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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I followed instructions to the t and after leaving it in the oven for 12 minutes which was the maximum, it was slightly undercooked inside and burnt on the bottom but taste was there. It was the same for the blueberry muffins which was more than slightly undercooked. I’m guessing, I’ll have to tweak the temperatures and time to get it cooked
Check if your oven has accurate temperature. If this is happening in multiple recipes, you may need to have it calibrated.
I was looking for a recipe like this and this one caught my eye. I have just made it…so good! My son looked at me like I was the best mom ever and said, with eyebrows raised and huge smile through doughy deliciousness, “You’re making these again!” Needless to say this one is a keeper and thank you for the mothet son bonding time. I will be finding more recipes from this site. Thank you!
Taste was superb! My only problem was that it took longer than 12 minutes to bake. Even at 15 minutes, the dough was slightly wet inside. Perhaps amend the recipe for electric ovens? Either that, or my oven isn’t as reliable as I thought it was?
Either way, thank you!
I barely got to try these because my twin teenaged sons devoured them! These biscuits are nuggets of yummy deliciousness with a savory, yet tart flavor in every bite. This recipe is a hit in my family.
So delicious! Like every other comment, better than Red Lobster. Easy enough to make with small children!
My daughter requested “Red Lobster Biscuits” . We’ve bought the box mix before and they were terrible. Found this recipe and made them in less than 20 minutes. They are AMAZING! Better than Red Lobster’s biscuits because they don’t have an artificial texture or taste. I substituted 1% Milk with some white whine vinegar for the buttermilk and they were still delicious. Best copy cat recipe I’ve found!
Amazing biscuits! I added some dried parsley, fresh garlic and some West Indian pepper sauce to the recipe and it came out great!
Love these,takes me back to red lobster every time i make them. Such an easy recipe to bring back good memories
These are family favorite since past two years( landed on this recipe as we all loved red lobster biscuits) I keep baking these very often ever since! Thanks for sharing these yummier than original treats!!
Very good! I didn’t melt better. I chopped frozen butter into the recipe! Delicious!!
Great idea, Elia!
OMG!!!! I made these tonight and they were so good! Way better than the mix you buy and make at home. They were so easy, it took less than 10 mins to prepare. I will definitely be making these again!
Thanks for sharing!
This is the recipe I use for my biscuits except instead of cayenne I use Old Bay seasoning and I also add a little to the butter topping. So good! I use these for everything from dipping in soup to topping with homemade sausage gravy.
I have made these biscuits about a dozen huh times since I happened upon the recipe last September. Fantastic. In the past I had always used biscuit recipes that had to be rolled and cut, and they always came out dry and tough. These are perfect. My son asks for them almost every weekend. The only change I make to your recipe is to make 1-1/2 times the amount. I find this makes about 14 large size biscuits.
I’ve been coming here to make this recipe for years, family and guests always love them. My only change is use half the parsley and add a dash of old bay to the topping. Thank you so much for sharing.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Can these be made the day before (& stored in the fridge) and then baked the next day?
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without having tried this myself, I cannot answer with certainty. But if you get a chance to try it, please let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Hi! I don’t think it would work very well to refrigerate the dough. When the baking powder in the dry ingredients gets wet, it starts a chemical reaction that makes the dough rise. That’s why it’s best to bake immediately, and also why they say not to overmix. Things like muffins work the same way.
I’ve been making cheddar bay biscuits for a several years now and these were my best batch yet! I did make a few changes though after reading reviews. I added a tsp of onion powder and replaced the cayenne with old bay seasoning since my kiddo isn’t a fan of spice. I’ve always used melted butter, but I took the advice of a reviewer and used cold butter instead. I grated a stick of real butter into the flour mixture and then added the cheese, which I doubled. Half way through cooking I basted with the garlic butter mix and then again once finished and baked 2 more mins. I’ve snacked on these ALL DAY! So amazing!!!
I have used this recipe several times and they turn out perfect every time! So delicious!
I have not made these yet but would like to. However, I don’t have garlic powder. What can I use for a substitute?
You can substitute fresh garlic. 🙂
So so delicious
SO delicious! Since some folks noted their biscuits were flat, I decided to cut the butter in rather than melt it. Worked out awesome…these lil beauties fluffed right up (I posted and tagged them on Instagram). Next time I may use regular salt as I noticed they were saltier than I prefer. I’ve never been to Red Lobster, but these damn delicious biscuits are gonna be my go-to for family soup nights! 🙂 <3