Nothing satisfies a comfort food craving quite like a crispy chicken biscuit. While many fast-food chains serve their own versions, these sandwiches are usually limited to breakfast hours. That leaves plenty of people wishing they could enjoy the same combination of flaky biscuits, crispy fried chicken, and sweet honey butter any time of the day.
A recipe created for the 151st Kentucky Derby offers a homemade approach that focuses on quality ingredients, simple techniques, and balanced flavors instead of shortcuts.
Chef and content creator Joshua Weissman developed the official Kentucky Derby At-Home Menu, which features Southern-inspired dishes, including Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits. The recipe highlights careful seasoning, homemade buttermilk biscuits, and a rich honey butter that brings every layer together.
Seasoning Makes the Biggest Difference
Many people focus on the breading when making fried chicken, but Joshua Weissman believes the seasoning deserves far more attention. According to him, using good-quality chicken is only part of the process.
He explains, “Use high-quality chicken and make sure you put in more salt than you think. Most fried chicken sucks because there isn’t enough salt. Spices don’t matter if you don’t salt it enough.”
The recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts, making each sandwich easy to bite into while keeping a crisp coating around the meat. A buttermilk marinade also helps the chicken stay juicy while adding flavor before frying.
Fresh Biscuits Matter
One question often asked by home cooks is whether store-bought biscuits can replace homemade ones. Joshua Weissman gives a simple answer:
“Yes, don’t.”
His recommendation is to bake the biscuits from scratch instead of relying on packaged dough. Fresh biscuits create a softer texture inside while developing a golden exterior that pairs well with crispy chicken.
The buttermilk biscuit recipe follows several important steps:
1. Combine the dry ingredients first.
2. Mix in very cold butter until small pieces remain.
3. Slowly pour buttermilk into the mixture.
4. Brush the tops with buttermilk before baking.
Each step helps create light, flaky biscuits that hold the sandwich together without becoming dry.
Buttermilk appears throughout the recipe because it serves more than one purpose. It tenderizes the chicken during marination while also helping create soft, fluffy biscuits.
The slight tang from buttermilk balances the richness of fried chicken and butter. As a result, every bite feels balanced instead of overly heavy. This simple ingredient connects every part of the sandwich and gives it its classic Southern character.
Honey Butter Makes the Difference
The signature feature of these Kentucky Derby Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits is the honey butter. Rather than mixing butter and honey together, the recipe follows a more detailed process.
The spread includes wildflower honey, optional avocado honey, fresh sage leaves and salted butter.
Avocado honey may not be common in most kitchens, but it adds a smoother texture and a naturally buttery flavor. Despite its name, it does not contain avocado flesh or avocado oil. Instead, it comes from bees that collect nectar from the white blossoms of avocado trees.
To prepare the honey butter, the two types of honey are gently heated before fresh sage leaves are whisked into the mixture. Salted butter is then added slowly while whisking continuously until the mixture becomes smooth and fully blended.
Joshua Weissman recommends serving it in two ways. “It’s just a simple drizzle on top before you close up the sandwich, or keep it in a ramekin to the side to enjoy a luscious dip for every bite.”
Featured on the official Kentucky Derby At-Home Menu for the 151st Run for the Roses, this Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit offers a fresh take on a Southern favorite. Spicy buttermilk-marinated chicken, homemade biscuits, and honey butter create a balanced mix of sweet, savory, and mild heat. Optional avocado honey and fresh sage add extra depth, making this homemade version a flavorful alternative to many fast-food chicken biscuits.
