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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How long are you baking these for?
Please refer to step #4:
Using a 1/4-cup measuring cup, scoop the batter evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Place into oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
Great recipe, my partner adored them- pretty much inhaled the biscuits. Had no problem with rising, everything turned out awesome. Didn’t have buttermilk, so I subbed it with 3/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 water. Tasty!!
I never leave comments on recipe sites, but this is so comment-worthy. These biscuits are phenomenal and they disappeared in an instant and got rave reviews. Thanks for sharing!!
I have never made a recipe as much as I have made these. Always find myself coming back to this awesome recipe!
I’m making these right now
I love this recipe! Have made it over 5 times this month for small group,dad visiting, myself, a brunch today. I love your site and often times when I have no idea what to make love scrolling though your recipes. Thank you so much!
I tried this today… it’s definitely a keeper! I didn’t have cayenne pepper, so I replaced it with smoked paprika powder. I used 1.5 tablespoon of baking powder, they rise beautifully and the biscuits were very light & flaky… they were PERFECT! My family loved it, my husband said they were even better than Red Lobster’s!!! This recipe made my day! 🙂 Thank you 🙂
great food
thanks for the recipe
Yes! These biscuits are the best! I used 1 cup of all purpose flour and 1 cup of whole wheat flour with terrific results. Also, don’t skip the garlic butter topping at the end! They’re what makes the biscuit.
hi i just tried making them and even after 20 minutes of baking the biscuits, they were still raw on the inside. the inside wasn’t fluffy, but too wet and kind of sticky. what is the problem here? 🙁 is it too much butter? i used around 115 grams of butter, then melted it and stirred it into the buttermilk. please help!
I am actually worried about your oven temperature – poor calibration can affect cooking time substantially. You can read more about it here.
I just finished eating these. They were delicious. They were so moist that I had to double check and make sure they were actually done in the center. I added the parsley right into the dry mix. I also added crushed garlic into the milk and butter mixture.
Just made these tonight and they came out so good!!! I did add an extra teaspoon of baking soda and it helped them to rise. The flavor was great and my guests thought they were better than the ones at Red Lobster 🙂
I simply love your recipess and I am now adding this one to my growing list of favorites! Holy yum! These biscuits were a total hit at my dinner table last night and all twelve were inhaled. They came out soft, airy and delicious. Thank you for yet another quick, easy and delicious recipe. I’ll be making these often.
Hello! This is the first recipe I’ve tried from your blog…I made 180 of these beautiful biscuits for a banquet and they were a hit so thank you! I used an ice cream scoop. They weren’t as perfectly shaped as yours for some reason; suggestions? Thank you!
I love Red Lobster for the biscuits but can never get my husband to go eat there. We’ll be making these at home, for sure!
There’s a really delicious taste. I tried and I loved it. Thanks for step by step recipe 🙂
Made these over the weekend and they are SO GOOD! I didn’t use the topping but instead put some chopped parsley right into the dough. I also put the leftovers in the freezer and they thaw wonderfully! Thanks for such a keeper of a recipe 🙂
Why did my biscuits spread out instead of bake in a normal biscuit shape?
I am not entirely sure – did you follow the recipe exactly as written without any substitutions?
Hi there,
I just wanted to THANK YOU for this yummy recipe I’ve done it many times and always they gone in minutes therefore I doubled the recipe to have some leftovers for the next morning 🙂
The only thing I changed is using italian seasoning instead of the garlic and chili and they were wonderful.
Awesome recipe, tastes just like the restaurant but somehow much better!
Thank you!