Ham and Cheese Biscuits

These easy Ham and Cheese Biscuits combine smoky ham and Colby Jack cheese for a savory, homemade biscuit recipe that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or snacking.

Easy Ham and Cheese Biscuits Recipe

When it comes to homemade biscuits at our house, there’s simply no wrong way to enjoy them. I make them in a plethora of shapes, sizes and flavor variations. My Fluffy Southern Buttermilk Biscuits are classic and remain a fan favorite. I also have recipes for square cut Fluffy Butter Biscuits and Cheddar Sausage Biscuits, as well as Honey Butter Biscuits.  If you’re a fan of using a large cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to make easy Drop Biscuits I’ve got you! You can never go wrong with Sweet Apple Pie Biscuits for dessert. I could go on and on.

For this recipe, I use leftover ham to make these delectable ham and cheese biscuits and they’re bound to be made on repeat.

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make Southern Ham and Cheddar Biscuits: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Butter – One stick (1/2 cup) of butter frozen and grated on a box grater.
• Flour – All purpose flour forms the base of the dough.
• Leavening – Baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar cheese or colby-jack cheese.
• Ham – Fully cooked smoked ham. You can use leftover ham or deli ham.
• Onion – Fresh chives for a very mild onion flavor.
• Liquid – Whole buttermilk or low fat buttermilk, preferably not fat free.
• Butter – Melted butter for brushing the tops.

Why Freeze the Butter?

I don’t use this technique for every biscuit recipe that I make. Typically, biscuits are made using a pastry blender to cut cold butter into flour until its the size of peas. That being said, this easy technique of freezing the butter first and then grating it, works beautifully for this recipe. There’s a reason for it, the frozen butter will melt while the biscuits are baking creating steam resulting in a fluffier biscuit.

How to Make the Best Ham and Cheese Biscuit Recipe

Biscuit making is something anyone can master. It’s important to start with quality ingredients. Biscuits require so few ingredients it’s worth the small amount of effort it takes to make sure everything is fresh.

• Butter – Freeze butter in advance.
• Heat Oven and Prepare Sheet Pan – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Dry Ingredients – In a large mixing bowl use a whisk to sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Grate Butter – Use a box grater to shred frozen butter. Stir into the flour mixture with a fork until evenly distributed.
• Add Ham and Cheese – Add ham, cheese and chives, mix well until coated.
• Liquid – Make a well in the center adding buttermilk. Use a rubber spatula to gradually mix the buttermilk into the dry ingredients until absorbed.
• Transfer Biscuit Dough to Counter – Turn out onto a lightly floured nonstick surface. Turn a couple of times to bring together and lightly coat with flour. Press or roll into a circle 3/4-1 inch thick.
• Divide Biscuit Dough – Use a 2 1/2 or 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut the dough into rounds. Place biscuit dough on pan. Brush tops with butter.
• Oven – Bake per the recipe until golden brown and puffy. Serve brushed with melted butter.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Ham and Cheese Biscuits

• A large baking pan.
• Large bowl, medium bowl and small bowl.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Cheese grater.
• Large silicone spatula.
• Knife or kitchen sheers to snip the chives, a pastry brush.
• Use a Sharp Biscuit Cutter – When cutting the dough into rounds, dip the cutter in flour, press down into the biscuit dough then lift, never twist to make the cut. Twisting the biscuit cutter can seal the edges of the biscuit dough preventing the biscuits from rising properly.

What Shape are Biscuits Supposed to Be?

As I discussed earlier, it’s perfectly acceptable to cut biscuits into any shape you like. They do typically come in rounds, but square works as well as any other shape your heart desires. I use a fluted biscuit cutter for this biscuit recipe.

Recipe Variations

• Cheese Substitutions – You can use any flavor of cheese for this recipe. Cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, gruyere cheese or Swiss cheese.
• Swap Ham – Use smoked turkey or cooked bacon in place of ham.
• Green Onions – You can also swap out finely chopped green onions in place of chives.
• Herbs – You can add fresh herbs such as rosemary or chives to the dry ingredients.
• Biscuit making 101 – Don’t overwork the dough or the biscuits could be tough. Biscuit dough isn’t like a bread dough or yeast dough where you want to develop the gluten in the bread. Biscuit dough is meant to be fully combined, but not overworked.
• Use Fresh Ingredients – Check the date on the can to make sure you’re using fresh baking powder.
• Don’t Overwork the Dough – Be gentle when mixing the dough and knead as little as possible to avoid developing the gluten (protein) in the flour. Knead just enough to bring the dough together.
• Be Generous with the Ham – I used heaping cups of chopped ham in these biscuits, so, don’t sweat the small stuff. A little more, or a little less works.
• Serving Ham and Cheese Biscuits – You can stuff these ham biscuits with a French Baked Egg for breakfast, serve them with fruit salad and scrambled eggs, serve them alongside fried chicken slathered with honey mustard sauce, with collard greens and a bowl of pinto beans for supper, or as a side dish with soup or stew.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store leftover Ham and Cheese Biscuits wrapped in aluminum foil or in an airtight container chilled in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating Biscuits – Reheat biscuits gently in the microwave, in an air fryer or a preheated 350 degree f oven. .
• Freezer Tips – You can freeze ham and cheddar biscuits for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat just before serving.

More Southern Style Biscuit Recipes to Make

Biscuits come in many shapes and can feature any variety of mix-in ingredients much like scones. More homemade biscuit recipes you may like to try:

• 3 Ingredient Biscuits only take 3 pantry staples to make.
• Angel Biscuits are a cross between a buttermilk biscuit and a dinner roll.
• Garlic and Herb Biscuits are a riff on Cheddar Bay Biscuits from Red Lobster.
• Skillet Apple Pie Biscuits are a sweet version that are so simple to make.
• Cornmeal Buttermilk Biscuits are a fusion of the to house breads of the South.
• Pumpkin Biscuits from Recipe Girl.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Aluminum Baking Sheets
• Mixing Bowl Set
• Measuring Set
• Cookie and Biscuit Cutter Set