Red Lobster Biscuits: The Buttery Icons You Can Bake at Home
Red Lobster Biscuits (AKA Cheddar Bay Biscuits) are more than just a pre-meal appeasement; they’re a cultural icon, a childhood memory in biscuit form. These cheesy biscuits are legendary!
They’re soft, buttery, AND cheesy, with a garlic flavor that makes them irresistible. But you don’t have to go to a restaurant to enjoy these flavorful biscuits. With a few simple ingredients and this easy recipe, you can bake them right in your own kitchen.
Just wait until you experience the first bite of the soft, flaky biscuit. Hot from the oven they practically melt in your mouth. Yes… they are THAT good!
The dough for these easy drop biscuits isn’t like traditional biscuit dough. It’s super simple, making it the perfect recipe for those of us cooking in our RV kitchens.
There is no need to cut in butter with a pastry cutter and no kneading is required. You don’t even have to cut them out. Just scoop out the dough with a measuring cup (1/4 cup is about the right size) or even an ice cream scoop and drop it onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a sil pat.
There is also no need to try to shape them in any particular way. The imperfect nooks and crannies that form when they bake become the cracks that will hold all of the glorious buttery topping!
This recipe was adapted from a recipe I found on an index card with some of my mom’s belongings after she passed so, I’m not sure who to credit. But whoever you are… thank you!
Let’s Gather Up the Ingredients
Red Lobster biscuit mix ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Garlic powder– This is one of the rare times that I suggest powder over fresh garlic.
- Salt
- Freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese– Fresh is best. If you have to substitute the pre-shredded cheese from the grocery store this recipe will still work, but I don’t advise it. See my tip below.
Wet Ingredients
- Buttermilk– If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own. See my tip below.
- Melted Butter– Salted or unsalted butter. Whatever you have on hand is fine.
Garlic Butter Topping
- MORE melted butter
- Dried parsley flakes– Crush them in your hand before adding them to the butter.
- Garlic powder– You could use fresh garlic here as long as you either press it through a garlic press or grate it on a Microplane, but garlic powder is traditional.
Now Let’s Get Cooking
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a sill pat.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, garlic powder, and salt. Add the cheese and toss to combine until the cheese is evenly coated with the flour mixture. Sometimes the easiest way is to just get in there with your hands!
Now add the buttermilk, and melted butter. Stir just until combined. Remember not to over-mix. The batter is going to be a little lumpy, but it will all work out in the end I promise.
Use a 1/4-cup measure or an ice cream scoop, to loosely form the dough and drop it onto the prepared baking sheet. Space the unbaked biscuits about 1-2 inches apart.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until the biscuits are golden brown. Bake time can vary from oven to oven so just keep an eye on them as you start to smell the magical aroma filling your kitchen. In our house, we have a saying “The Nose Knows”!
While the biscuits are baking, combine the melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley flakes in a small bowl. As soon as they come out of the oven, use a pastry brush, to evenly apply the butter mixture to the tops of the biscuits. If you listen closely, you can literally hear the butter sizzle!
Serve while still warm from the oven, next to dishes like these:
Tips for Baking the Perfect Red Lobster Biscuits
- Use cold buttermilk. This makes for a flakier biscuit.
- Don’t overmix the dough. A few gentle stirs are all you need.
- Use an ice cream scoop to form the biscuit dough.
- Brush the tops of the biscuits with melted garlic butter after baking.
- Bake the biscuits in a preheated oven at 425°F for 12-14 minutes, or until golden brown.
- These biscuits are great for sharing with your fellow campers, but if you are empty nesters like us and only want to make a few, the recipe can easily be cut in half.
How to Reheat Red Lobster Biscuits
- To reheat Red Lobster Biscuits, preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet and cover them loosely with aluminum foil. Reheat for about 10 minutes to ensure they are warm and maintain their flakiness. Avoid using a microwave because it will result in a loss of texture.
- The best way to reheat just a few Red Lobster biscuits at a time is in the toaster oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the biscuits for 5-7 minutes, or until warmed through.
- The air fryer is another great tool to use to reheat leftover biscuits. Just pop the desired amount in the basket of your air fryer and cook for about 3-5 minutes at 350°F until warmed through.
Red Lobster Biscuit Mix Recipe Ideas
Why limit the magic to biscuits alone?
- Create a unique breakfast experience by incorporating the biscuit mix into your pancake batter. The cheddar and garlic infusion adds a savory kick, to your morning breakfast routine.
- Make a chicken cobbler with a biscuit crust instead of the usual pastry, you’re looking at a dish that’s equal parts comfort and surprise.
