Pop, bake, hope for the best. That’s the routine most of us follow when cracking open a can of refrigerated biscuits. But not all canned biscuits are created equal—some rise to flaky, buttery greatness, while others fall flat, both literally and flavor-wise.
With so many options crowding the grocery aisle—store brands, organic labels, nostalgic classics—it can be tough to tell which ones are actually worth your oven time. So, we did the dirty work for you.
Our tasting panel rolled up their sleeves (and unrolled a lot of dough) to sample 13 of the most widely available canned biscuit brands in America, baking each batch according to package instructions and judging on texture, flavor, flakiness, and overall satisfaction.
The results? Let’s just say some biscuits made us want to open another can… while others had us reaching for napkins to spit them out. From dense doughy disappointments to buttery, pull-apart perfection, this list separates the flaky heroes from the pale imposters.
We were surprised by how much variety there really is—from the budget-friendly but bland, to the shockingly gourmet-feeling brands that could fool your guests into thinking they’re homemade. Whether you’re after a quick fix for weekend brunch, the base for biscuits and gravy, or something that plays nicely with jam and honey, this ranking has you covered.
So before your next trip to the refrigerated section, scroll down. Because nothing should ruin your biscuit moment—not even a bargain brand promising more than it delivers.
13. Great Value
Budget-friendly but disappointing, Walmart’s Great Value biscuits left our taste testers reaching for water. The texture feels unusually dense and compact compared to other brands, lacking the light, airy quality that makes a good biscuit satisfying.
An odd metallic aftertaste lingered after each bite, making these difficult to enjoy even with generous amounts of jam or honey. The exterior barely browns, remaining pale even at the recommended baking time.
While the price point might be tempting, these biscuits sacrifice too much in quality to be worthwhile, landing them firmly at the bottom of our ranking.
12. Happy Belly
Amazon’s foray into the biscuit world with their Happy Belly brand proves that convenience doesn’t always equal quality. Ordering groceries online may save time, but these biscuits won’t save your breakfast.
The flavor profile registers as remarkably bland, with tasters struggling to detect any buttery notes or distinctive taste whatsoever. They’re forgettable at best, with a texture that’s neither appealingly fluffy nor satisfyingly dense.
While they do rise adequately in the oven, the resulting biscuit is merely functional rather than enjoyable – something you’d eat if nothing else was available.
11. Signature Select
Signature Select biscuits from Safeway/Albertsons occupy that frustrating middle ground – not terrible enough to avoid completely, yet not good enough to recommend. The appearance initially deceives with some visible layers that promise flakiness.
Unfortunately, the taste doesn’t deliver on that visual promise. These biscuits have an overwhelming raw dough flavor that dominates any buttery notes. The texture does separate somewhat when pulled apart, but lacks the delicate flakiness of superior options.
Perfect for slathering with gravy or other strong-flavored toppings that can mask their plain-dough blandness, but unimpressive when eaten alone.
10. Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter’s house brand biscuits present a curious contradiction – impressively light and airy in texture, yet surprisingly lacking in moisture and flavor. The initial bite reveals a promising puffiness that quickly gives way to disappointment.
The dryness becomes immediately apparent, creating that telltale stuck-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth feeling that has you reaching for your drink. Any buttery richness seems to have vanished during the baking process, leaving behind a somewhat cardboard-like aftertaste.
These biscuits do have a pleasant appearance with good height and color, making them visually appealing even if the taste doesn’t quite match the presentation.
9. Kroger
Kroger’s store-brand biscuits deliver reasonable quality at a wallet-friendly price point. These middle-of-the-pack contenders won’t blow your mind, but they won’t disappoint completely either.
The texture achieves a decent balance – moderately flaky with layers that separate without crumbling into a mess on your plate. A subtle buttery flavor comes through, though it lacks the richness and depth of premium options.
For everyday family breakfasts where value matters, these biscuits perform admirably. They brown nicely in the oven and maintain a pleasant softness inside, making them perfectly acceptable vehicles for eggs, sausage, or a drizzle of honey.
8. Bake House Creations
Aldi shoppers have reason to smile with these surprisingly respectable Bake House Creations biscuits. The aroma that fills your kitchen while they bake hints at good things to come, with a pleasant yeasty scent that evokes homemade bread.
The texture strikes a nice balance – not quite as flaky as premium brands but certainly not dense or gummy either. Where these biscuits fall short is in the butter department, with the flavor leaning more toward basic bread dough than rich, buttery biscuit.
Given Aldi’s characteristically low prices, these represent excellent value. They perform particularly well when paired with heartier toppings like country gravy or used as the base for breakfast sandwiches.
