I tried 8 different types of store-bought biscuits, and the best melted in my mouth

Gabbi ShawJan 14, 2024, 19:47 IST

All of my biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Biscuits are a beloved side at many Thanksgiving meals.
I tried eight different biscuit mixes and doughs to see which was the tastiest.

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means that families around the country are preparing their kitchens for a huge day of cooking.

To see which biscuit might make it to my Thanksgiving table, I decided to put eight different types to the test. I tried Annie's Organic Flaky Biscuits, Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Trader Joe's Organic Biscuits, Immaculate Organic Biscuits, Happy Belly Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits, and three different kinds from Pillsbury: its Original Flaky Layers, Grands! Southern Homestyle Southern Recipe, and Grands! Southern Homestyle Butter Tastin'.

The Red Lobster biscuits were the only ones to come in a box, and its recipe yielded six to 10 biscuits. The other types, which were all canned, all contained eight.

When I went into this taste test, I was looking for biscuits that were light, flaky, and buttery, with a hint of sweetness. I'm put off by biscuits that are thick and cakey, and that seem more like dinner rolls. In my opinion, a good biscuit will taste delicious without needing butter, so I didn't add any butter, apart from when the biscuits came with it.

Here's how my day of biscuit baking went, and what my favorites (and least favorites) were.

For me, biscuits are one of the most beloved parts of Thanksgiving dinner.

Biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

There are a lot of options in grocery stores, so I decided to try all the biscuit mixes and doughs I could find ahead of this year's feast.

The biscuit selection at Fairway.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I ended up with seven tubes of dough and one boxed mix.

All the biscuit mixes I used: Immaculate, Trader Joe's, Pillsbury, Annie's, Red Lobster, and Happy Belly.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Each tube required peeling off the wrapper and then using a spoon to pop the seam of the packaging. I did this seven times, and it scared me every time.

A popped biscuit can.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

In terms of preparation, the brands were almost exactly the same. The oven temperatures ranged from 350 to 375 degrees, but that was essentially the only difference between recipes.

Biscuit dough.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

In terms of preparation, the brands were almost exactly the same. The oven temperatures ranged from 350 to 375 degrees, but that was essentially the only difference between recipes.

The only baking experience that was significantly different was for the Red Lobster biscuits. The recipe required combining the dry mix, water, and cheese. I then had to portion out the biscuits.

Messy hands.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

The only baking experience that was significantly different was for the Red Lobster biscuits. The recipe required combining the dry mix, water, and cheese. I then had to portion out the biscuits.

The biscuits also mostly looked the same before baking, apart from Pillsbury's Butter Tastin' flavor, which had butter flecks that were visible in the dough.

Butter Tastin' biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I did appreciate that the Pillsbury options included directions for using an air fryer, too.

These biscuits were air-fryer ready.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

After a few hours of swapping out baking sheets in my oven, I ended up with a platter of golden biscuits. It was time to taste them.

All of my biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My least favorite were the Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Southern Recipe biscuits, which cost $4.99. I actually had to spit out my bite because the biscuit tasted so dry and cakey to me.

Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Grands Southern Recipe.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My least favorite were the Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Southern Recipe biscuits, which cost $4.99. I actually had to spit out my bite because the biscuit tasted so dry and cakey to me.

I had a similar experience with the Happy Belly biscuits, which is an Amazon brand. They were more like thick dinner rolls than light biscuits. But these were nearly half the price at $2.69.

Happy Belly Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I had a similar experience with the Happy Belly biscuits, which is an Amazon brand. They were more like thick dinner rolls than light biscuits. But these were nearly half the price at $2.69.

Next were Annie's Organic Flaky Biscuits ($6.49), Trader Joe's Organic Biscuits ($3.99), and Immaculate Organic Biscuits ($7.39), which were all virtually indistinguishable from each other.

Annie's, Trader Joe's, and Immaculate biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Next were Annie's Organic Flaky Biscuits ($6.49), Trader Joe's Organic Biscuits ($3.99), and Immaculate Organic Biscuits ($7.39), which were all virtually indistinguishable from each other.

All three had layers, a similar golden-brown crust, and weren't too heavy. Since the Trader Joe's biscuits were cheapest, though, I'd recommend them the most.

