These homemade savory air fryer biscuits are filled with cheddar cheese, chives, green onions, and thyme. They're super easy to make since you don't need a biscuit cutter. You won't even need a mixer or rolling pin.
This post includes instructions to make these easy biscuits in both the air fryer and conventional oven.
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Want to make this recipe perfectly the first time? I want to help with that. So, check out this Table of Contents to see which sections of this post will help you the most.
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I've yet to meet the person who doesn't like biscuits. I grew up on Pillsbury biscuits, and made them in my own kitchen for years. Then I graduated to biscuits made with Bisquick, and ultimately began to make my own from scratch, playing with adding various ingredients making sweet potato biscuits, and yeasted biscuits.
These biscuits, however, might be my easiest ones yet since I simply patted the dough down to an 8"X8" square using my fingers, and then cut them into 2" squares. Easy peasy.
๐ง Ingredient Notes
This list only covers ingredients that require some notes. Go to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post for a complete listing of the ingredients, measurements, and directions for making this air fryer biscuit recipe.
- Fresh herbs - Dried herbs are fine as a substitution but I prefer the freshness of fresh chives and thyme.
- Medium cheddar cheese - Sharp cheddar cheese is fine in this recipe if you want a stronger cheese flavor.
- Cream cheese - Feel free to eliminate the fresh herbs called for in this recipe and insteadย use chive cream cheese or herbed cream cheese.
- Buttermilk - If you don't have buttermilk on hand substitute whole milk. You can also make a buttermilk substitute: Put 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a measuring cup and fill the rest of the cup with whole milk or 2% milk. Stir and allow to sit on your counter for 5-10 minutes. It should begin to curdle. Stir again and use the same amount called for in the recipe for buttermilk.
๐ How to Make Air Fryer Biscuits
Detailed instructions for making these easy biscuits are in the recipe card below, but here's an overview!
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, herbs, minced scallion, and grated cheddar cheese.
Step 2
Grate the butter into the bowl, toss with a fork, and add the cream cheese. Use your fingers, a fork, or pastry blender to combine.
Step 3
Stir in the buttermilk with a spatula or wooden spoon until the flour mixture is incorporated into the liquid.ย
Step 4
Spill the biscuit dough out onto a lightly floured work surface including any loose dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl. Fold the dough over on itself a few times and use your fingers to pat the dough into an 8"X8" square that's about ยพ" thick.ย
Cut through the dough with a sharp knife to create 16 squares of dough. Arrange in the air fryer basket and baste their tops with melted butter.
Step 5
Air fry for 6-7 minutes and serve warm.
๐ฉโ๐ณ Baking vs Air Frying These Biscuits
You can make these homemade biscuits using a conventional oven or an air fryer without making any changes to the ingredients. The only thing to adjust is temperature and cook time.
The biggest advantages to making these biscuits in the air fryer is that 1) the preheat time is significantly shorter, and 2) the cooking time is less than half the time.
Air Fryer Biscuits: Preheat your air fryer to 390หF and bake for 6-7 minutes.
Oven-Baked Biscuits: Preheat the oven to 425หF and bake for 16-18 minutes.
(The cooking time will also be affected by the size of biscuits. If you make fewer biscuits with this recipe, they will be larger, and therefore take a little longer to cook.)
๐ฉโ๐ณ Air Fryer Tips
- Preheat the air fryer before starting to air fry the biscuits. Preheat the air fryer without the basket.
- Spray the basket with a non-stick spray or lightly brush the basket with avocado oil before arranging the biscuits in it.
- To encourage air circulation while the biscuits bake, arrange them in a single layer without touching. You may need to air fry them in batches.
- If you haveย a toaster oven-air fryer combination, place the rack in the recommended middle position. There's no need to flip the biscuits part way through baking.
- If using a dedicated air fryer with a basket drawer design, I recommend flipping the biscuits half-way through baking.
๐ฉโ๐ณ How to Make Perfect Biscuits
- Make sure your ingredients areย very cold! This is key to flaky biscuits that bake up mile-high.
- Either grate the butter or cut it into small cubes or thin slices. If you cut it into small cubes or thin slices, use a pastry blender, fork, or your fingertipsย to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture.
- You should see pieces of butter and cream cheese in the flour mixture. As the butter melts, little air pockets are created. This is what makes a biscuit flaky.
- Fold the biscuit dough a few times to build layers into the finished biscuit.
- Do not over-handle or over-mix the dough to keep your biscuits tender. Handling and working any kind of bread dough that uses wheat flour builds gluten.
๐ฅฉ Tips for Omnivores
Add crumbled pieces of fried bacon to the dough.
