Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • Popeye’s biscuits, once dried, have the perfect structure for stuffing.
  • Stock, cream, and eggs provide a custard-like texture.

Here at Serious Eats, we've made no secret of our fascination with fast food. So when we found out about Popeye's annual turkey special—a Cajun-roasted beast of a bird—we knew we had to have it. But what's a fast food turkey without a slew of fast food Thanksgiving sides?

Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing Recipe (1)

Our mission: Start with fast food staples. Add some real ingredients and technique. Deliver rigorously tested recipes, dosed with just the right amount of saturated fats and happy meal toys to create an epic Thanksgiving fast food meal that isn't just clever, but actually looks and tastes GREAT.

Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing Recipe (2)

Each of our sides calls for a central ingredient from a fast food icon, gussied up with easy-to-find, easy-to-prep supermarket ingredients. And you know what? There's not a single one I wouldn't happily serve to my family and friends come Thanksgiving. After procuring the Cajun turkey and making this biscuit-based stuffing, add on the McDonald’s hash brown gratin, Chipotle corn salsa creamed corn, and feature Domino’s Cinnastix in an apple crisp dessert.

Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing Recipe (3)

Before you gettooexcited, no, Popeye's does not make a golden-brown, fresh out of the fryer, deep-fried turkey to-go. What theydosell is a par-cooked and frozen Cajun-style roast turkey. Which may sound sorta gross, and doesn't exactly look stunning, but frankly tastes kind of great.

After a nice, long defrost, we followed the package instructions, which call for reheating the turkey in a roasting pan over a puddle of water, all tented with tinfoil. After the recommended hour and a half inside its silver invisibility cloak, it was definitely nice and hot—unfortunately, there was no trademark burnished skin to be had. We unwrapped the bird and continued roasting for another 30 minutes and then, in a final act of desperation, blasted it at 500°F for another 10. The skin was definitely crisper, but we think removing the foil from the start would've been a more successful, aesthetically pleasing approach.

Regardless, we were really pleasantly surprised. The splotches of darkened spices didn't make it the most stunning specimen we've ever seen, but they tasted warm and spicy. Most importantly, the meat itself was actually moist and juicy, with a dark poultry flavor, even in the breast. For the secretly lazy cook, this is a godsend.

It's not Thanksgiving without stuffing. At least, that's what most people say. But honestly, stuffing isn't my favorite dish on the holiday table. To make a stuffing worthy of my praise, it must be filled out with savory browned meats, studded with tender vegetables, and made from bread with enough texture to recall its original form—no mushiness here, if you please.

Since Popeye's flaky, tender biscuits are one of our all-time favorites, I knew they had excellent potential. And sure enough, once dehydrated in the oven, the biscuit-croutons stand up beautifully to the stock, cream, and egg mixture that gives this stuffing its decidedly custardy texture.

We also opted to beef up (actually, pork up) the recipe with sweet Italian sausage, cooking our vegetables—onion, celery, carrots, and fennel—in the meaty rendered fat. These additions can be left out or adjusted according to preference, but the seasonings of garlic, thyme, and particularly sage are essential for that classic stuffing flavor. Other than the effort of buying, cutting, and toasting the biscuits, this recipe comes together just like most stuffing assemblies—easy, moist, fluffy, savory, and delicious.

November 2014

Recipe Details

Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing Recipe

Active30 mins

Total2 hrs

Serves6to 8 servings

  • 12Popeye's biscuits, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from casing

  • 2 large onions, finely chopped (about 2 cups)

  • 1 large carrot, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 fennel bulb, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

  • 3 stalks celery, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh sage leaves

  • 1 teaspoonfresh thyme leaves, finely chopped

  • 4 large whole eggs, beaten

  • 3 cups low-sodium chickenor turkey broth

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Spread out the cubed biscuits in an even layer on a large baking sheet. Bake until dried out and begin to toast, rotating halfway through, about 30 minutes total. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Decrease oven heat to 350°F (180°C).

  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add sausage and cook, breaking it up into small pieces with a whisk or potato masher. Cook until beginning to brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add onions and carrots, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until carrots begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add fennel, celery, garlic, sage, and thyme and cook, stirring frequently, until all vegetables have softened and are beginning to take on color, about 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.

  3. Whisk together eggs, broth, and cream in a medium bowl until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper. Pour mixture over sausage and vegetable mixture. Add diced biscuits and gently fold until evenly combined.

  4. Butter a 13-by-9-inch rectangular baking dish (or a 10-by-14-inch oval dish). Transfer the stuffing mixture and pack it down lightly. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue cooking until the top is beginning to brown, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Increase oven to 425°F (220°C) and continue cooking until well browned, about 8 minutes longer. Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

Special Equipment

13- by 9-inch baking dish or 14- by 10-inch oval baking dish

Read More

  • McDonald's Hash Brown Potato Gratin
  • Chipotle Corn Salsa Creamed Corn
  • Domino's CinnaStix Apple Crisp
  • Classic Sage and Sausage Stuffing (Dressing)
  • Sides
  • Thanksgiving Stuffings
  • Savory
  • Sausages
Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between buttermilk biscuits and regular biscuits? ›

The obvious difference between the two is that one is made with buttermilk and the other with regular milk. Buttermilk biscuits have a tangy flavor, tender texture, and delicate layers. Regular biscuits have a milder flavor and may not rise as much.