Trader Joe's biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

But in my opinion, you can't go wrong with any of those three options, if they are the brands available to you.

My biscuit tasting station.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My third-favorite biscuits were the Butter Tastin' Pillsbury biscuits, which cost $4.99.

Butter Tastin' Pillsbury biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I was apprehensive that the butter flavoring would be overwhelmingly artificial, but instead I found there was more of a hint of butter.

Inside the Butter Tastin' biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My second-favorite biscuit was the Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers, which also cost $4.99.

Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

The Flaky Layers were, indeed, as flaky as any tasty biscuit could hope to be. During the tasting, I described these as the "platonic ideal of a biscuit."

Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

But far and away, my favorite biscuits were the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, which came with a garlic-herb butter. At $2.99, they also cost less than most of the others I tried, and the mix made more.

The Red Lobster biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

But far and away, my favorite biscuits were the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, which came with a garlic-herb butter. At $2.99, they also cost less than most of the others I tried, and the mix made more.

They had the perfect crunchy outer layer and a melt-in-your-mouth interior, and the garlic butter complemented the sweetness of the biscuit.

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

If you're short of time and are looking for a more classic biscuit, you can't go wrong with the Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers. But if you have any extra time and counter space this Thanksgiving, I'd recommend the Red Lobster biscuits.

A biscuit selfie.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

If you're short of time and are looking for a more classic biscuit, you can't go wrong with the Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers. But if you have any extra time and counter space this Thanksgiving, I'd recommend the Red Lobster biscuits.

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I tried 8 different types of store-bought biscuits, and the best melted in my mouth

For me, biscuits are one of the most beloved parts of Thanksgiving dinner.

There are a lot of options in grocery stores, so I decided to try all the biscuit mixes and doughs I could find ahead of this year's feast.

I ended up with seven tubes of dough and one boxed mix.

Each tube required peeling off the wrapper and then using a spoon to pop the seam of the packaging. I did this seven times, and it scared me every time.

In terms of preparation, the brands were almost exactly the same. The oven temperatures ranged from 350 to 375 degrees, but that was essentially the only difference between recipes.

The only baking experience that was significantly different was for the Red Lobster biscuits. The recipe required combining the dry mix, water, and cheese. I then had to portion out the biscuits.

The biscuits also mostly looked the same before baking, apart from Pillsbury's Butter Tastin' flavor, which had butter flecks that were visible in the dough.

I did appreciate that the Pillsbury options included directions for using an air fryer, too.

After a few hours of swapping out baking sheets in my oven, I ended up with a platter of golden biscuits. It was time to taste them.

My least favorite were the Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Southern Recipe biscuits, which cost $4.99. I actually had to spit out my bite because the biscuit tasted so dry and cakey to me.

I had a similar experience with the Happy Belly biscuits, which is an Amazon brand. They were more like thick dinner rolls than light biscuits. But these were nearly half the price at $2.69.

Next were Annie's Organic Flaky Biscuits ($6.49), Trader Joe's Organic Biscuits ($3.99), and Immaculate Organic Biscuits ($7.39), which were all virtually indistinguishable from each other.

All three had layers, a similar golden-brown crust, and weren't too heavy. Since the Trader Joe's biscuits were cheapest, though, I'd recommend them the most.

But in my opinion, you can't go wrong with any of those three options, if they are the brands available to you.

My third-favorite biscuits were the Butter Tastin' Pillsbury biscuits, which cost $4.99.

I was apprehensive that the butter flavoring would be overwhelmingly artificial, but instead I found there was more of a hint of butter.

My second-favorite biscuit was the Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers, which also cost $4.99.

The Flaky Layers were, indeed, as flaky as any tasty biscuit could hope to be. During the tasting, I described these as the "platonic ideal of a biscuit."

But far and away, my favorite biscuits were the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, which came with a garlic-herb butter. At $2.99, they also cost less than most of the others I tried, and the mix made more.

They had the perfect crunchy outer layer and a melt-in-your-mouth interior, and the garlic butter complemented the sweetness of the biscuit.

If you're short of time and are looking for a more classic biscuit, you can't go wrong with the Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers. But if you have any extra time and counter space this Thanksgiving, I'd recommend the Red Lobster biscuits.