๐โโ๏ธ FAQ
No. Lining the air fryer basket with parchment paper inhibits the air flow. Instead, I recommend brushing the basket with a little avocado oil (or other high heat oil) or spraying it with a non-stick spray to keep the biscuits from sticking.
As a note, when baking these homemade biscuits in the oven, I line a baking sheet with parchment.
Store the biscuits in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Yes. Wrap them well and store in an airtight freezer-safe container or plastic bag for up to 2 months.
Welcome to Biscuits!
#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. This month's theme is Biscuits, hosted by me! Go check out all the biscuits we've made for you this month.
You can see all our of lovely breads by following our Pinterest boardย right here. Links are also updated after each event on theย #BreadBakers home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join send Stacy an email with your blog URL toย [emailย protected].
- A Day in the Life on the Farm: Apple Cider Biscuits
- A Messy Kitchen : Cast Iron Buttermilk Biscuits
- The Wimpy Vegetarian: Cheesy Air Fryer Biscuits with Herbs
- Karen's Kitchen Stories: Cream Cheese Biscuits
- Food Lust People Love: Easy Drop Biscuits
- Snehaโs Recipe: Keto Biscuits With Almond & Coconut Flour
- Palatable Pastime: Sausage and Cheddar Biscuits
Perfect Cheesy Air Fryer Biscuits with Herbs
Ingredients
- 2 ยฝ cups (11 ยผ ounces, 300 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt or 1 teaspoon table salt
- ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon minced scallions (green onions)
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or ยพ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup packed, grated medium cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold divided
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cold
- ยพ cup buttermilk See Ingredient Notes for substitutions
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil
Instructions
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 390หF and spray the basket with non-stick spray or lightly brush the basket with avocado oil (or other high heat oil). Conventional Oven: Preheat the oven to 425หF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, chives, green onion, and thyme. Stir in the grated cheddar cheese with a fork.
- Grate 4 tablespoons of the cold butter into the dry ingredients (using the largest holes on the grater) and toss with a fork. Add the cream cheese and work it into the dry ingredients using your fingers or a pastry blender until the mixture is crumbly. Be careful not to over mix.
- Pour in the buttermilk, stirring with a spatula or wooden spoon until the dough is evenly moistened. It should hold together when gently pinched. Spill the biscuit dough onto a lightly floured work surface, including any dry ingredients left at the bottom of the bowl.Bring the dough together and fold it over on itself a few times. If the dough feels dry or some dry ingredients aren't moistened, add a 1-2 tablespoons of buttermilk, and gently knead it into the dough.
- Pat the biscuit dough into an 8" square about ยพ" thick using your fingertips.Cut the dough into 2" squares (I use a tape measure) and arrange them in the prepared air fryer basket without touching (or on the prepared baking sheet if baking them in a conventional oven.) Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and brush it over the tops of the biscuits.
- Air Fryer: Air fry the biscuits for 6-7 minutes until lightly browned.Conventional Oven: Bake the biscuits for 16 to 18 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove them from the air fryer (or oven) and serve warm or at room temperature. Note: Different models of air fryers do not behave the same when air frying. It's always good to check the progress as these biscuits cook to determine if you need to adjust the cook time.
Notes
- Fresh herbs - Dried herbs are fine as a substitution but I prefer the freshness of fresh chives and thyme.
- Medium cheddar cheese - Sharp cheddar cheese is fine in this recipe if you want a stronger cheese flavor.
- Cream cheese - Feel free to eliminate the fresh herbs called for in this recipe and insteadย use chive cream cheese or herbed cream cheese.
- Buttermilk - If you don't have buttermilk on hand substitute whole milk. You can also make a buttermilk substitute: Put 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a measuring cup and fill the rest of the cup with whole milk or 2% milk. Stir and allow to sit on your counter for 5-10 minutes. It should begin to curdle. Stir again and use the same amount called for in the recipe for buttermilk.
Wendy M. Klik
Thanks for the idea. I'm going to try the air fryer next time I make biscuits.
Susan Pridmore
For some reason, ovens take a very long time to heat at high altitudes (we live at 7100 feet) so my toaster oven and air fryer are my KBF (Kitchen Best Friends). If you have any questions when you try baking biscuits this way, just let me know!
Stacy
You had me at cheesy! Savory biscuits are my favorites. Love your addition of the chives, scallions and thyme.
Susan Pridmore
Thank you!! I gave a few to various girlfriends so I wouldn't eat them all and they loved them!
hobby baker Kelly
Oh these look perfection! So much better than the Red Lobster box mix that my mom loves to get. I would take these any day!
Susan Pridmore
I make different kinds of biscuits and these are my favorite to go with a bowl of chili. Thank you!
Karen's Kitchen Stories
How cool that you were able to use the air fryer. I don't know what I'd do at 7100 feet! Thanks so much for hosting this month.