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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Recipe was so good!!! The biscuits turned out perfect!!!
I make these at thanksgiving and Christmas every year and my family goes crazy over these! This recipe is delicious. I like making this from scratch rather than a box. These will not disappoint but they will disappear!
I see the recipe has changed from being a drop biscuit to rolled. Has the actual recipe changed at all? Darn, this is why you should print your favorite recipes people! I’m sure these are still fantastic but I loved the ease of drop biscuits.
I noticed the same thing but not until I got to that step in the recipe (because I thought I already knew what to expect). Don’t have time or tools to roll and cut so I’m putting them in the oven as drop biscuits and going to see what happens. Fingers crossed!
I noticed the same, I wish there was a note that indicated the change. I revisited this recipe after several years and it took me by surprise.
Hi, can this recipe be made in advance? If the dough can be refrigerated or frozen, for how long? Or can the biscuits be baked, frozen and reheated? If so, for how long and what temp? Thanks!
Great recipe I had to add a bit more flour but honestly taste just like red lobsters
I also made my buttermilk by putting 1 tbsp of vinegar into a 1 cup measuring cup and filling the rest with milk
Delicious would 1000% recommend. i especially love the melted butter garlic parsley topping.
These biscuits turned out great! Definitely a recipe we will keep handy.
2 things I decided to try as part of this recipe, added 1/3 cup fresh chives chopped very fine, and I substituted a shredded habanero cheese to give them a little heat!
Love love love these. They are the tastiest biscuits ever. I had the grilled rainbow trout at Red Lobster, recently. It was the best. Moist and flavorful. Could you ever get that recipe. I’d love it.
Love these biscuits!! I don’t roll and cut. I make drop biscuits to save time and also brush them with butter when they come out of the oven. Love the crispy edges of the drop biscuit. Also substitute lemon juice and milk for the buttermilk.
I loved these biscuits! The feedback I got from my family was to cut back on the cheese and to add more garlic.
These were so good! I literally serve these with almost every meal and the kiddos love them.
I got the real recipe to the red lobster biscuits from a friend and this is pretty accurate except it is 1 cup cheddar cheese instead of 1 1/2 cups. Plus instead of parsley mix it is garlic salt with parsley mix already in it and it is 1 tsp.
I found the Gluten free Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuits at Safeway. Made the mix about a week ago and it past my wife’s tastes buds. I have to be gluten free and she doesn’t. I have sence gone back to safeway to buy more. Check your local grocery store to see if they carry the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay line. Love this site for great recipes that always are great!!
These sound so yummy. I will definitely make these to bring to my sister in law and her husband. We’ll all have dinner together. They love mostly everything I bring. I appreciate that. We’re visiting their area for the winter. It’s special.
Is there a gluten-free version?
I just posted a comment that is in moderation – but I just made these with a one-to-one substitution of gluten free flour (used Pamela’s). They were great. Perhaps little softer and maybe not quite as flakey (don’t know – haven’t tried with wheat flour) as the standard, but FANTASTIC none-the less. This recipe is definitely a standard go-to. I love it.
What is the nutritional info for these biscuits? Particularly, I’d like to know how many calories, carbs, and protein are in each biscuit. Thank you in advance, can’t wait to try these!
These are the ABSOLUTE best biscuits I have ever made.
(And at the age of 75, I have a LOT of biscuit making history! )
We (2 old people) literally ate half the batch within minutes of them coming out of the oven!! A couple of adjustments: I made them even simpler and quicker by just “dropping” the dough, rather than the bother of kneading and cutting shapes (and less chance of overworking). AND it is easier to mix the cheese into the dry ingredients before adding the liquid. Thanks for revolutionizing my biscuit making!
Great tip to mix cheese with dry stuff before liquid!
Love it! I have made it many times, but this time I found that there was kneading involved! I don’t know how I missed that, but I daresay they are tasty even without kneading!
I printed the recipe last year and it said: “Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop the batter evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.”
Maybe, it was updated to sell the biscuit cutter linked to the new rolling and cutting-out directions?
Excellent biscuits. Best ones that I have made.
Served with chicken gnocchi soup.