
Southern sausage biscuits deliver the perfect comfort food experience with flaky golden biscuits and juicy savory sausage patties. These make for a breakfast that fills your kitchen with a nostalgic aroma and guarantees smiles at the table.
I started making these when I moved South and missed homey Sunday breakfasts. Now my family requests them for every holiday morning or just when we crave something cozy.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: gives the biscuits structure and softness choose unbleached for best texture
- Baking powder: makes the biscuits rise high and fluffy check the date for freshness
- Baking soda: balances the acidity in buttermilk and creates tender crumb
- Salt: enhances all the rich flavors use fine sea salt for even distribution
- Cold butter: ensures flaky biscuit layers keep it well chilled and cut into cubes
- Buttermilk: brings tang and tenderness always use cold well-shaken buttermilk for best lift
- Breakfast sausage: delivers that classic country flavor seek out good-quality or spicy sausage if you like a kick
- Optional cheddar or American cheese: adds creamy sharpness go for a medium-sharp cheddar for extra flavor
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make the Biscuit Dough:
- Whisk flour baking powder baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl until well combined with no lumps. This distributes the leaveners evenly for a taller bake.
- Cut in the Butter:
- Add cold cubed butter to the bowl. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips quickly rub butter into the flour until the mixture looks like small coarse crumbs. The visible bits of butter create flaky layers.
- Add the Buttermilk:
- Pour cold buttermilk into the flour butter mixture. Gently stir with a fork or spatula until the dough just comes together and no dry spots remain. Do not overwork or your biscuits will be tough.
- Shape the Biscuits:
- Turn the dough onto a floured countertop. Pat gently and fold it over itself three to four times to build layers. Roll out to about one inch thick being gentle so you do not deflate the dough.
- Cut and Bake the Biscuits:
- Using a sharp biscuit cutter press straight down into the dough and lift do not twist or the biscuits may not rise evenly. Place biscuits close together on a baking sheet. Bake in a hot oven for twelve to fifteen minutes until risen and deeply golden on top for the perfect crust.
- Prepare the Sausage:
- While biscuits bake shape the breakfast sausage into patties a little wider than your biscuits. Cook them in a skillet over medium heat for three to four minutes on each side pressing gently so they brown evenly and cook through. Transfer to paper towels to drain any extra grease.
- Assemble Your Biscuits:
- Split the warm biscuits in half with a serrated knife. Place a sausage patty on the bottom half add cheese if you like then top with the other biscuit half. Serve while still hot so the cheese melts.

I absolutely love using extra sharp cheddar in these biscuits. One holiday morning we made a "biscuit bar" for visiting family and everyone went wild for the cheesy melt. My kids still ask for that version every Christmas.
Storage Tips
Freeze both baked biscuits and cooked sausage individually once fully cooled. Wrap tightly in plastic and foil to maintain freshness. When you want to serve microwave each piece until warmed through then assemble for a still-delicious breakfast.
Ingredient Substitutions
You can swap buttermilk with regular milk plus a tablespoon of lemon juice if needed. For the sausage feel free to use turkey or plant-based if that suits your dietary needs. Biscuits come out great with whole wheat flour for a heartier texture though they will be a bit denser.
Serving Suggestions
Try adding a drizzle of honey or a swipe of hot pepper jelly for a sweet and spicy finish. These biscuits make a great lunchbox treat and can even go alongside scrambled eggs for a filling brunch.

Southern Roots
Sausage biscuits bridge Southern hospitality and quick home cooking. The method has its roots in Appalachian mountain kitchens where home baking met farm-fresh sausage. Beautifully simple and always crowd-pleasing these have become a Sunday tradition across the region.
Recipe FAQs
- → What makes these biscuits especially fluffy?
Using cold butter and buttermilk ensures steam creates light, airy layers in each biscuit.
- → Can I prepare the sausage patties in advance?
Yes, sausage patties can be shaped and refrigerated overnight for quick cooking in the morning.
- → Is cheese necessary or optional in these biscuits?
Cheese is optional; try sliced cheddar or American for added richness and flavor if desired.
- → How do I get a golden-brown top on my biscuits?
Bake at high heat and consider brushing the tops with a little buttermilk before baking for golden color.
- → Can these be frozen for later?
Yes, assemble and freeze cooked biscuit sandwiches. Reheat in a low oven or microwave before serving.