- Share + savor
I have a cookbook! - Buy Now
Fried Chicken Biscuits With Hot Honey Butter
Buttermilk brined and fried chicken thighs are placed over sky-high, flakey split biscuits and topped with a honey butter and briny bread and butter pickles. The addition of hot sauce to the combination of honey and butter spices up an already delicious dish.
jump toRECIPE
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you. Please read my policy page.
Fried chicken biscuits with hot honey butter are a Southern-inspired comfort dish that layers buttermilk-brined, seasoned fried chicken thighs onto fluffy split biscuits, then finishes everything with a sweet-spicy honey butter and crunchy bread-and-butter pickles. The hot honey brings just enough heat to balance the richness, making every bite indulgent but craveable. If you love sweet-and-spicy comfort food like this, be sure to try fried chicken and waffles or Nashville hot chicken next. Because why not skip the drive through and satisfy your cravings for crispy fried chicken biscuits at home? For larger format chicken recipes using whole chicken I recommend trying my brined fried chicken recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet heat – Hot honey butter adds the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
- Tender chicken – Buttermilk brining keeps the fried chicken juicy and flavorful.
- Comfort classic – Flaky biscuits and crispy chicken make this ideal for brunch or dinner.
Key Ingredients in this Recipe
- Chicken thighs – Boneless, skinless thighs are brined in buttermilk to ensure tender, juicy fried chicken.
- Biscuits – While store-bought biscuits are fine, I’d recommend making a batch of my homemade buttermilk biscuits. They come together with just a few simple ingredients in about 20 minutes.
- Buttermilk – Helps tenderize the chicken and adds subtle tang.
- Flour & seasonings – A blend of flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, and black pepper creates a flavorful crust.
- Hot sauce – While you can certainly use whatever hot sauce you have on hand I usually opt for Crystal Louisiana-Style hot sauce. It’s a simple vinegar-based hot sauce with a medium heat similar to a tabasco sauce (an estimates Scoville units of 4,000).
- Vegetable oil – A neutral oil with a high smoke point works best for frying.
- Honey butter – Unsalted butter mixed with honey and hot sauce for a sweet-spicy finish.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
What Is Buttermilk?
Buttermilk traditionally was the liquid leftover after churning butter. Now, rather than a byproduct, the culture is added to milk to create a product for sale. Brining the chicken in buttermilk results in extremely tender and juicy fried chicken.
While buttermilk is thick and creamy, it actually has less fat than most milk. If you buy a carton and don’t know what to do with the rest of it, after making these buttermilk biscuits, I’d recommend making pancakes, adding it to the dressing for this BLT salad or using it for this brûlée peach dessert.
Pro Tip
Fry the chicken in small batches to keep the oil temperature steady — this ensures a crisp, golden crust without greasiness.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts for a juicier result.
- Buttermilk: Swap with whole milk mixed with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar if needed.
- Biscuits: Store-bought biscuits work well if you’re short on time, or substitute with drop biscuits.
- Hot honey: Use regular honey and add red pepper flakes or cayenne to control the heat level.
- Butter: Salted butter can be used in place of unsalted—just reduce added salt slightly.
How To Make Fried Chicken Biscuits With Hot Honey Butter (Step-by-Step)
Add the buttermilk and salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Add the chicken thighs and submerge in the buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
When ready to fry, add the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, cayenne and paprika to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
Fill a large, heavy bottomed cast iron pan or Dutch oven with enough vegetable oil to reach 1” up the pan. Heat the oil to 350ºF. Working one piece at a time, remove chicken from marinade and dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off excess flour.
Fry in the oil until the chicken is golden brown on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Remove the fried chicken from the oil and place on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet or a paper towel lined plate to drain the excess oil.
Add the butter, honey and hot sauce to the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and whisk until completely combined and smooth. If you don’t have a mixer you can beat the ingredients together by hand.
Add a chicken thigh to each biscuit and top with a tablespoon of the hot honey butter and pickles. Close and serve immediately.
How to Serve Fried Chicken Biscuits with Hot Honey Butter
- Fresh & hot: Serve immediately with extra hot honey butter drizzled on top.
- With sides: Pair with coleslaw or pickled vegetables for contrast.
- Brunch spread: Add fruit and extra biscuits for a crowd-friendly brunch board.
- Family-style: Serve on a large platter with pickles and honey butter on the side.
How to Store Fried Chicken Biscuits with Hot Honey Butter
- Refrigerate: Store chicken, biscuits, and honey butter separately in airtight containers for up to 2 days.
- Reheat chicken: Warm in a 375°F (190ºC) oven to maintain crispness.
- Biscuits: Store at room temperature and reheat before serving.
- Honey butter: Refrigerate and bring to room temperature before using.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make fried chicken biscuits with hot honey butter ahead of time?
Yes. Brine the chicken and prepare the honey butter ahead, then fry and assemble just before serving.
What hot sauce works best for fried chicken biscuits with hot honey butter?
A vinegar-based hot sauce works well, but any favorite hot sauce can be used.
Do fried chicken biscuits with hot honey butter need pickles?
Pickles add balance and crunch, but they’re optional if you prefer without.
Can I use store-bought biscuits for fried chicken biscuits with hot honey butter?
Absolutely. High-quality store-bought biscuits are a great shortcut.
Is fried chicken biscuits with hot honey butter very spicy?
The heat level is adjustable — simply add more or less hot sauce to the honey butter.
Other Recipes to Try
If your crew couldn’t get enough of these chicken biscuits with hot honey butter, give these recipes a try:
- Fried Chicken and Waffles
- Nashville Hot Chicken
- Sweet & Savory Prosciutto, Egg and Gruyere Biscuit
- Fried Chicken Sandwich with Alabama White Sauce
Thanks for cooking with me! If you made this recipe, leave a 🌟 rating and share your thoughts or tips below. I’d love to hear from you!
Try these other Southern-inspired favorites:
Fried Chicken Biscuits With Hot Honey Butter
Rate this Recipe
Ingredients:
For the fried chicken:
- 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- Vegetable oil, as needed, for frying
For the hot honey butter:
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce of choice, I use Crystal hot sauce
For serving:
- 4 Buttermilk biscuits, split in half lengthwise and warmed
- Bread and butter pickles, as needed
Instructions:
For the fried chicken:
- Add the buttermilk and salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Add the chicken thighs and submerge in the buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
- When ready to fry, add the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, cayenne and paprika to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
- Fill a large, heavy bottomed cast iron pan or Dutch oven with enough vegetable oil to reach 1” up the pan. Heat the oil to 350ºF.
- Working one piece at a time, remove chicken from marinade and dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off excess flour.
- Fry in the oil until the chicken is golden brown on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Remove the fried chicken from the oil and place on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet or a paper towel lined plate to drain the excess oil.
For the hot honey butter:
- Add the butter, honey and hot sauce to the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and whisk until completely combined and smooth. If you don’t have a mixer you can beat the ingredients together by hand.
For serving:
- Add a chicken thigh to each biscuit and top with a tablespoon of the hot honey butter and pickles. Close and serve immediately.
Notes:
Fry the chicken in small batches to keep the oil temperature steady — this ensures a crisp, golden crust without greasiness.
Nutrition:
Calories: 785kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 173mg | Sodium: 4116mg | Potassium: 721mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 1390IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 201mg | Iron: 5mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS?
TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM TO BE FEATURED ON MY STORIES! @cookingwithcocktailrings
)
)
)
Exceptional recipe, superb directions – overall well done for folks like us who love to cook. Thank You!!
Thank you so much!! So happy to hear you enjoyed!