Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits (Printable)

Crispy fried chicken paired with soft, buttery buttermilk biscuits for a comforting Southern meal.

# What you'll need:

→ 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

12 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
13 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
14 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
15 - 1 teaspoon salt
16 - 1 tablespoon sugar
17 - ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
18 - ¾ cup cold buttermilk, plus more for brushing

# Method:

01 - Combine buttermilk and hot sauce in a large bowl, add chicken pieces, coat thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
02 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then stir in cold buttermilk until just combined.
03 - Turn dough onto floured surface, pat to 1-inch thickness, fold in half and pat down; repeat 3 to 4 times. Cut with a 2.5-inch cutter, place on parchment-lined baking sheet, brush tops with buttermilk, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden.
04 - Mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
05 - Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet. Remove chicken from marinade, let excess drip off, dredge in seasoned flour pressing to adhere. Fry in batches, turning occasionally, for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on wire rack.
06 - Serve fried chicken hot alongside the fresh buttermilk biscuits.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Golden, crunchy fried chicken with savory seasoning
  • Tender, airy biscuits with rich buttermilk flavor
02 -
  • Double-dipping the chicken in buttermilk and flour creates an extra-crispy crust
  • Use cold butter and buttermilk for the fluffiest biscuits
03 -
  • Fry chicken in small batches so the oil stays hot for ultimate crispiness
  • When cutting biscuits, do not twist the cutter—this helps them rise higher
Return