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

Ingredients

  • 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)
Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

Why is baking soda used in buttermilk biscuits? ›

But tangy buttermilk is one of the hallmarks of any good buttermilk biscuit, so you don't want to completely neutralize the acid in your biscuit dough. Instead, you can use a bit of soda because the immediate chemical reaction with the buttermilk gives the biscuits a big lift right out of the gate.

What is the purpose of 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.

Why are my homemade buttermilk biscuits crumbly? ›

When the fat is cut too small, after baking there will be more, smaller air pockets left by the melting fat. The result is a baked product that crumbles. When cutting in shortening and other solid fats, cut only until the pieces of shortening are 1/8- to 1/4-inch in size.

Why aren t my buttermilk biscuits fluffy? ›

Why aren't my buttermilk biscuits fluffy? A non-fluffy, flat biscuit can be caused by a few things: too much liquid in the dough (resist the urge to add more buttermilk to make the dough come together and use the heat of your hands and a bit more kneading instead). Over-mixing the dough can cause flat biscuits.

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.

Are homemade biscuits better with butter or shortening? ›

The butter version rises the highest — look at those flaky layers! The shortening biscuit is slightly shorter and a bit drier, too. Butter contains a bit of water, which helps create steam and gives baked goods a boost.

What do the British call buttermilk biscuits? ›

Buttermilk Breakfast Scones

Like biscuits, scones can be savory or sweet, but pairing them with coffee or tea is essential, along with butter and jam. Buttermilk breakfast scones with currants are a good, basic starter recipe.

What happens if you use baking soda instead of baking powder in biscuits? ›

If you're substituting baking soda for baking powder, you also need to add an acid to the recipe. If you do not, you'll be left with that metallic or soapy taste and flat, dense, hard baked goods.

Is it better to use milk or buttermilk in biscuits? ›

What's the Difference Between Buttermilk Biscuits and Regular Biscuits? As the names might suggest, regular biscuits do not contain buttermilk, while these do. Regular biscuits are typically prepared with milk or water instead. Buttermilk adds a nice tang to the biscuit flavor and helps them rise better.

What happens if you use milk instead of buttermilk in 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.

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.

Which liquid makes the best biscuits? ›

Buttermilk adds a tangy flavor to the biscuits and makes them slightly more tender.

What is the purpose of applesauce in baking? ›

Unsweetened applesauce plays the same role as butter or oil in your bake. Applesauce acts much like the fat. It keeps the flour protein from mixing completely with the wet ingredients and forming a rubbery, dense texture. This is what does applesauce do in baking.

What are the ingredients in Paula Deen's biscuit mix? ›

ingredients
  • 1 (1/4 ounce) package yeast.
  • 12 cup lukewarm water.
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour.
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda.
  • 12 teaspoon salt (see NOTE above)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder.
  • 2 tablespoons sugar.
  • 34 cup solid shortening (recommend frozen Crisco)

How do you keep buttermilk biscuits moist? ›

First, Day confirmed that storing biscuits in the fridge is fine as long as they're in an airtight container. This keeps the biscuit fresh for up to five days. “For long term storage, wrap biscuits in plastic wrap, then with tin foil. Store for up to one month in the freezer,” she said.

Is buttermilk or heavy cream better for biscuits? ›

Buttermilk also adds a pleasant tanginess to baked biscuits, and its relatively low levels of fat make it work in recipes that call for any kind of fat, from butter to shortening, and even cream. (Yes, cream can be used as both a liquid and a fat.

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