Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
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These copycat biscuits are so easy to make in just 30 min! So buttery, so flaky, and so irresistibly good!

Featured Comment
I have the fondest memories of Red Lobster. It was always our go-to place for big familial celebrations, particularly for our birthdays. And since we never went out for dinner, it was always a huge deal to eat out. It was as if we had won the lottery. But other than the lobster, there was something else on the menu that was just as lottery-worthy. It was, of course, the cheddar bay biscuits.
why i love this recipe
- Copycat recipe. This is a complete copycat recipe of Red Lobster’s most popular (and famous) biscuits. You’ll have the flakiest, most fluffy biscuit you could possibly dream of. Dare I say it’s even better than the restaurant version?
- No more store-bought mix. You can skip the store-bought biscuit mix with easy-to-find ingredients, most of which are pantry staples.
- So fast and easy. These buttery, flaky biscuits come together in just 30 minutes, start to finish.
- Crowd-favorite. These copycat biscuits are a huge crowd-favorite for both kids and grown ups, great as an appetizer or snack, or served alongside any meal – from soups, stews, pastas and everything in between.
- Freezer-friendly. Freeze before or after baking, ideal for stocking your freezer or saving leftovers.

tips and tricks for success
- Use buttermilk. While adding a slightly tangy flavor, buttermilk is a key ingredient here contributing to the flavor, texture and rise. Using milk will lead to more neutral flavors along with flat and dense biscuits. You can also make a buttermilk substitute using milk, adding 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup milk.
- Use your favorite cheese. The recipe lists sharp cheddar cheese but feel free to mix it up with white cheddar, gouda or pepper jack cheese.
- Avoid overworking the dough. Knead the dough just until it comes together. Overworking the dough can lead to dense, dry biscuits.
- Use a floured biscuit cutter. Flouring the biscuit cutter beforehand will prevent sticking. Avoid twisting the cutter as the biscuits may slope and rise unevenly.
- Freeze before baking. Although biscuits can be frozen before or after baking, freezing before baking is preferred to preserve texture and for optimal freshness.
FREEZING AND STORAGE
Storage
Leftover biscuits can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Reheating
Reheat in the oven at 350°F, covered in aluminum foil until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.
Freeze before baking
Place the biscuits on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper, freezing for 1 hour until solid. Transfer the biscuits to an airtight, resealable freezer bag. Label, date and freeze up to 3 weeks. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed.
Freeze after baking
Let the biscuits cool completely. Transfer the biscuits to an airtight, resealable freezer bag. Label, date and freeze up to 3 weeks. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 350°F, covered in aluminum foil until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.

