Red Lobster Homemade Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

How to Make Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits

Ingredients for Red Lobster Cheesy Garlic Biscuits:

• All-purpose flour – measured correctly! If you add too much flour, you may end up with dense, dry, or crumbly biscuits.
• Baking powder – check out my Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder article to learn about the surprising differences between these two leaveners. A generous amount of baking powder is essential to fluffy biscuits.
• Butter – always use unsalted butter in baking. Make sure you’re working with cold butter so you don’t end up with too warm of biscuit dough which causes biscuits to flatten when baking.
• Buttermilk – I strongly recommend using real buttermilk, instead of a DIY substitute, for the best flavor, height, consistency and more. Read more about why in my Buttermilk 101 article!
• Garlic powder – using garlic powder will mimic the flavor of the original biscuits more than using fresh garlic.
• Salt – I prefer to use fine sea salt but table salt works in a pinch.
• Sharp cheddar cheese – using a sharp cheddar, freshly shredded, will give a strong cheesy flavor, great texture, and mimic the flavor and consistency of the original biscuits.
• Then we make a garlicky butter with more butter (melted this time), more garlic powder and some dried parsley. You can also use fresh, just chop really finely.

Do I have to use buttermilk in biscuits?

To create the best flavor AND texture, yes. I’d highly recommend using real buttermilk in these cheesy garlic biscuits.

I’ve done extensive side-by-side testing on buttermilk vs. regular milk vs. buttermilk substitutes (including powdered buttermilk). Take a peek:

You can read more about my science of baking & buttermilk experiments here: Buttermilk 101.

At the end of the day, I find nothing quite compares to the tangy taste and thick texture of the real thing. If you can’t use real buttermilk, you can use this substitute: 1 scant cup whole milk + 2 teaspoons distilled vinegar or lemon juice – but please be aware that the flavor and tender texture won’t be as good, compared to using the real thing.

Do I need to roll out the dough and cut it?

No! Unlike traditional biscuits or scones, these Red Lobster cheddar biscuits are even more simple as you just portion the dough out and drop it right onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. This makes for a more rustic look, making them perfect to bring to a dinner party or Sunday family dinner. This spring-loaded ¼ cup scoop will make this job even easier, but you can also use a measuring cup. If the batter sticks, just spray your scoop or cup with nonstick cooking spray.

How to Make Cheesy Garlic Biscuits:

1. Measure out all the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Whisk together.
2. Add the butter. Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour mixture until the butter forms pea-sized crumbs.
3. Add the cheese. Stir to combine.
4. Pour in the buttermilk. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix as the dough forms.
5. Portion the biscuits. Drop the dough by scant 1/4-cup portions onto the prepared baking sheet.
6. Bake the biscuits. Bake at 425°F for 16 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown.
7. Make the garlic butter. Melt the butter in the microwave. Combine the melted butter, parsley, and garlic powder.
8. Brush the garlic butter on the warm biscuits. Serve right away for the most delicious results.

Tips for perfectly tender, flaky, and soft Cheesy Garlic Biscuits:

1. Be super gentle with the dough. Making these biscuits by hand with a pastry cutter, instead of a mixer or food processor, means you’re less likely to overwork the dough – and it’s still super quick and easy. Be sure to mix the buttermilk in gently, and only just until the dough comes together. Overmixing will result in tough biscuits.
2. Make sure to MEASURE CORRECTLY. Too much flour will result in dense, dry, and tough biscuits.
3. Use real buttermilk. The acid in buttermilk activates the baking soda (baking powder actually contains baking soda) in these biscuits to leaven, lighten and tenderize the end result. A DIY substitute will work, but the results won’t be as tender and tasty.
4. Make sure your ingredients are COLD. Your butter and buttermilk must be very cold when mixing. The cold little pieces of butter in the dough will release steam once they hit the heat of the oven. That steam puffs up and helps to create those mouthwatering flaky layers.

Can I make Cheddar Garlic Biscuits in advance?

If you have to prep these ahead of time, I recommend following the freezing instructions below – or making them the day before, and just popping them back in the oven (instructions below) to reheat them, before serving.

How to store Cheesy Garlic Biscuits?

These biscuits are best served the day they are made, but they’ll still taste great for 3 days if stored at room temperature, in an airtight container. Just refresh in the oven (instructions below).

How to reheat Red Lobster Biscuits:

To reheat, wrap in foil and bake for 5-10 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through.

Do Homemade Cheddar Biscuits need to be refrigerated?

Storing cheesy garlic biscuits in the fridge will dry them out quickly. I recommend keeping these cheesy garlic biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature.

Can you freeze Cheesy Garlic Biscuits?

Yes! Portion the cheesy garlic biscuits out on a parchment paper-lined baking tray and freeze for a couple hours, until solid, and then move to a ziptop bag, freezer bag, or airtight container. Freeze for up to a month.

To thaw, move the biscuits to the fridge overnight, then bring them to room temperature and allow them to get a little puffy before baking. Alternatively, bake as directed straight from the freezer, adding an additional 5 minutes to the baking time, or until golden brown.