Fluffy Buttermilk Bacon Cheddar Biscuits: Your New Favorite Savory Treat
Prepare to fall in love with these unbelievably tender, buttery, and flaky buttermilk biscuits, elevated with the irresistible flavors of crispy bacon and sharp cheddar cheese. This recipe for Bacon Cheddar Biscuits brings together the comforting essence of Southern baking with a savory twist that will captivate your entire family. Imagine sinking your teeth into a warm, golden-brown biscuit, where each bite reveals layers of rich butter, savory bacon bits, and gooey, melted cheddar. These aren’t just biscuits; they’re a culinary experience perfect for any meal.
Why You’ll Love These Irresistible Biscuits
There are countless reasons why these Bacon Cheddar Biscuits will quickly become a cherished staple in your kitchen:
- Unmatched Flavor and Texture: These aren’t your average biscuits. They boast a superior tender, flaky texture and a rich buttery flavor that perfectly complements the salty crunch of crispy bacon and the bold, savory notes of sharp cheddar cheese. The combination creates a symphony of tastes and textures that is truly addictive.
- Effortlessly Delicious: While “homemade biscuits” might sound daunting, this recipe is surprisingly simple and straightforward. It’s designed for ease, allowing you to whip up a batch of these glorious biscuits without breaking a sweat. Plus, it’s an excellent way to utilize any leftover bacon you might have on hand!
- Versatile for Any Meal: While often associated with breakfast or brunch, these savory biscuits are incredibly versatile. They make a fantastic side dish for dinner, complementing anything from roasted chicken to a hearty stew. They’re also perfect as a substantial snack or even a light lunch when paired with a fresh salad.
- Customization at Your Fingertips: This recipe serves as an excellent base for your creativity. Feel free to experiment with additional herbs like fresh chives or green onions for an extra layer of flavor. If you’re not a fan of bacon, simply omit it for delectable cheese biscuits. You can even try different types of cheese to vary the profile.
- A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: From casual family breakfasts to elegant brunch gatherings, these biscuits are a surefire hit. Their savory profile and comforting nature appeal to almost everyone, making them a perfect addition to any meal spread.
For more delightful morning meals, be sure to explore our other favorite breakfast recipes, including Puff Pastry Morning Buns, Sweet Potato Muffins, Sausage Muffins without Bisquick, Ham and Cheese Strata, Zucchini Muffins, and Bakery Style Pumpkin Muffins.
For a complete list of ingredients, precise measurements, and detailed instructions, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card provided below.
How to Make Delicious Bacon Cheddar Biscuits
Crafting these flaky, savory biscuits is a rewarding process that yields incredible results. Follow these steps for perfect Bacon Cheddar Biscuits every time:
- Prepare the Bacon and Butter: Begin by cooking your bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until it reaches your desired crispiness and turns a beautiful golden-brown, typically about 6 to 8 minutes. Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat. Allow it to cool completely, then dice it into small, uniform pieces. While the bacon is cooling, grate the frozen unsalted butter using the large holes of a box grater directly into a bowl. Immediately return the grated butter to the freezer to keep it thoroughly chilled – this is crucial for flaky biscuits!
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to a hot 450ºF (232ºC) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. This ensures all the leavening agents and seasoning are evenly distributed throughout the dry mixture.
- Incorporate Bacon, Cheese, and Butter: To the dry ingredients, add the cooled, diced bacon and the shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Stir these in until they are well distributed. Next, gently stir in the grated frozen butter, being careful to break up any large clumps of butter with your fingers. The goal is to keep the butter pieces distinct within the flour mixture, as these cold pockets of butter are what create those desired flaky layers during baking.
- Form the Dough: Create a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in the cold buttermilk. Using a spatula or your hands, gently stir just until the ingredients are combined and a soft, shaggy dough begins to form. Be careful not to overmix; a slightly shaggy, sticky dough is exactly what you’re looking for. Overworking the dough develops gluten, leading to tough biscuits.
- Shape and Cut the Biscuits: Lightly flour a clean work surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and gently knead it 3 to 4 times, just enough for the dough to come together into a cohesive mass. Avoid excessive handling. Pat the dough out into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Using a 2-inch biscuit cutter (or your preferred size), cut out the biscuits. Press the cutter straight down without twisting; twisting seals the edges and prevents the biscuits from rising properly. Arrange the cut biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, placing them almost touching each other. This close proximity helps them rise taller and more evenly. For an even flakier result, place the baking sheet with the cut biscuits in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to ensure the butter remains very cold.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: If desired, lightly brush the tops of the biscuits with a little extra buttermilk for a beautiful golden-brown crust. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated 450ºF oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the biscuits are puffed and cooked through. As soon as they come out of the oven, you can brush the tops with a touch of melted butter for an extra layer of richness and a beautiful sheen. Serve these Bacon Cheddar Biscuits warm to enjoy their full tender, flaky glory.
Expert Tips for Flawless Biscuits
Achieving the perfect flaky biscuit is an art, but with these tips, you’ll master it in no time:
- Embrace Cold Ingredients: This is arguably the most crucial tip! Always use frozen butter and very cold buttermilk. When tiny pieces of cold butter melt in the hot oven, they release steam, creating pockets that result in those desirable flaky layers. If your butter isn’t frozen, grate it into a bowl and pop it into the freezer for 15-20 minutes before mixing.
