Cheddar Bay Biscuits

A Red Lobster copycat, these biscuits are cheesy, buttery, garlicky, and so easy to make.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
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Updated February 06, 2024
Laurel Randolph
Copycat Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits in a bread basket

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

If you’ve ever been to Red Lobster, then chances are you’ve enjoyed their cheddar bay biscuits. They arrive at the table hot and buttery, impossible to resist. But you don’t have to visit the chain restaurant to enjoy these flavorful biscuits—they’re surprisingly easy to make at home. And they’re better!

These biscuits are seasoned with garlic and Old Bay seasoning, which goes really well with the pops of cheddar. The cheese shreds get a little crispy around the biscuit’s edges as they bake, which is the whole reason to make them. 

Cheddar bay biscuits are drop biscuits, so they’re easier to make and fluffier than your typical rolled and cut biscuit, but the buttery tenderness is still there. The nooks and crannies created by the craggy tops and sides create delightful bits of crispiness and texture.

Copycat Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits on a baking sheet with a pastry brush

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Drop Biscuits vs. Regular Biscuits

Drop biscuits have more milk or other liquid added to the dough than rolled biscuits. The dough is more moist and cannot be kneaded or rolled; rather, the dough is dropped by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. 

Drop biscuits don't rise as much as other biscuits and they are coarser and more rustic in appearance and texture, creating crunchy bits. They tend to be fluffy and tender, while some rolled biscuits have defined flakes. Overall, drop biscuits are quicker and easier to make than other biscuits.

Make It Ahead

While these biscuits are so much better freshly made, you can freeze the unbaked biscuits for a rainy day. 

Make the dough as instructed, portion it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen balls of dough to an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Bake for three to five minutes longer if baking from frozen. 

Garlic Old Bay butter brushed onto baked copycat Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits on a baking sheet

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

More Biscuit Recipes

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 18 mins
Total Time 33 mins
Servings 12 servings
Yield 12 biscuits

If you don’t have salted butter, use unsalted and add an extra 1/4 teaspoon salt to the biscuits and the topping.

This recipe was developed by Julia Levy.

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Ingredients

For the biscuits

  • 2 cups (255g) all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

  • 1 cup whole buttermilk, chilled, plus more if needed

  • 4 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

For the topping

  • 1/4 cup salted butter, melted

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 

    Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment.

  2. Combine the dry ingredients:

    In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar, garlic powder, baking soda, and salt.

  3. Cut in the butter:

    Add the cold butter and mash with a pastry cutter or fork until crumbly and the butter pieces are about the size of peas. Stir in the buttermilk and cheese until no dry pockets of flour remain, adding more buttermilk, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed for the dough to come together.

  4. Divide the dough and bake:

    Drop 12 (1/4-cupfuls) of dough, about 1 1/2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheet.

    Bake until lightly browned on top and around the edges, about 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool about 5 minutes.

  5. Make the topping:

    While biscuits bake, stir together the melted butter, dried parsley, garlic powder, and Old Bay seasoning in a small bowl until combined. Brush the warm biscuits with the butter mixture and serve warm.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
216 Calories
14g Fat
18g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 216
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 17%
Saturated Fat 8g 41%
Cholesterol 37mg 12%
Sodium 360mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 165mg 13%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 65mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.