Ham biscuits are a genius way to use up leftover ham. Just add homemade buttery biscuits, and you've got a tasty snack or potluck treat.
Ham on Biscuits Recipe photo by Taste of Home

If you’re anything like me, you’ll take any excuse to eat a biscuit. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, flaky biscuits are delicious any time of day. Whether they’re classic buttermilk biscuits or jazzed-up cheddar-chive biscuits, it’s impossible to go wrong—especially if you throw some ham in the middle! These crowd-pleasing ham biscuits will hit the spot no matter the meal, from dawn till dusk.

The homemade biscuits in this recipe are made with cottage cheese and egg, and they’re just as light and tender as any biscuit out there. In fact, they’re buttery but also sturdy, a perfect travel-ready option for parties and potlucks. Or make a batch to keep in the fridge for an anytime snack. You can’t go wrong with ham biscuits!

Ingredients for Ham Biscuits

  • Cold butter: Cold butter is the most important ingredient in biscuits! The butter melts while the biscuits bake, which creates air pockets that give them that quintessential flaky texture. I cut my butter into small cubes, then freeze it for a few minutes before making the dough.
  • All-purpose flour: You probably already have some all-purpose flour on hand, seeing as it’s the most versatile flour. Bread flour will also make a wonderful biscuit, so you can substitute part or all of it if needed.
  • Baking powder: Baking powder is one of the most important ingredients in baking, so if a recipe calls for it, you don’t want to leave it out. As a leavening agent, baking powder helps give those biscuits a nice and tall rise. If you’ve had the same box for the past several years, make sure to open a new one that will be nice and fresh for your biscuits! This recipe also uses baking soda; both are necessary.
  • Cottage cheese: Yes, cottage cheese in biscuits! Similar to buttermilk, cottage cheese adds some richness to the dough and a bit of tang. Use small-curd cottage cheese for the best results.
  • Ham: This is one of the best leftover ham recipes. You can also buy sliced ham from your local deli counter.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dough

Preheat the oven to 450°F. In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, beat the cottage cheese for two minutes. Add the egg and milk, and beat until fully blended. Stir it into the flour mixture, and mix everything until just until moistened.

Editor’s Tip: Chill the butter cubes in the freezer for up to 10 minutes before cutting it into the flour.

Step 2: Punch out the biscuits

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead 8 to 10 times. Pat or roll out the dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Use a 2-1/2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out eight biscuits.

Editor’s Tip: Try not to work the dough too much. You want the butter to still be very cold when the biscuits go into the oven. If you prefer square biscuits, don’t use a cutter; cut them into equal squares instead.

Step 3: Bake the biscuits

Place biscuits 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

Step 4: Build the sandwiches

Applying butter on biscuitTMB Studio

Split biscuits in half, then spread with softened butter. Place ham on biscuit bottoms, cover with the tops, and enjoy.

Recipe Variations

  • Add a condiment: This biscuit sandwich would be great with a schmear of mustard or even jam. That extra layer of flavor helps ensure you won’t get a dry sandwich.
  • Cheese, please: Since cheese makes everything better, add some grated cheddar cheese to the dough before baking. Or spread this easy pimiento cheese on the biscuits after they’re baked.
  • Pickle it!: Sliced pickles are the perfect addition to ham biscuits, adding a tangy kick. Try it with bread and butter pickles, my favorite for sandwiches.
  • Make a different biscuit: Really, any of our homemade biscuits make the perfect vehicle for ham sandwiches, whether Dolly Parton’s recipe, sourdough or sour cream and leek.

How to Store Ham Biscuits

These biscuits will keep up to five days in the fridge. Store them wrapped individually in plastic wrap for a quick grab-and-go snack.

Can you make ham biscuits ahead of time?

You can definitely make ham biscuits ahead of time! Make the biscuits a day before you want to use them, and assemble the sandwiches when you’re ready. Or assemble the sandwiches fully, and store until it’s time to serve them.

Ham Biscuit Tips

Ham Biscuits on trayTMB Studio

Can you use premade biscuit dough for ham biscuits?

If making biscuits isn’t your thing, these can definitely be made with any store-bought biscuits.

What should I serve with ham biscuits?

Ham biscuits can be served with a variety of things, depending on the meal or time of day. Have them alongside some scrambled eggs for breakfast, or enjoy with a side salad to get some veggies in!

Homemade Ham Biscuits

I enjoy entertaining friends at luncheons. They always compliment me on these special little ham sandwiches made on cheesy homemade biscuits. Usually, I use Smithfield ham, but if salty ham is not your preference, any thin-sliced ham works well. —Betsy Hedeman, Timonium, Maryland
Ham on Biscuits Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Makes

8 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1-1/8 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons cold butter
  • 1/2 cup 4% cottage cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 8 teaspoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 pound sliced deli ham

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°. In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt; cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, beat cottage cheese 2 minutes. Beat in egg and milk until blended. Stir into crumb mixture just until moistened.
  2. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times. Pat or roll out to 1/2-in. thickness; cut out eight biscuits with a floured 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter.
  3. Place 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Split biscuits in half; spread with softened butter. Place ham on biscuit bottoms; replace tops.

Nutrition Facts

2 sandwiches: 350 calories, 18g fat (10g saturated fat), 115mg cholesterol, 1031mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 18g protein.