Southern 3-Ingredient Mayonnaise Biscuits

These Southern 3-ingredient mayonnaise biscuits are the kind of recipe that makes you pause and wonder how something so simple can turn out so good. My grandmother always said they were practically foolproof, and after making them myself, I understood why. With self-rising flour, milk, and mayonnaise, you can have tender, fluffy biscuits on the table without cutting in butter or fussing with complicated dough.

The mayonnaise does double duty, providing the fat and helping create a soft, tender texture. It is an old-fashioned shortcut that works beautifully when you want homemade biscuits without a lot of preparation.

Serve them warm from the oven with butter, honey, or your favorite jam. They are also wonderful alongside fried chicken, pot roast, soup, or chili. For breakfast, split one open and fill it with scrambled eggs and cheese, or serve them with sausage gravy for a comforting Southern-style meal.

 

Southern 3-Ingredient Mayonnaise Biscuits

Servings: 8 biscuits

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup full-fat mayonnaise

 

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a 9- or 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven while it heats. Getting the skillet hot helps give the biscuits nicely browned bottoms and edges.

2. Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the whole milk and mayonnaise until smooth and well combined. Continue whisking until you no longer see streaks of mayonnaise.

3. Make the Dough

Place the self-rising flour in a medium mixing bowl. If there are any lumps, break them up with a whisk or spoon.

Pour the milk and mayonnaise mixture into the flour. Stir gently with a wooden spoon or spatula just until the flour is moistened and a thick, sticky dough forms.

Do not overmix the dough. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.

4. Prepare the Hot Skillet

Carefully remove the skillet from the oven using thick oven mitts. Lightly grease the bottom and sides with a small amount of oil or mayonnaise.

Be especially careful because both the skillet and its handle will be extremely hot.

5. Add the Biscuit Dough

Using a large spoon or lightly greased 1/4-cup measure, scoop the dough into the hot skillet.

Arrange the portions so they are close enough to touch slightly. This helps keep the sides soft as they bake. You should get approximately 8 biscuits.

6. Bake

Return the skillet to the oven and bake for 14–18 minutes, or until the biscuits have risen and the tops are golden brown.

The edges should be lightly browned while the centers remain soft and tender.

7. Cool and Serve

Remove the skillet from the oven and let the biscuits rest for 3–5 minutes before serving.

Serve them warm with butter, honey, jam, or your favorite gravy.

 

Tips for the Best Mayonnaise Biscuits

• Don’t overmix the dough. Stir only until the ingredients come together. Overmixing can make the biscuits dense.
• Use self-rising flour. It already contains the leavening and salt needed for this simple recipe.
• Get the skillet hot. A preheated cast iron skillet helps create beautifully browned bottoms.
• Use full-fat mayonnaise. The higher fat content contributes to the biscuits’ tender texture.
• Bake promptly. Once the wet and dry ingredients are combined, get the biscuits into the oven rather than letting the dough sit around.
• Handle the skillet carefully. Cast iron stays extremely hot even after it comes out of the oven.

 

Easy Variations

Buttermilk Biscuits

Replace the whole milk with an equal amount of buttermilk. The slight tang works beautifully with the mayonnaise and can give the biscuits an especially tender flavor.

Cheddar Biscuits

Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the hot biscuits just before serving. The cheese melts beautifully over the warm tops without complicating the basic three-ingredient dough.

Extra-Crispy Bottoms

Add a small amount of oil to the preheated skillet before adding the biscuit dough. This gives the bottoms an extra bit of crispness while keeping the centers soft.

Breakfast Sandwiches

Split the biscuits while warm and fill them with scrambled eggs, cheese, ham, or cooked sausage for an easy homemade breakfast.

 

How to Make Self-Rising Flour

If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make a simple substitute.

For every 1 cup of all-purpose flour, add:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

Whisk the ingredients together thoroughly, then measure the amount needed for the recipe.

 

What to Serve With Mayonnaise Biscuits

These biscuits are versatile enough to serve with breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Try them with:

Butter and honey
Strawberry or blackberry jam
Sausage gravy
Fried chicken
Pot roast
Chili
Creamy soup
Scrambled eggs and cheese
Ham and cheese

They are especially good while still warm from the skillet

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use low-fat mayonnaise?

Full-fat mayonnaise is recommended because it provides the richness and tenderness that make these biscuits work so well. Reduced-fat mayonnaise may produce a slightly different texture.

Can I use buttermilk instead of milk?

Yes. Use the same amount of buttermilk in place of the whole milk for a slightly tangier biscuit.

Why are my biscuits dense?

The most common reason is overmixing. Once the flour is moistened, stop stirring. The dough should remain thick and slightly sticky.

Can I make these without a cast iron skillet?

Yes. A baking dish or another oven-safe pan can work, although a preheated cast iron skillet gives the biscuits particularly nice browned edges and bottoms.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

For the best rise and texture, mix and bake the dough promptly. Since the recipe comes together so quickly, it is better to prepare it just before baking.

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A Simple Southern Biscuit Worth Keeping

These Southern 3-Ingredient Mayonnaise Biscuits are proof that homemade baking doesn’t always require a long ingredient list or a complicated technique.

Three simple ingredients, a hot skillet, and a few minutes in the oven are all you need for warm, tender biscuits with golden edges. Keep the recipe handy for busy mornings, family dinners, or those times when you want something homemade without making a project out of it.

Serve them warm, add a little butter or honey, and enjoy one of those wonderfully simple recipes that never seems to go out of style.