7. Pillsbury Southern Homestyle
Pillsbury’s Southern Homestyle variant brings a heartier, more substantial biscuit to the table than some of its flakier siblings. These robust biscuits have a certain heft that stands up beautifully to heavier toppings and fillings.
The texture leans more toward traditional dinner roll territory – dense but not heavy, with a satisfying chew rather than a melt-in-your-mouth quality. Their sturdiness makes them perfect foundations for biscuits and gravy, where they maintain integrity even when smothered.
What they sacrifice in delicate flakiness, they make up for in versatility and substance. The flavor carries subtle notes of buttermilk that become more pronounced when the biscuits are served warm with a pat of real butter.
6. Pillsbury Original
The iconic blue can of Pillsbury Original biscuits represents American breakfast nostalgia for many families. These reliable classics deliver consistent results every time, with a familiar soft texture that comforts rather than surprises.
The slight sweetness sets these apart from other contenders, making them particularly delicious with honey or jam. While not the flakiest option, they offer a uniform, tender interior that pulls apart neatly without crumbling.
Many tasters noted the emotional connection to these biscuits – memories of weekend breakfasts and the satisfying pop of the can opening. Their dependable quality and widespread availability keep them firmly in the middle-upper tier of our rankings.
5. Trader Joe’s Buttermilk
Trader Joe’s cultish following extends to their buttermilk biscuits, which deliver a distinctly different texture from most competitors. These biscuits feature a uniquely spongy, moist interior that feels somehow both substantial and light simultaneously.
The layered structure pulls apart in satisfying sheets rather than crumbling, revealing a butter-forward flavor that tastes notably more authentic than lower-ranked options. Our tasters detected real dairy notes that suggest quality ingredients.
While not the absolute flakiest in our lineup, these biscuits excel in moisture retention, remaining tender even when they’ve cooled. Their slightly tangy buttermilk profile provides a sophisticated base for both sweet and savory toppings.
4. Annie’s Organic Flaky
Professional bakers in our testing panel nodded approvingly at Annie’s Organic Flaky biscuits, which deliver impressive quality with cleaner ingredients. The first bite reveals a light, airy texture that manages to avoid the artificial aftertaste present in many competitors.
The tangy-buttery flavor profile stands out immediately, offering complexity rather than one-dimensional sweetness. These biscuits develop a beautiful golden exterior while maintaining a tender interior that doesn’t dry out quickly.
Health-conscious consumers will appreciate the organic ingredients and absence of hydrogenated oils and artificial preservatives. The premium price point feels justified by the noticeably superior taste and the peace of mind from cleaner ingredients.
3. Mason Dixie Buttermilk
Mason Dixie Buttermilk biscuits nearly fooled our tasters into believing they were eating homemade. The impressive crust develops a beautiful crispness while protecting a tender, buttery interior that practically melts in your mouth.
The rich flavor stands head and shoulders above most competitors, with authentic dairy notes that suggest real butter and buttermilk. These premium biscuits come in smaller packages and at a higher price point, but the quality justifies the investment for special occasions.
Founded by a female chef determined to create better refrigerated biscuits, this brand’s attention to quality ingredients shows in every bite. The texture achieves that elusive balance between structure and tenderness that defines truly great biscuits.
2. Immaculate Organic Flaky
Immaculate Organic Flaky biscuits stunned our tasting panel with their remarkably authentic flavor and texture. These premium contenders create dramatic, clearly defined layers that pull apart with the satisfying resistance of scratch-made biscuits.
The butter flavor shines through without any artificial undertones, creating a rich taste experience that feels genuinely homemade. Many tasters commented on the clean finish – no chemical aftertaste or lingering sweetness, just pure biscuit satisfaction.
While the price point sits at the higher end of the spectrum, these biscuits deliver a near-perfect approximation of the real thing. For special brunches or when you want to impress without the mess of making biscuits from scratch, these are nearly unbeatable.
1. Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers
Claiming the championship position, Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers earned unanimous praise from our testing panel. The distinctive pop of the can reveals dough that transforms into dramatically tall, golden biscuits with clearly defined layers that separate with gentle pressure.
The texture achieves biscuit perfection – substantial enough to hold toppings but light enough to avoid heaviness. A rich buttery flavor permeates each layer without overwhelming, creating a balanced taste that complements both sweet and savory accompaniments.
Remarkably consistent from batch to batch, these biscuits disappeared fastest during our testing sessions. Their widespread availability, reasonable price point, and unmatched quality make them the clear winner for everyday biscuit cravings.
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