Ham and Cheese Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe

The Magic of Butter Swim Biscuits

Have you ever heard of a butter swim biscuit? It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? The dough bakes right in a pool of melted, golden butter. This makes the bottoms crispy and the insides incredibly soft.

I learned this trick from my neighbor, Betty. She brought over a pan one rainy afternoon. We ate the whole thing in one sitting! I still laugh at how we couldn’t stop eating them. This matters because it turns a simple biscuit into something truly special.

A Simple Bowl of Goodness

Making the dough is easy. You just mix the dry things together first. Then you add the cheese, ham, and chives. The star of the show is the buttermilk. It makes everything so tender.

Here is a fun fact for you: The acid in buttermilk reacts with the baking powder. This is what makes the biscuits puff up so high! Do you have a favorite ingredient you love to add to biscuits?

The Best Part: The Butter Swim

Now for the best step. Pour that melted butter right into your pan. It will sizzle a little. Then you plop the dough right on top. Use your hands to spread it out. It is a bit messy, but so much fun.

Pressing that dough into the butter feels good. You are creating your masterpiece. This matters because cooking should be a joy, not a chore. Getting your hands a little dirty is part of the fun!

Watching Them Turn Golden

As they bake, your kitchen will smell amazing. It is a mix of buttery bread and cheesy goodness. You will see the butter bubbling around the edges. The cheese on top will get all melted and bubbly.

Wait until the top is a deep, golden brown. That is how you know they are perfect. What is the best smell you remember from your kitchen?

Why This Recipe is a Keeper

This recipe is more than just food. It is about sharing. It is about making a simple meal feel like a celebration. Anyone you make these for will feel loved.

That is the real lesson here. Good food brings people together. It creates happy memories around the table. Will you make these for a special breakfast or a cozy dinner? I would love to know.

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
All-purpose flour	2 1/2 cups (312.5 g)
Baking powder	4 teaspoons
Kosher salt	1 teaspoon
Garlic powder	2 teaspoons
Medium cheddar cheese, shredded	1 cup (113 g)	Mixed together for the cheese blend
White cheddar cheese, shredded	1 cup (113 g)	Mixed together for the cheese blend
Cooked ham, diced	1 cup (135 g)
Chives, chopped	1/4 cup (12 g)
Buttermilk	2 cups (490 g)
Unsalted butter, melted	1/2 cup (1 stick / 113 g)	Poured into the baking dish

My Cozy Ham and Cheese Butter Swim Biscuits

Hello, my dear! Come sit with me in the kitchen. I want to share my recipe for Ham and Cheese Butter Swim Biscuits. They are the coziest, cheesiest things you will ever bake. My grandkids go wild for them. The name sounds funny, I know. The dough “swims” in melted butter before baking. It makes the biscuits so rich and tender. I still laugh at how my grandson calls them “swimming biscuits.” He imagines little biscuits doing the backstroke. Doesn’t that smell amazing? Let’s get started.

Step 1

First, get your oven nice and hot at 450°F. Grab a 7×11-inch baking dish. Give it a good spray with nonstick spray. I always use my old blue dish for this. It reminds me of Sunday dinners with my family. A warm oven is a happy oven, ready for our biscuits.

Step 2

Now, let’s mix our dry stuff. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and garlic powder. In another little bowl, mix your two cheddar cheeses together. This is my favorite part. I love seeing the white and orange cheeses become friends. (A hard-learned tip: always shred your own cheese! The bagged kind doesn’t melt as nicely.)

Step 3

Add one cup of that cheesy mix to your flour. Toss in the diced ham and chopped chives. Pour in the buttermilk. Stir it all gently, just until it comes together. A lumpy dough is a good dough here. Overmixing makes tough biscuits. Nobody wants a tough biscuit!

Step 4

Pour your melted butter right into the greased dish. It will sizzle and dance. Now, plop your dough on top of the butter. Use your hands or a spatula to press it evenly to the edges. It’s a buttery, messy joy. Then, sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top. Sweet or savory, which do you prefer for breakfast? Share below!

Step 5

Bake for 26 to 28 minutes. You will know it’s done when it’s a deep golden brown. The cheese will be all bubbly and wonderful. Let it rest for just a few minutes after. This lets the butter soak in properly. Then, slice it into big squares and serve. Be careful, it’s hot!

Cook Time: 26–28 minutes
Total Time: About 40 minutes
Yield: 8 generous servings
Category: Breakfast, Side Dish

Three Tasty Twists to Try

This recipe is like a good friend. It’s wonderful as it is, but you can dress it up for fun. Feel free to play with the ingredients. Here are a few ideas I’ve tried over the years. My neighbor gave me the broccoli idea last fall. It was a hit!

Veggie Lover’s Swap

Take out the ham. Add a cup of finely chopped broccoli and some shredded carrot instead.

Everything Spicy

Mix in a diced jalapeño. Use a spicy pepper jack cheese for the cheese mix. It gives it a nice little kick!

Everything Bagel Style

Skip the garlic powder. Sprinkle the top with everything bagel seasoning before it bakes. So crunchy and good.

Which one would you try first? Comment below!

Serving Your Masterpiece

Now, what to serve with your beautiful biscuits? They are a meal all by themselves, truly. But I love to make a little plate. A simple green salad with a light dressing is perfect on the side. It cuts through the richness. For a bigger breakfast, serve them with some scrambled eggs. The eggs love to soak up the buttery goodness.

What about a drink? A tall, cold glass of milk is my top pick. It just feels right. For the grown-ups, a crisp apple cider is lovely. It tastes like autumn in a glass. Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Biscuits Happy and Fresh

These biscuits are best eaten warm from the oven, but they are still good the next day. Let them cool completely first, then store them in a sealed container in the fridge.

They will keep for about three days. You can also freeze them for a month. I wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap to stop them from getting freezer burn.

I once gave a frozen batch to my grandson for his new apartment. He said they made his whole place smell like home. That is why batch cooking matters—it lets you share a warm meal anytime.

To reheat, just warm them in a 350°F oven until toasty. This brings back their magic. Have you ever tried storing them this way? Share below!

Easy Fixes for Common Biscuit Troubles

Sometimes biscuits can be too dense. This often happens from over-mixing. Stir the dough just until everything is wet. A few lumps are perfectly fine.

I remember when my first batch turned out flat. My baking powder was old. Check that yours is fresh for fluffy biscuits. This matters because fresh ingredients build your cooking confidence.

If the butter pools on top, just press the dough evenly. Make sure it touches the pan edges. This helps the butter swim around every biscuit. That buttery soak is what makes them so special and tasty.

Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Biscuit Questions, Answered

Q: Can I make these gluten-free?
A: Yes. Use a good gluten-free flour blend. The results are very tasty.

Q: Can I make the dough ahead?
A: You can mix the dry ingredients the night before. This saves you time in the morning.

Q: What are some easy ingredient swaps?
A: Use any cheese you have. Try cooked bacon instead of ham. It is very flexible.

Q: Can I make a smaller batch?
A: Absolutely. Just cut all the ingredients in half. Use a smaller baking dish.

Q: Any optional add-ins?
A: A pinch of smoked paprika is lovely. It adds a little warmth. Which tip will you try first?

Fun fact: The “swim” in the name comes from the melted butter the dough bakes in.

A Little Note From My Kitchen to Yours

I hope you love making these biscuits. They are a simple joy. My family always gathers when they smell them baking.

I would love to see your creation. Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest! It makes me so happy to see your kitchen adventures.

Happy cooking!
—Fiona Brooks