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!
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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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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. 🙂
I was so excited when i found this recipe. The only reason i go to Red Lobster is the biscuits. i can make all those dinners at home for half the cost. and i thought finally i would be able to make the biscuits too. As many as I could eat. So I tried this recipe. Texture, flawless. how easy is it to make? A five year old could do it. Taste? not so much. i followed the recipe, and in addition to taking far longer than 12 minutes to cook, all i tasted in them was flour. i Mis En Place before i bake so i know i didnt mess up the ingredients. I just didnt get that cheddar bay flavor. I dont discourage anyone from trying this recipe. My uncle loved them and ate both batches. I just didnt taste cheddar bay biscuits.
Austin, I’m so glad you tried out this recipe! As for the cheddar bay flavor, you can try using Old Bay Seasoning to fit your preferences – although I personally found that the use of cayenne pepper really lets the flavors shine through in these cheese biscuits without overpowering them.
I made these to with our seafood dinner and they turned out pretty good. One problem I had was the little bits of cheese sticking out wanted to get too brown. I think I pulled them a little too early because of this. They tasted really good, though.
Is it ok to leave the sugar out?
Because it’s such a small amount, it should be fine to omit.
I made these biscuits last night, and they turned out to be AMAZING! Love love love this recipe! The outside of the biscuits were hard and crunchy, and the inside is super soft and moist, YUM! I’d add more than just 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper next time though, because I LOVE that stuff, and the amount given didn’t really give me the spicy kick I was looking for. Otherwise, this recipe is wonderful! Thank you for sharing this 🙂
i don’t have buttermilk or regular white vinegar. Could I just use whole milk? Thanks!
Kelly, you can certainly try substituting whole milk but without further recipe testing, I cannot speak for how much this will change the overall taste/texture of the dish. It is always best to use the ingredients listed in the recipe to obtain the best results possible.
I heart this recipe coming across it after googling some cheddar bay biscuit recipes I absolutely love this and its flexibility. I never buy buttermilk because I end up curdling regular milk. I added a little vinegar to skim milk and cut some of the fat out. I also did not put butter b/c I ran out! I substituted 1/4 cup of oil instead. But OMG it was delish!! Thankyou!
So delicious! Taste just like the real deal. Had with chicken pot pie filling…such a fattie I know but soooo perfect and delicious.
Do you think the dough would freeze well? I know that if I make 10 of these, chances are I’ll eat all of them. I’m thinking to make half and then freeze half? Do you think this dough will hold up? Thanks!
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty as I have never tried freezing this myself. I recommend using your best judgment for freezing and reheating.
OMG these were so great! Made them tonight and I am in heaven! I don’t eat a lot of bread, but this recipe has made me want to eat non-stop. Thank you so much, I absolutely love this recipe.
I are these months back and the recipe is on point perfect so good
These pictures have me dying over here! I have to make this!
Changa, can I pre make these and freeze them ahead of time. I never had these before and would love to make them for a party. Thanks for the recipe.
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty as I have never tried freezing this myself. I recommend using your best judgment for freezing and reheating.
I love to bring them home from RL, I put 2 in a baggie and freeze them. When I want them I let them defrost on the counter top then open the baggie and pop it in the MW for 30 sec. Comes out great!
To anyone willing to try, I recommend dipping these in applesauce. I did it with them at Red Lobster when I was young and it still tastes great with these!
Do you sift before or after measuring the floor or not at all?
Thanks
No, Mary, there is no need to sift the flour here.
Could I use regular milk or, dare I say, heavy cream instead of buttermilk?
You can certainly substitute regular milk or heavy cream but I cannot speak for how much this will change the overall taste/texture of the dish as further recipe testing is needed.
If you don’t have buttermilk, just add 1 tbsp of white vinegar or lemon juice per 1 cup of milk, then let it sit for a few minutes before using. I always do this as I rarely use buttermilk so I don’t bother to keep it on hand.
Becca,
This is what I did too! It came out perfectly.
Could we substitute melted margarine for the melted butter?
My brother in-law can’t have melted butter due to his gallbladder.
Would this work?
Yes, that should be fine!
I’ve found cutting the butter into the dough instead of melting it makes it have the “chunks” of buttery goodness more like the cheddar bay biscuits. Its not about rolling, its about the texture
I made these biscuits tonight and they turn out great, better than the red lobster ones. I will definitely make these again. I am curious, how do you store them, in the fridge or in your kitchen cabinet/pantry? I thought that since they have cheese they should be stored in the fridge.
I would recommend storing in an air-tight container in the fridge.