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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Made these and also made Todd Wilbur’s copycat. Yours are the absolute BEST!!!
OMG, These biscuit are Sooo delicious. My husband and I both enjoyed them. I plan to make more to be frozen for later use.
I love these so much! And so does everyone else I’ve made them for. I like them so much, that I’m adding a link to this recipe on my blog page to dip into my Smoky Corn Chowder with Shrimp. They paired so well together. Maybe we can trade blog shout-outs some time!
Best biscuit recipe….tried several, this one is my absolute favorite
I just made these tonight and they were AMAZING! I did however substitute buttermilk for whole milk since that is what I had on hand. They tasted just like the red lobster version and the box version! I will definitely make these again! 😀
Would these taste good at room temperature? I’m having a pot luck at work, so I would be making them the night before to bring in for lunchtime.
These are really best when served warm. If there is a microwave handy at work, you can throw these in for 20-30 seconds and serve as needed.
I am not sure what I did wrong … They seemed under cooked and heavy
Hubby liked them but the ones at red lobster are airy …. mine were not
Had a good flavor tho
I’m sorry that this recipe did not turn out the way you had imagined. Perhaps the batter was beaten too much? Or too much batter was used for each biscuit?
Thanks for a recipe that doesn’t have Bisquick as the main ingredient!!
So you used a whole stick of butter in these?
The recipe calls for 1/2 cup unsalted butter, which is typically one stick of butter.
this recipe is amazing, my kids love it, ive made it several times now and i just love love love love your site! thanks for making me think i can cook!!
Do these rolls freeze well? It’s just the two of us and I’d be making 10! They look delish!
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty as I have never tried freezing this myself – there were no leftovers left to freeze! Please use your best judgment for freezing and reheating.
Made these tonight. They are life changing!!! The directions are great and it’s so easy. Definitely a keeper! Thank you!
I have made those biscuits twice , first time ended well , but tasted bit bland to my taste . So I have done some alterations 🙂 didn’t have parsley so I replaced with spring onion 0.5 cup into the flour and added 0.5 cup of bacon ( fried and cooled ) also into the bater . Didn’t add any sugar at all , don’t think it does need to be there . They turned out perfect , wish I could post a picture . Thank you very much for the recipe .
We made these yesterday without cayenne pepper and just threw in some dried parsley into the mixture and didn’t worry about the topping at all. Also, used Colby Jack cheese since I didn’t have cheddar. These biscuits were amazing! Seriously. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Loved how easy this was, but next time I’d only use a TEASPOON of sugar not a tablespoon. Way too sweet for our taste.
This was definitely easier than other biscuit recipes that use solid rather than melted butter. Not to mention, more tasty! I was super eager to pop them in the oven (so that I could pop them in my mouth that much sooner) that I absent-mindedly brushed the topping on BEFORE baking them. But they were still thoroughly enjoyed in my house (even without cayenne pepper). Thanks so much for the recipe!
I don’t have garlic powder but I do have garlic salt. Would I be able to substitute the garlic powder and salt for just garlic salt?
Yes, that should be fine!
Can you just replace the buttermilk with regular milk?
Emily, it is best to use buttermilk to obtain the best results possible. However, you can easily create a buttermilk substitute using lemon juice (or vinegar). http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-a-quick-easy-buttermilk-substitute-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-185757
All of your recipes are amazing!!! Thank you!!!
These are definitely the best. My boyfriend always asks for them. I can’t eat gluten so I sub GF bisquick for the flour. The buttery topping is a must! We’re actually having these for breakfast today. Again. 🙂