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Stacks of air fryer biscuits on a wooden board show how tall and fluffy the biscuits are

Air Fryer Biscuits

Air fryer biscuits are one of the quickest and most reliable ways to make warm, fluffy, golden biscuits with crisp buttery tops and tender layers inside. Once you try it, you'll be amazed how the air fryer creates beautifully risen and tender biscuits in a fraction of the time and effort. Read all the details below.
Course Appetizer, baking, Breakfast, Main Course, side, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American, baking
Keyword Air fryer biscuits, Biscuit Recipe, biscuits, buttery, comfort food, easy, quick
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings 6 biscuits
Calories 313 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

  • 2 cup Flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons Butter cold, cut into half inch pieces
  • 3/4 cup Buttermilk cold
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter for brushing

Instructions

  1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl, the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
    A bowl of the dry ingredients mixed together
  2. Whisk together the flour mixture until blended.
  3. Add in the cold butter pieces.
    Cold butter pieces added to the flour mixture bowl
  4. You can use a food processor for this or a pastry cutter or your hands.
    A hand holding the butter incorporated into the flour showing the coarse crumb texture ready to add the buttermilk
  5. Once all the flour is coated in the butter and the mixture feels like coarse crumbs with pea size butter pieces, it's ready.
  6. Add in the buttermilk right into the bowl of the coarse butter and flour mixture.
    the buttermilk added to the bowl of flour and butter mixture
  7. Shape The Dough
  8. Use a fork or your hands or food processor to make the dough and add it to a flat surface and then cut the dough into 3 equal pieces.
    The biscuit dough cut into three pieces
  9. Add the pieces on top of each other and roll them together. This creates a layered fluffy biscuit.
    The biscuit dough is rolled to a half inch thick
  10. Roll the dough into a half inch thick dough.
  11. Now use your favorite cookie cutter shape and cut the biscuits out of the dough.
    cut up pieces of biscuits from the biscuit dough on a board
  12. Preheat air fryer to 390-400°F for just 3 minutes.
  13. Arrange the biscuits in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between them.
    biscuits arranged in an air fryer basket in a single layer spaced apart
  14. Cook 8–12 minutes depending on size until the biscuits are golden brown.
    Biscuits golden and cooked in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer
  15. Once the biscuits are out of the oven and still warm, brush some melted butter on top evenly over the cooked biscuits.
    A brush brushing melted butter over the warm biscuits right out of the air fryer
  16. Cool slightly before serving.
  17. Canned Biscuits Instructions
    A hand holding a fluffy air fryer biscuit close up
  18. Preheat to 390°F.
  19. Place biscuits spaced apart (they expand significantly).
  20. Cook 6–10 minutes.
  21. If tops brown too quickly, reduce heat slightly.
  22. Frozen Biscuits Instructions
  23. Preheat to 350°F.
  24. Place frozen biscuits directly in basket.
  25. Cook 12–16 minutes, the pillsbury grands biscuits are significantly larger in size.
    A hand holding an air fryer biscuit cut in half showing the fluffy interior
  26. Flip halfway for even browning if needed.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Expert Pro Tips For Air Fryer Biscuits

  1. Do not overcrowd the basket for air flow and because biscuits rise and expand during baking.
  2. Use a basket type or oven type air fryer depending on the size.
  3. Preheat the air fryer for just 2-3 minutes.
  4. Start checking early because air fryers vary significantly.
  5. If making the dough from scratch, use cold butter, always.
  6. Use a food processor or hands to rub the butter into the flour.
  7. Add cold buttermilk as well so the dough remains cold.
  8. Cut the dough into thirds and stack them to create layers.
  9. Brush with butter after cooking for the best flavor and shine.
  10. If the tops brown too quickly, lower the temperature slightly.
  11. Serve immediately for the fluffiest texture.Air Fryer Cheddar Biscuits

Variations Of Air Fryer Biscuits

  • Garlic Herb Biscuits: Add your favorite garlic herb seasoning or some herbs and Roasted Garlic.
  • Drop Biscuits: Follow the recipe for this Drop Biscuits Recipe
  • Air fryer canned biscuits :The fastest and most popular method using refrigerated dough.
  • Air fryer frozen biscuits: Cooks straight from the freezer with excellent results.
  • Cheese biscuits: Includes cheddar and herbs for extra richness.
  • Gluten-free Air fryer biscuits: Uses gluten-free flour blends for dietary needs.
  • Sweet Air Fryer Biscuits with Honey: Use honey instead of sugar and serve with some whipped honey!

Why Air Fryers Bake So Efficiently

An Air fryer circulates concentrated hot air around the biscuits, which speeds up evaporation, promotes rapid rise, and creates a beautifully golden crust.

Why Cold Dough Produces Taller Biscuits

Cold butter and chilled dough release steam as they bake, separating the layers and helping the biscuits rise higher.

Why You Should Leave Space Between Biscuits

Proper spacing allows hot air to circulate around each biscuit, ensuring even cooking and preventing doughy centers.

Why Butter Is Brushed On After Cooking

Applying melted butter while the biscuits are still hot adds flavor and keeps the crust tender and glossy.

Troubleshooting Air Fryer Biscuits

  • Biscuits Are Doughy in the Center: They need more cooking time, or the biscuits were placed too close together.
  • Tops Brown Too Quickly: Lower the cooking temperature slightly or loosely cover the tops with foil if your air fryer allows it safely.
  • Biscuits Did Not Rise: The dough was overworked, the butter was too warm, or the baking powder was no longer active.
  • Bottoms Are Too Dark: The temperature was too high or the basket was preheated excessively.
  • Biscuits Stuck to the Basket: Use a light coating of oil or perforated parchment paper.
  • Biscuits Are Dry: They were overcooked or not brushed with butter after baking.
  • Frozen Biscuits Cooked Unevenly: Increase spacing and add a few extra minutes of cooking time.

Storage & Reheating

  • Room Temperature: Store in airtight container up to 2 days.
  • Refrigerator: Up to 4 days.
  • Freezer: Freeze fully cooled biscuits up to 2 months.
  • Reheat in Air Fryer: Reheat in an air fryer at 300°F for 2–3 minutes, this restores crisp edges without drying interior.
  • Avoid microwave if possible, it makes them rubbery.

How long do biscuits take in the air fryer?

Typically 6–12 minutes depending on size and type.

What temperature is best for air fryer biscuits?

350-400°F works best for even cooking.

Do you need to flip biscuits in the air fryer?

No, flipping is not necessary.

Can you cook canned biscuits in an air fryer?

Yes. They cook beautifully and often faster than in an oven.

Why are my air fryer biscuits doughy?

They likely need lower heat and slightly longer cook time.

Can I use parchment paper?

Yes, but only air fryer safe parchment with holes for airflow.

Can I make biscuits ahead?

Yes. Reheat in the air fryer for best texture.

Are air fryer biscuits healthier?

They are not lower in calories, they simply cook faster and more efficiently.

Can you cook biscuits in an air fryer?

Yes. Air fryers are one of the easiest and fastest ways to bake biscuits with excellent rise and browning.

Do I need to preheat the air fryer?

Preheating is helpful but not always required. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations.

Can I cook frozen biscuits without thawing?

Yes. Frozen biscuits can go directly into the air fryer and simply require a few extra minutes.

Are air fryer biscuits as good as oven biscuits?

Yes. Many cooks find they are even better because the circulating hot air creates crisp tops and fluffy centers.

Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Biscuits
Amount Per Serving
Calories 313 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 43mg14%
Sodium 264mg11%
Potassium 258mg7%
Carbohydrates 36g12%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 516IU10%
Calcium 117mg12%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.