- And let’s not forget the power of a good dip. Whip up a creamy garlic-herb concoction or a cheesy fondue and use the warm biscuits as your dipping vessel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red Lobster Biscuits, also known as Cheddar Bay Biscuits, are a famous menu item from the seafood restaurant chain Red Lobster. They are renowned for their flaky texture, savory cheddar cheese, and garlic flavor. Their popularity stems from their irresistible taste, often leaving diners craving more.
Yes, Red Lobster Biscuit mix is available for purchase. It is a convenient option, but it doesn’t taste as good as homemade buttermilk biscuits. The homemade version is fresher and has a more complex flavor. If you’re short on time, you can use the mix, but be sure to add some extra cheese and garlic powder for more flavor.
Yes. While the flavor profile may differ slightly, Bisquick can be used as a versatile alternative. Simply swap out the flour, baking powder, and baking soda with 2 cups of Bisquick.
Yes, you can freeze Red Lobster Biscuits. Ensure they are fully cooled before placing them in an airtight container or freezer bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature and reheat in the oven for the best results.
Red Lobster biscuits are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and they’re always a crowd-pleaser.
They are great served with a bowl of soup like Chicken Mushroom, Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana, or Creamy Tomato Basil. But, they are equally as delicious on your breakfast plate next to a side of bacon and some runny eggs!
Bake a batch and take them on your next camping trip. Warm them over the campfire and serve them next to camping favorites like these Sausage and Peppers Foil Packs.
These biscuits go with just about anything!
So next time you’re craving these famous cheddar biscuits, skip the restaurant version and whip up a batch at home. You won’t be disappointed!
Tips for Success
* Grate your own cheese! Please and thank you. 😂 Pre-grated cheese contains preservatives that keep the shreds from clumping in the bag. But… that also means it doesn’t melt as well when cooking. Plus fresh just tastes better. If you are going to go through the time to make biscuits from scratch, take a few extra minutes to grate some fresh cheddar. You will be rewarded with a better-tasting biscuit!
* If you don’t have buttermilk, no worries. You can make your own. Here’s how.
If you decide to make this Red Lobster copycat recipe or any of my other recipes, please be sure to give it a rating and let me know how yours turned out. I love hearing your feedback and I will do my best to answer any questions you have as quickly as I can.
As always, I will be back next week with more delicious recipes from my RV kitchen to yours!
Red Lobster Biscuits: The Buttery Icons You Can Bake at Home
Ingredients
Biscuits
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups freshly shredded sharp chedddar cheese
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
Topping
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a sill pat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Add the 2 cups of cheese and toss to combine until the cheese is evenly coated with the flour mixture. Sometimes the easiest way is to just get in there with your hands!
- Now add 1 cup of buttermilk and 6 tablespoons of melted butter. Stir just until combined. Remember not to over-mix. The batter is going to be a little lumpy, but it will all work out in the end I promise.
- Use a 1/4-cup measure or an ice cream scoop, to loosely form the dough and drop it onto the prepared baking sheet. Space the unbaked biscuits about 1-2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until the biscuits are golden brown. Bake time can vary from oven to oven so just keep an eye on them and adjust baking time accordingly.
- While the biscuits are baking, combine 4 tablespoons of melted butter, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon crushed parsley flakes in a small bowl.
- As soon as they come out of the oven, use a pastry brush, to evenly apply the butter mixture to the tops of the biscuits.
- Serve warm!
I made these biscuits with dinner last night, and I’d say they’re even BETTER than Red Lobster! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
My dad made this recipe at home for a family dinner last weekend, and it was so good! Soft, buttery, and the garlic flavor made the biscuits stand out. They turned out exactly like the ones I tried at the restaurant.
These are the best! And so much better when you make them at home because you can have as many as you want!
I usually buy these from the store because they are my favorite, but the homemade version is so much better! These were delicious!
These were so simple to make that I can’t believe how delicious they turned out! I’ll be making these again and again and again!
love the buttery goodness this brings – definitely brings back childhood memories in every bite! Thank you for this recipe
These are WAY better than at the restaraunt! Made a double batch and they are gone!!!
Made a batch of this for a quick go to snack and love how moist and buttery it is. It has the right texture and the taste is so delicious. I will do a double batch next time because it ran out so fast. Even my toddler loves it haha! thank you!
I was looking for a recipe for these that didn’t use a baking mix. These turned out DELICIOUS!
I love how these turned out! Soft inside with a perfect golden crust! They are so good!
I can’t believe how it was to make these delightful buttery biscuits. I much preferred making them at home with full control of all the ingredients. Thanks for sharing this gem!