Name: Bisquick Cheddar Bay Biscuits Red Lobster Copycat
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups Bisquick Biscuit Baking Mix; 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated (Mild or Medium) (4 ounces); 1 cup milk (2% or whole milk); 1/4 cup salted butter, melted (equals 4 Tablespoons butter); 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

Cheddar Bay Biscuits from Red Lobster can be made at home with Bisquick Baking Mix. An easy copycat recipe that you can make in your own kitchen. This is a great recipe for drop-style biscuits that have cheesy goodness and a buttery topping.

Plate of Cheddar Bay Biscuits with Claw cracker.

What You'll Learn:

About Red Lobster and how the biscuits came to be.
Vintage Bisquick Recipe Box and Canister.
Step-By-Step Instructions on how to make Cheddar Bay Biscuits at home using Bisquick.

Then & Now

The origin of Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits: The biscuits were served starting in 1992 to replace the menus underperforming hushpuppies. In my research, credit is given to the head chef and was said to have been inspired by Texas Toast and French Bread. But, in my opinion, the recipe was likely based upon Cheddar Biscuits that were popularized by Bisquick in the 1960s and1970s.

Biscuits with cheddar cheese in them have been around a lot longer than Red Lobster. It's important to note, General Mills acquired Red Lobster in 1970. And who else is owned by General Mills? Bisquick.

Below is my vintage Bisquick Canister and one of my Bisquick metal recipe boxes.

About The "Bay" in "Cheddar Bay": There isn't any Old Bay Seasoning in Cheddar Bay Biscuits. The name "Cheddar Bay" was given to add the seaside ambiance of the Red Lobster franchise.

The Franchise Downsizing: The Florida chain filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and had to close many of their restaurants. However, they were able to rebound as an independent company and keep over 500 locations open.

Make Your Own Cheddar Bay Biscuits

I've tried the box mix, a homemade from scratch recipe with 12 ingredients, and the Frozen in the Box (Ready To Bake). The Frozen Red Lobster Biscuits are very good. However, the box only contains 8 biscuits. So if you have Bisquick mix on-hand, you can use my recipe to make a whole dozen or more at half the price, WITH only 6 Ingredients.

6 Ingredients for Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Ingredients are Bisquick, Shredded cheese, milk. Topping is butter, garlic powder, dried parsley.

How To Make Red Lobster Biscuits

1. Combine Bisquick with Shredded Cheese.

2. Stir in the Milk.

Pouring milk into pan of baking mix and cheese.

3. Scoop wet biscuit dough onto parchment paper lined-baking sheet. Place in preheated oven. Bake Time : 20-25 minutes.

4. Brush warm biscuits with melted butter mixture.

(Full detailed recipe card at the bottom)

Brushing hot biscuits with garlic butter.

Storage Tip

You can store leftover biscuits in a freezer bag. Defrost and heat up in the airfryer.

Lanie's🔅Recipe Reflections

The Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits are from a vintage recipe that's been around for years and was popular in the 1970s.
The Freezer version of Ready-Made-Biscuits that are sold in grocery stores are a delicious option for the famous biscuits. However, you only get 8 biscuits.
Grating your cheddar cheese block adds flavor and cheesy texture. I'm sure you could use pre-shredded cheese for convenience (I prefer to shred my own.)
Testing Notes: Tried Sharp Cheddar but liked the Medium or Mild. Dried Parsley adds visual appeal but no flavor whatsoever. Can make it optional. Adjusted vintage "Cheese-Garlic Biscuits" and vintage newspaper clipping of copycat recipe from 1990s by adding more milk because the biscuits were too dense. Both recipes I worked from had the parsley inside of the dough, which was incorrect.
Bisquick expires. Check Date on box. Expired Bisquick results in a baking soda aftertaste.