Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits (without Bisquick)

You love those buttery, hot, cheesy biscuits at Red Lobster and you’re wishing you could make some at home. But most of the Cheddar Bay Biscuit recipes call for Bisquick mix, and you don’t happen to have any on hand. No problem! In this quick tutorial we’re going to whip up a batch using an ingredient you probably do have in your refrigerator. . .mayonnaise!

Garlic biscuits with mayonnaise?

If you’ve been following me for the past couple weeks you’ve probably noticed a theme. I bought a jar of mayo, (something I don’t usually keep in my house) and have been baking with it. First came the Chocolate Mayonnaise cake, then the (amazing!) Banana Bread, then cornbread muffins, then Light, Fluffy Biscuits.

And that’s where this idea came from.

My granddaughter and I were having a discussion about how muffin the mayo biscuits turned out and it hit me: tweak the recipe to make a Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit copycat recipe worthy of posting on my blog. What could be finer?

So, that’s what I did.

Cheddar Bay Biscuit Copycat? Yes, please!

First, let’s pause to talk about what makes those Cheddar Bay Biscuits so special. They’re simple drop biscuits but they contain an ingredient you don’t usually find in a typical southern biscuit. . .cheese. Cheddar cheese, to be precise.

And then there’s the garlic butter. Red Lobster slathers the top of their hot, golden drop biscuits with garlic-infused butter to add an extra layer of flavor. I knew I would have to do the same.

Are you hungry yet?

Yeah, me too. I’m whipping up a steak for dinner and cheesy garlic biscuits are going to make the perfect complement!

Should I add buttermilk or whole milk to my Knock Off Cheddar Bay Biscuits?

You’ll notice that some southern drop biscuit recipes call for buttermilk. It’s a great addition to any biscuit recipe, so I always suggest it. But, in this particular case, let’s take something else into consideration: you’ll be adding mayonnaise. Mayonnaise has vinegar in it. Combine vinegar with regular milk and what do you get?

If you said buttermilk, you would be right!

In other words, you won’t need to add buttermilk to this particular recipe because the mergence of mayo and milk will do the trick. Just follow the recipe below and you’ll be swooning!

Ingredients for Easy Cheddar Bay Biscuits

You’ll notice that the ingredients in the photos below are different, but that’s only because I made a half-recipe of these flavorful biscuits for myself. When baking for the family I’ll make the full batch. Follow the full, printable recipe at the bottom of this post for details on what you’ll need. Here’s a quick glance at the simple ingredients I used.

• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• salt
• mayonnaise (full fat, NOT Miracle Whip)
• whole milk
• sharp Cheddar cheese
• butter
• garlic powder
• Everything but the Bagel seasoning (optional)

How to make Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits

These are easy-breezy biscuits that you will make again and again. The recipe comes together quickly and it’s pretty much flawless! Here’s how you make them:

Combine all dry ingredients except your garlic powder in a medium bowl. Whisk until well mixed.

Add the milk and mayonnaise to the dry ingredients. Mix well.

Stir in the cheese. (Note: how much cheese you add is totally up to you. I might add even more next time.)

Prepare your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.

Scoop spoonfuls of dough onto the sheet to make soft dough forms (lumps, basically).

To quote Paul Hollywood (one of my favorite bakers from The British Baking Show) it should look “rough and ready.” (Meaning, don’t try too hard to make the biscuits look nice. The bumpier. . .the better!

Place in preheated oven (375 degrees) and bake for 17 minutes. Time may vary according to your oven.

While biscuits are baking, melt your butter and add the garlic powder. Stir well.

When biscuits are done, remove from oven and cover with melted butter. (I baked mine for 17 minutes but baking time may vary, depending on your oven.)

I set mine back in the oven for a minute or so after buttering.

What to Expect from These Cheddar Bay Biscuit Copycat Recipe

Y’all, I hardly know where to begin. I knew these would be good. I could tell from the way they looked and smelled. But I was unprepared for high light and fluffy these biscuits would be! (Thank you, mayonnaise!)

These are light, buttery, and loaded with flavor. (I’m so glad I added the bagel seasoning! It added the extra punch the biscuits needed, sending them over the top.) I’m also happy that I had plenty of garlic butter left over to dip my bread into. (Ahem.) Yum.

And, can I just pause for a moment to show you the crispy back-side of these biscuits? They are a luscious golden brown.

They have just the right amount of texture and crunch, adding to the whole experience! (To me, this was the best part!)

Enjoy these amazing biscuits warm with plenty of melted butter. Place any leftovers in an airtight container. (I put mine in a baggie.)

Variations on this Recipe

I cannot wait to make these biscuits for my family! I sent my grandchildren a picture right away. They were green with envy! (But they know me well enough to know I’ll bring them some, too!)

For once I didn’t start with a box mix!

Because I’m adventurous, I’m already thinking of ways to change up this recipe, to vary the ingredients. Let’s start with some obvious ideas:

• Change up the cheese. Add parmesan in place of cheddar. Or gouda. Or any other cheese you prefer. (Next time I might go with Gouda!)
• For a stronger garlic flavor add a teaspoon of minced garlic to the dough.
• Add more Italian flavor to the biscuit by adding a teaspoon of Italian seasoning. (This is a good idea if you don’t have bagel seasoning on hand.)
• Stir in half a cup of cooked sausage (drained) before baking.
• Use a pastry cutter to cut in a couple tablespoons of cold butter to the biscuit dough.

Other Breads & Muffins from Out of the Box Baking

I hoped you liked these copycat cheddar bay biscuits. This is such an easy biscuit recipe. (These are the real deal, y’all, and just as easy as a baking mix from a box.) This might have been the first time to make these delicious biscuits but it definitely won’t be the last.

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Maybe you’re like I am and you’ve been intimidated by homemade breads, thinking they’ll flop. There really are recipes that are so simple (like this warm biscuit) that are basically fail-proof.

This is one of those simple recipes you’re going to want to keep in your recipe box.

You’re sure to love these recipes:

Best Doctored Cornbread Mix (with Mayonnaise): Whether you like your cornbread plain or sweet, in muffin form or baked in a square pan, you’ve come to the right place. This doctored cornbread mix is super easy and so incredibly tasty. And, thanks to the addition of a very special ingredient (full fat mayonnaise) it’s rich and decadent.

Easy Fry Bread Recipe: Today I’m going to share a delicious recipe for Easy Fry Bread. This recipe is so versatile and can be used to create many favorites–like beignets, donuts, fried bread, or even churros. Talk about the perfect sweet treat! And guess what? These tiny crisp pieces of bread can be used as a base for savory dishes, as well!

Old-Fashioned Banana Bread (with mayonnaise): If you’ve been on a search for the best banana bread recipe out there, search no more! This one is absolutely perfect! Best of all, this Old-Fashioned Banana bread recipe is super easy to whip up in a hurry! It’s loaded with flavor. . .and thanks to a secret ingredient (mayonnaise!) it’s moist, flaky, and super tasty!

I hope you enjoyed this homemade cheddar biscuits copycat recipe! I had so much fun coming up with it. This delicious biscuit recipe is different from any I found on the web, so I’m tickled to have created a knockoff recipe that’s truly an original.

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.