How do you make Popeyes biscuits not dry? ›

No one likes a dry biscuit. Moisture Is Key: A damp cloth over them in the oven helps. Butter Them Up: A brush of melted butter before reheating adds flavor.

Why do you put buttermilk in biscuits? ›

Buttermilk is used in biscuit-making for its acid and fat content. Its acidity works with the leaveners to help the dough rise, producing a taller and fluffier biscuit. Buttermilk also adds a subtle tang. Cream biscuits are made with heavy cream.

What to do with Popeyes biscuits? ›

She likes turning them “into biscuit crumbs for meatloaf, or a Southern-inspired panzanella salad,” but one of her favorite things to do with leftover biscuits is to turn them into biscuit croutons for soups and salads.

What do English people call buttermilk biscuits? ›

For those in Commonwealth countries — England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Wales, and so forth — the word biscuit signifies something most Americans would call a cookie, and a scone is, well, something similar to an American biscuit: round, bready, and only slightly sweet.

What's the difference between Southern style and buttermilk biscuits? ›

There are many theories about why Southern biscuits are different (ahem, better) than other biscuits—richer buttermilk, more butter, better grandmothers—but the real difference is more fundamental. Southern biscuits are different because of the flour most Southerners use. My grandmother swore by White Lily flour.

When did Popeyes change their biscuits? ›

The new Strawberry Biscuits balance sweet and salty flavors with the brand's classic buttery biscuits filled with fruity strawberry bits and topped with creamy icing. Beginning March 27, the delectable new Strawberry Biscuits will be available for a limited time at participating restaurants nationwide.

Are Popeyes biscuits unhealthy? ›

The sides range widely in nutritional value, but most are still rather high in sodium. One of the menu items Popeyes is most well-known for is its buttermilk biscuits. While they aren't the least nutritious side on the menu, at around 200 calories and 20 g carbs per biscuit, they're also not the most nutritious choice.

What makes homemade biscuits dry and crumbly? ›

Here are some helpful solutions for the common causes:
  1. Ratio of dry ingredients to fats and liquids too high. When flour is "scooped" into the measuring cup directly from the container, it compresses, or becomes packed. ...
  2. Too little fat was used; wrong fat used.

How do you make Paula Deen buttermilk biscuits? ›

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Using a fork or pastry blender, cut in cold butter until mixture is crumbly and about the size of peas. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and gently knead 3 to 4 times.

Why put an egg in biscuits? ›

Biscuit recipes tend to be egg-free, this makes them drier and the lack of protein to bind the mix helps achieve that crumbly texture. For super light, crumbly biscuits try grating or pushing the yolks of hard-boiled eggs through a sieve into the biscuit dough.

Can I use sour cream instead of buttermilk for biscuits? ›

Yes, you can substitute sour cream! Thin it with milk or water to get the right consistency. For each cup of buttermilk needed, use 3/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup liquid. Editor's Tip: Sour cream has a higher fat content, so this will result in richer-tasting foods.

How do you soften Popeyes biscuits? ›

Reheat leftover biscuits in the oven on a parchment lined baking sheet for 3-5 minutes at 350° F (176° C). Reheat your biscuits in the microwave by wrapping each one in a damp paper towel and heating them for 45-60 seconds. Brush your biscuits with melted butter before you reheat them for extra flavor and moisture.

Are Popeyes biscuits healthy? ›

POPEYES, biscuit contains 241 calories per 60 g serving. This serving contains 14 g of fat, 3.6 g of protein and 25 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 2.1 g sugar and 2.3 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. POPEYES, biscuit contains 6.9 g of saturated fat and 1.2 mg of cholesterol per serving.

Is buttermilk or regular milk better for biscuits? ›

Buttermilk can produce better results when baking biscuits than using regular milk or cream. Buttermilk is acidic and when it is combined with baking soda, it creates a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas, which causes the dough to rise and gives the biscuits a light and flaky texture.

What are the 4 types of biscuits? ›

Types of Biscuits
  • Rolled Biscuits. Rolled biscuits are one of the most popular baking-powder leavened quick breads. ...
  • Drop Biscuits. Drop biscuits have more milk or other liquid added to the dough than rolled biscuits. ...
  • Scones. ...
  • Shortcakes.

Is buttermilk better than regular milk for biscuits? ›

While the quantity of acid could be fine-tuned, the consistency of milk-based substitutions will be unavoidably thin. Compared to cultured buttermilk, plain milk is watery, making the dough so heavy and wet that it oozes into a puddle, turning the biscuits flat and dense.

What are the 2 types of biscuit dough? ›

Soft dough biscuits as the name suggests are softer and fluffier than their hard dough counterparts. They have higher levels of fat & sweetness and are generally manufactured with the help of a rotary moulding machine.

References

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