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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Did you make this recipe?
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So delicious! And easy!
Thank you for this easy and quick recipe.
They were super delicious. Everyone devoured them.
Making another batch today for a friends gathering.
Thank you for this recipe!! They were so easy to make and came out super delicious.
Everyone devoured them.
Making another batch today!
I just could not get these cooked through. I doubled the baking time, still uncooked inside. I used 1/4 c, oven is an accurate temperature. If I were to try again, maybe I would use a 1/8 scoop or something like that. The flavor was great though, just couldn’t get it to cook.
I think its the moisture level. I followed this recipe to the T and it was definitely too moist. Next time I will reduce the buttermilk to 3/4 cup and see how it turns out. Good flavor though and fairly easy.
Just a question, if I want to make the actual biscuits the night before and then reheat them the next day and add the topping, is that doable? If so, what is the best method for reheating them?
Put oven to 400, turn it off then put biscuits in until warm
I made these tonight. They were very delicious. I didn’t feel like going to grab a box of the RL mix. Glad I searched for the recipe. I had everything already.
Oh so GOOD!!! Tasted as good as they looked.
Perfect recipe. This is a must do. Follow precisely. I used milk instead of buttermilk. Turned out great.
Can I use regular string cheese?
This recipe is a defo a keeper! 12/10 would make this again!
vEry Good. Thank you so much, sweetie.
So yummy! Came out super crisp, and flakey!
I really liked these however I definitely altered the recipe, I did 1/2 tablespoon of sugar. I used paprika, seasoned salt, red pepper, and added parsley flakes into the mix (as well as all the other ingredients) but the seasoned salt I just did a nice sprinkle not too much. For the butter milk I quite literally just used plain whole milk and mixed my butter into it and it turns out pretty good. I usually beat them up if I’ve been keeping them for a few days 🙂
I’ll never buy another red lobster biscuit box again. These tasted way better and it was so easy to make. It was Damn Delicious!!
Really good but took 2 1/2 times as long to bake and still not done in the center! Served hot, it’s not an issue, but I’d like them better if done through.
I love the basic easy to follow steps and the recipe can be altered to suit your own liking.
I used 1 TEASPOON of sugar, add another teaspoon of garlic powder, with 1/8-1/4 more salt and this came out AWESOME… Thanks so much.
Wow! The texture and taste came out identical to Red Lobster’s biscuits. The family loved them. The cayenne adds just the slightest kick at the end- delicious!
These were easy and fun to make. I would add more garlic, but that’s me. I also used Mexican Blend cheese instead.
Delicious and a hit.
Wow! These are definitely “Damn Delicious”! I’m not that familiar with Red Lobster Biscuits but a cheddar biscuit thought popped into my head. I do not know why. I had gotten a lot of bags of shredded cheese and was going to use that, but only had mozzarella. I had some good English cheddar, so I shredded that. These biscuits are light, cheesy and so wonderful! I followed the directions exactly, except that I had to make buttermilk and I only use vegan butter. Perfect. I cant wait for my daughter to get home to try them. Thank you!
I’d axe the sugar, these taste too sweet for a savory biscuit, but are otherwise fantastic and cheaper than buying the box mix at the store!