Arrange the biscuits close together on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in a lightly greased cast-iron skillet. Bake for 14–18 minutes, until they’ve risen tall and the tops are golden brown.

Brush the biscuits generously with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven. Let them cool for a few minutes, then serve while they’re still warm.

How to Store and Reheat Popeyes Biscuits

At room temperature: Let the biscuits cool completely, then store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days. I prefer room-temperature storage over the refrigerator because it keeps the biscuits softer.

In the fridge: If you need to keep them longer, refrigerate the biscuits in an airtight container for up to 4 days. They’ll firm up when chilled, so they’re much better reheated before serving.

In the freezer: Wrap the cooled biscuits individually, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat before serving.

To reheat: Wrap the biscuits loosely in foil and warm them in a 325°F oven for about 8–10 minutes. For one biscuit, microwave it for 10–15 seconds. Brush the top with a little melted butter after reheating to bring back that fresh-baked flavor.

Popeyes Biscuits FAQS

Are these the exact Popeyes biscuits?

No. This is my homemade copycat version inspired by Popeyes biscuits. I developed the recipe to get a similar tall, buttery biscuit with a soft center and flaky layers, but it isn’t Popeyes’ proprietary restaurant recipe.

Why didn’t my biscuits rise?

The biggest culprits are warm butter, overworked dough, or old baking powder. Keep the butter and buttermilk cold, handle the dough as little as possible, and make sure your baking powder is still active. Also press the biscuit cutter straight down instead of twisting it.

Why did my biscuits turn out dense?

Dense biscuits usually mean the dough was mixed or kneaded too much. Stop stirring as soon as the buttermilk is incorporated, then use gentle folds to bring the dough together. The dough should look a little rough rather than perfectly smooth.

Why do you fold biscuit dough?

Folding creates thin layers of dough with cold butter between them. As the biscuits bake, the butter releases steam and helps separate those layers, which gives you a taller, flakier biscuit.

Can I make Popeyes biscuits ahead of time?

Yes. Cut the biscuits, place them on the prepared pan, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours before baking. I prefer baking them fresh rather than baking the whole batch ahead because the texture is best straight from the oven.

Can I freeze unbaked biscuits?

Yes. Cut the biscuits and freeze them on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Bake them straight from frozen at 425°F, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time as needed.

Can I substitute milk for buttermilk?

Regular milk will work in a pinch, but the biscuits won’t have quite the same flavor or tenderness. For a quick substitute, add 2¼ teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar to ¾ cup milk, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then use it in place of the buttermilk.

Should biscuits touch while baking?

I like spacing them out with a small gap between each one so they spread a little. If you want them to rise upward instead of spreading outward, put the biscuits closer together. 

How do I know when the biscuits are done?

The biscuits should be noticeably taller, golden across the tops, and set around the sides. Start checking around the 14-minute mark and remove them once the centers are fully baked and the tops have good color.

More Copycat Recipes

If you liked these copycat Popeyes biscuits and are looking for even more easy copycat recipes, we have a bunch on the blog that you can make next!  

Check all of these out:

• Popeyes chicken sandwich
• Hardee's biscuits
• Popeye's mashed potatoes with cajun gravy
• Chipotle chicken
• Wendy's chili
• Chick Fil A mac and cheese
• Panera broccoli cheese soup
• Zaxby's chicken fingers
• Popeye's cajun fries

Oh, and as always, make sure to check us out on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram! We post new recipes on them every day.