Hot honey chicken biscuits are a Southern-inspired dish that balances crispy fried chicken, fluffy biscuits, and a sweet-spicy honey drizzle in every bite. The chicken is tenderized in buttermilk, coated in seasoned flour, and fried until golden and crunchy. Fresh homemade biscuits provide a soft, buttery base that complements the spicy sweetness of the hot honey sauce.
This recipe brings comfort food to a new level with contrasting textures and flavors. Whether you’re serving them for brunch, lunch, or dinner, these sandwiches are irresistible and hearty. The combination of crunchy chicken, warm biscuits, and honey with crushed red pepper flakes keeps every bite exciting and satisfying.
Equipment
- Large bowl for marinating
- Shallow bowls for dredging
- Large skillet or deep pot for frying
- Baking sheet
- Biscuit cutter or round cutter
- Small saucepan
- Tongs
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Biscuits:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
For the Hot Honey:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1–2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Pour buttermilk into a bowl and add chicken; soak at least 30 minutes.
- In another bowl, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, let excess drip off.
- Dredge each piece in the seasoned flour until fully coated.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 4–5 minutes per side.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a cooling rack or paper towels.
Make the Biscuits
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cut cold butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Pour in buttermilk and stir until just combined without overmixing.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and gently knead a few times.
- Pat dough into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.
- Cut biscuits using a biscuit cutter.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake 12–15 minutes until golden.
Make the Hot Honey
- Place honey in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of salt.
- Simmer 1–2 minutes, then remove from heat and cool slightly.
Assemble the Biscuits
- Split each biscuit in half.
- Place a piece of fried chicken on the bottom half.
- Drizzle generously with hot honey.
- Top with the biscuit top and serve warm.
Recipe Info
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Cuisine: Southern American
- Course: Brunch / Lunch / Dinner
How to Store
- Store leftover fried chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Store biscuits separately in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat chicken in the oven to keep it crispy.
- Assemble freshly before serving.
What Not to Do
- Do not overcrowd the frying pan; chicken will steam instead of crisping.
- Do not overmix biscuit dough; biscuits will be tough.
- Do not pour hot honey over hot chicken immediately; let cool slightly so sauce doesn’t thin.
- Do not skip salting the honey; it balances sweetness.
Tips & Variations
- For extra heat, add cayenne pepper to the hot honey.
- Use store-bought biscuits to save time.
- Add pickle slices for tangy contrast.
- Serve with honey butter spread for extra richness.
- Make mini slider versions with smaller biscuits and chicken pieces.
Approximate Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: ~450
- Protein: ~25 g
- Total Fat: ~20 g
- Saturated Fat: ~8 g
- Carbohydrates: ~50 g
- Fiber: ~2 g
- Sugar: ~18 g
- Sodium: ~900 mg
Ingredients
Method
- Pour buttermilk into a bowl and add chicken; soak at least 30 minutes.
- In another bowl, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, let excess drip off.
- Dredge each piece in the seasoned flour until fully coated.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 4–5 minutes per side.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a cooling rack or paper towels.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cut cold butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Pour in buttermilk and stir until just combined without overmixing.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and gently knead a few times.
- Pat dough into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.
- Cut biscuits using a biscuit cutter.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake 12–15 minutes until golden.
- Place honey in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of salt.
- Simmer 1–2 minutes, then remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Split each biscuit in half.
- Place a piece of fried chicken on the bottom half.
- Drizzle generously with hot honey.
- Top with the biscuit top and serve warm.
Notes
- Protein: ~25 g
- Total Fat: ~20 g
- Saturated Fat: ~8 g
- Carbohydrates: ~50 g
- Fiber: ~2 g
- Sugar: ~18 g
- Sodium: ~900 mg
Conclusion
Hot honey chicken biscuits turn classic Southern comfort food into an exciting homemade favorite. The combination of tender, seasoned fried chicken with flaky biscuits and a sweet-spicy drizzle makes every bite memorable. With simple ingredients and approachable steps, this recipe brings bold flavors and a satisfying meal to the table any time you want a rustic, hearty dish.
FAQs
Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, breasts work well if you prefer leaner meat.
Can I make the biscuits ahead of time?
Yes, bake biscuits ahead and reheat before serving.
Is the hot honey very spicy?
Spice depends on the pepper flakes; adjust to taste.
Can I use store-bought biscuits?
Absolutely; store-bought biscuits save time.
How do I reheat leftover chicken?
Warm in the oven to keep it crispy.
Can this be gluten-free?
Yes, use gluten-free flour blends for coating and biscuits.



