Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits

Featured in: Comfort Classics

This Southern-style fried chicken offers a crispy, flavorful crust enhanced by a buttermilk and spice marinade. Paired with soft, buttery buttermilk biscuits baked golden, this dish creates a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. Preparation includes marinating the chicken for tenderness, seasoning flour for dredging, and carefully frying to juicy perfection. The biscuits are crafted with cold butter and buttermilk, folded for layers and baked for a tender, flaky crumb. Ideal for family dinners and casual gatherings.

Updated on Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:27:00 GMT
Golden-brown Southern Fried Chicken with flaky buttermilk biscuits, ready for a delicious Southern feast. Save to Pinterest
Golden-brown Southern Fried Chicken with flaky buttermilk biscuits, ready for a delicious Southern feast. | velvetthyme.com

Crispy, juicy fried chicken paired with fluffy, buttery buttermilk biscuits—a classic Southern comfort meal perfect for gatherings and family dinners.

I first cooked this for my family and everyone went back for seconds. It brings back memories of Sunday dinners in my grandmother's kitchen, watching her expertly fry chicken while biscuits baked in the oven.

Ingredients

  • Chicken (drumsticks and thighs, skin-on, bone-in): 8 pieces
  • Buttermilk: 2 cups, plus extra for brushing biscuits
  • Hot sauce: 1 tablespoon
  • All-purpose flour: 4 cups (2 cups for chicken coating, 2 cups for biscuits)
  • Paprika: 1 tablespoon
  • Garlic powder: 2 teaspoons
  • Onion powder: 2 teaspoons
  • Cayenne pepper: 1 teaspoon
  • Salt: 3 teaspoons (2 for chicken, 1 for biscuits)
  • Black pepper: 1 teaspoon
  • Vegetable oil: For frying
  • Baking powder: 1 tablespoon
  • Baking soda: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Sugar: 1 tablespoon
  • Unsalted butter, cold & cubed: 1/2 cup (115 g)

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken:
In a large bowl, combine buttermilk and hot sauce. Add chicken pieces, ensuring they are fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight preferred).
Prepare the Biscuit Dough:
Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F). In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cold buttermilk and mix until just combined.
Shape and Bake Biscuits:
Turn dough onto a floured surface, gently pat to 1-inch thickness. Fold dough in half and pat down; repeat 3 or 4 times. Cut biscuits with a 2.5-inch cutter. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush tops with buttermilk. Bake for 12 or 15 minutes until golden.
Prepare the Chicken Coating:
In a shallow dish, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
Dredge and Fry Chicken:
Heat 2 inches of oil to 175°C (350°F) in a heavy skillet. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Dredge each piece in seasoned flour, pressing to adhere. Fry chicken in batches, turning occasionally, for 12 or 15 minutes or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 75°C (165°F). Drain on a wire rack.
Serve:
Serve fried chicken hot with fresh buttermilk biscuits.
Save to Pinterest
| velvetthyme.com

Last summer, my kids helped cut out the biscuits and loved brushing the tops with buttermilk. Sharing this meal brings everyone to the table with smiles and full plates.

Serving Suggestions

Pair with classic Southern sides like coleslaw, creamy mashed potatoes, or tangy pickles. Drizzle hot honey over the biscuits for a sweet and spicy kick.

Required Tools

You will need mixing bowls, a pastry cutter (or forks), biscuit cutter, baking sheet, parchment paper, a heavy skillet or Dutch oven, wire rack, tongs, and a kitchen thermometer.

Nutritional Information

Each serving has approximately 850 calories, 47 g total fat, 62 g carbohydrates, and 45 g protein. These homemade biscuits and fried chicken are sure to satisfy your cravings!

Crispy, seasoned Southern Fried Chicken next to warm, fluffy buttermilk biscuits on a white plate. Save to Pinterest
Crispy, seasoned Southern Fried Chicken next to warm, fluffy buttermilk biscuits on a white plate. | velvetthyme.com

Serve hot and savor the blend of crispy chicken and tender biscuits. This dish is sure to become your next comfort food favorite!

Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits

Crispy chicken with fluffy buttermilk biscuits, a classic Southern comfort meal ideal for gatherings.

Prep time
30 min
Time for cooking
35 min
Total process time
65 min
Created by Velvet Thyme Eleanor Hayes

Recipe category Comfort Classics

Skill level Medium

Cuisine type American (Southern)

Yield amount 4 Number of servings

Dietary details None specified

List of ingredients

Fried Chicken

01 8 pieces chicken drumsticks and thighs, skin-on, bone-in
02 2 cups buttermilk
03 1 tablespoon hot sauce
04 2 cups all-purpose flour
05 1 tablespoon paprika
06 2 teaspoons garlic powder
07 2 teaspoons onion powder
08 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 2 teaspoons salt
10 1 teaspoon black pepper
11 vegetable oil for frying

Buttermilk Biscuits

01 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 1 tablespoon baking powder
03 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 1 teaspoon salt
05 1 tablespoon sugar
06 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
07 3/4 cup cold buttermilk, plus extra for brushing

How to make it

Step 01

Marinate the Chicken: Combine buttermilk and hot sauce in a large bowl. Submerge chicken pieces completely. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight.

Step 02

Prepare Biscuit Dough: Preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cold buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Step 03

Shape and Bake Biscuits: Turn dough onto floured surface, pat to 1-inch thickness. Fold dough in half and pat down 3 to 4 times. Cut biscuits with 2.5-inch cutter. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, brush tops with buttermilk. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden.

Step 04

Prepare Chicken Coating: Mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.

Step 05

Dredge and Fry Chicken: Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F in heavy skillet. Remove chicken from marinade letting excess drip off. Dredge each piece in seasoned flour, pressing to adhere. Fry in batches turning occasionally, for 12 to 15 minutes until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on wire rack.

Step 06

Serve: Serve fried chicken hot alongside freshly baked buttermilk biscuits.

Essential tools

  • Mixing bowls
  • Pastry cutter or forks
  • Biscuit cutter
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Heavy skillet or Dutch oven
  • Wire rack
  • Tongs
  • Kitchen thermometer

Allergy warnings

Be sure to carefully review every ingredient for allergens and seek expert advice as needed.
  • Contains wheat (gluten), dairy, and chicken; may contain egg if egg wash is used on biscuits

Nutrition details per serving

Details here are meant for guidance. Please contact health professionals for medical advice.
  • Calorie count: 850
  • Fat content: 47 g
  • Carbohydrate: 62 g
  • Protein amount: 45 g