- Do Not Overwork the Dough: Resist the urge to knead the dough excessively. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which leads to tough, dense biscuits instead of light, tender ones. Mix just until the ingredients are barely combined and a shaggy dough forms.
- Master the Biscuit Cutter: Use a sharp, floured biscuit cutter for clean cuts. When cutting, press straight down without twisting the cutter. Twisting seals the edges of the biscuit, which can prevent them from rising tall and evenly.
- Place Biscuits Close Together: Arrange the cut biscuits on the baking sheet so they are almost touching. This creates a steamy environment as they bake, encouraging them to rise higher and maintain a more uniform shape.
- Chill Before Baking: After cutting the biscuits and arranging them on the baking sheet, place the entire sheet in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. This ensures the butter stays cold and firm, maximizing the flaky texture during baking.
- High Heat is Your Friend: Biscuits thrive in a hot oven (450°F / 232°C). The high heat causes the butter to melt and create steam quickly, contributing to a rapid, high rise and a beautifully browned crust.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Since these biscuits feature prominent flavors, using good quality sharp cheddar and flavorful bacon makes a noticeable difference in the final taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely! If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make a substitute. In a 2-cup measuring cup, add 1 1/2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice. Then, fill the cup to the 1 3/4-cup line with regular milk (dairy or non-dairy). Stir it gently and let it sit for about 10 minutes. The milk will curdle slightly, and you’ll have a perfect buttermilk substitute ready for your biscuits!
As with most homemade biscuits, these Bacon Cheddar Biscuits are undeniably best enjoyed warm, straight out of the oven. However, if you find yourself with leftovers, store them in an airtight container or a zip-lock bag at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat and restore some of their warmth and tenderness, you can pop them in a toaster oven or wrap them in aluminum foil and warm them in a 350ºF (175ºC) oven for 8-10 minutes.
Absolutely! Freezing is a fantastic way to enjoy these biscuits whenever a craving strikes. You have two main options:
Unbaked: I often freeze half of this recipe unbaked. Simply cut the biscuits as instructed, arrange them on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake as per the recipe instructions, adding an extra few minutes to the baking time as they are baking from frozen.
Baked: You can also freeze baked biscuits for up to 3 months. Allow them to cool completely, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat as described in the “Storing” FAQ for best results.
These versatile biscuits pair wonderfully with a variety of dishes. For breakfast or brunch, they’re excellent with scrambled eggs, a fried egg, sausage gravy, or alongside fresh fruit. For dinner, they make a perfect accompaniment to chili, soup, stew, roasted chicken, or even a simple green salad. You can also enjoy them on their own as a savory snack.
Yes, you can prepare the biscuit dough ahead of time. Once the dough is mixed and patted out, you can cut the biscuits and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 12-24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, proceed with the freezing step (5-10 minutes) and then bake as instructed. This can be a great time-saver for busy mornings!
More Delicious Biscuit Recipes
Southern Sweet Potato Biscuits
Easy Homemade Buttermilk Drop Biscuits Recipe
Cheddar Chive Biscuits
Bacon Cheddar Biscuits Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Cooked bacon diced (8-9 slices)
- 4 cups All-purpose flour
- 4 tsps Baking powder
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 cup Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 3/4 cup Unsalted butter, frozen shredded
- 1 3/4 cups Buttermilk cold
Instructions
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Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy and brown, about 6-8 minutes. Drain on paper towels, once cooled dice into small pieces.1 cup Cooked bacon
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While the bacon is cooling shred the frozen butter using the large holes of a box grater into a bowl and place it back in the freezer.3/4 cup Unsalted butter, frozen
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Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. Stir in the bacon and shredded cheese. Stir in the grated butter, breaking up any large clumps.4 cups All-purpose flour, 4 tsps Baking powder, 1 tsp Baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt, 1 cup Sharp cheddar cheese
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Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, pour in the buttermilk, and stir just until combined and a soft dough is beginning to form.1 3/4 cups Buttermilk
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Pour the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead 3 to 4 times until the dough comes together. Pat it out into a 1-inch thick rectangle. Cut the biscuits using a 2-inch biscuit cutter. Place them almost touching on the prepared baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
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Brush the tops of the biscuits with additional buttermilk. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
These are best served fresh and warm, right out of the oven, as most biscuits are. If you have any leftover biscuits, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To refresh them, warm in a toaster or wrap in aluminum foil and heat in a 350ºF (175ºC) oven for 8-10 minutes until warmed through and slightly crisp. You can also brush them with melted butter after baking for an extra touch of richness.
Nutrition
There’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of freshly baked biscuits filling your home. These Fluffy Buttermilk Bacon Cheddar Biscuits are a testament to simple ingredients coming together to create something truly extraordinary. Whether you’re gathering for a special brunch, looking for a satisfying side to your dinner, or simply treating yourself to a delightful snack, this recipe promises flaky perfection, rich flavor, and a smile on everyone’s face. Don’t hesitate to give them a try – your taste buds will thank you!