what to serve with red lobster cheddar bay biscuits
Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits: Frequently Asked Questions
A quick and easy buttermilk substitute is creating your own buttermilk with whole milk and something acidic such as lemon juice or distilled white vinegar.
You can add 1 tablespoon acid (lemon juice or vinegar) to 1 cup milk, letting it stand for 5-10 minutes.
Absolutely! But because dried herbs are often more potent/concentrated than fresh herbs, you need less when using dry. The correct ratio is 1 tablespoon fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
A sharp knife should do the trick using a downward motion. Using a dull rim, such as a glass or mason jar, can prevent the biscuits from rising.
Yes! Biscuits are very freezer-friendly, flash freezing once assembled (before baking) and storing in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
For the topping
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper, if using.
- In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together buttermilk and butter. Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist. Gently fold in cheese.
- Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 1 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Cut out 10-12 rounds using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit or cookie cutter.
- Place into oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
for the topping
- Whisk together butter, parsley and garlic powder in a small bowl. Working one at a time, brush the tops of the biscuits with the butter mixture.
- Serve immediately.
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AMAZING! These are so good that they were gone in seconds. No one waited for them to cool and asking for more already. I did change the milk to oat and the butter to a dairy free and still came out perfect and delicious!
I love this recipe
Only read 1 other review that said this- but I followed instructions exactly, and it was not nearly enough cooking time. Was very gooey in the middle still after 12 mins. I ended up adding 2 mins at a time, until probably around 20 mins. But they were a bit scorched on top and still slightly gooey inside. The one other review I read said to do 1/8 scoop, so I’ll try that next time. Or just do lower heat for longer. Just kind of surprised nobody else had the same issue. Taste is excellent though!
I suspect not all reviews are published, is the reason you don’t see more negative comments. This recipe has too much liquid, and the scoop size is too large at 1/4 cup to bake at 450 without scorching.
Hi Lisa! With over 380 comments, you may have to dig a bit to find some of the negative comments on such a fan favorite recipe. 🙂
Sorry to hear this recipe didn’t work out for you!
Delish!!!!!
This came out amazing. Everyone enjoyed. Great success!
Made these with gluten free all purpose flour and although they aren’t as fluffy as with wheat flour, they are quite tasty.
Love this recipe, as does my family!! One tip: after brushing the butter mix onto the biscuits, I add a dash of pink salt on top. Takes these biscuits to the next level of irresistible!
What kind of cheese can I change the cheddar?
It was very good but in a air fryer with the liner the they sink . How do you make in a air fryer ?
Fabulous. I’ve never eaten them at Red Lobster, but I don’t know how they could be any better. I used by largest scoop and it made 12 which baked for about 13 minutes. I will definitely make them again.
Iguarentee you people are mixing this recipe with a mixer rather than by hand and that’s what is messing up the cooking of the center of the biscuits. I know this because I did it..
Note to self.. HAND MIX THIS RECIPE AND DONT OVER MIX IT. it will flop of over.mmix.mmi
Very Tasty! The Amounts are slightly off, though. It should be a 1/2 cup of buttermilk or the biscuit will have the texture of a muffin. and a TEASPOON of parsley for the butter sauce is more than enough.
This is inaccurate. I followed the recipe to the letter and get Red Lobster texture. There is nothing wrong with this recipe.
I agree, there is too much liquid in this recipe, and makes the texture more cakey. No need to argue, super fans, it is still tasty.
My EXTREMELY PICKY 7 year old is on her second one right now and can’t believe I made them myself lol. She won’t quit talking about how yummy they are. These are so much more like the restaurant ones than the boxed mix or any other recipe I’ve tried! And I had mine in for 10 minutes and they came out just fine. Check your ovens, people!
Delicious! Made two batches for a party and everyone loved them! Will make again!
Hi can these be frozen after baking them? Cant wait to try!
Great recipe!!!! turned it amazing.. I had to sub half a cup of asiago cheese and used some powdered milk and sour cream to substitute the milk. Turned out amazing!!!!!
Made them twice this week. Didn’t need to change a thing, but any less than 12 minutes and they’re still too doughy. Definitely don’t skip the cayenne!
(oops! Sorry didn’t mean to reply to your comment)
These biscuits were so amazing. I used the cayenne pepper, and my boyfriend absolutely loved them. Thanks for providing a great recipe! By far the best cheddar biscuit one I’ve tried thus far.
Perfect texture! I baked it for the full 12 minutes and it had a perfect, buttery crumb. I did scale the sugar back significantly (to 1 teaspoon) because I never detected any sweet element in the biscuits when I’ve had them. Next time, I will try swapping out the cayenne for Old Bay as some reviewers suggested. Definitely a keeper. My kids love Red Lobster biscuits, but there are four of them so outings get rowdy. Great to know I can whip up a batch at home.
Everything you make is a perfect blend of flavors. It’s easy to follow the instructions also. You are just my kind of girl. I come to your website and you never fail me. It’s my favorite.
I made this using my gluten free flour blend, and it came out PERFECTLY! My daughter and I have missed these biscuits since we both discovered we had a gluten intolerance. She was SO excited when I made these. This will be a staple recipe for us for sure!
Your recipe was perfect and the biscuits were delicious!