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A lightened-up version of your Red Lobster favorite, these Cheddar Bay Biscuits are golden on the outside and fluffy and buttery on the inside.
Boy oh boy, this recipe was a journey. Every time I ask for recipe suggestions, tons of you ask me to recreate Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits. The problem is, I’d never had them before. I’m not sure how I’ve gone 38 years without stepping inside of a Red Lobster, but that’s just the truth.
So I made my first trip to Red Lobster, just for the biscuits. I thought the person taking my order would think I was crazy for getting just biscuits to go, but since these are considered the best thing on the menu, it probably happens often.
If you follow me on Instagram (@litecravings), you may have seen me try those for the first time in my stories. Oh my. Mind actually blown. But I knew I had my work cut out for me because those biscuits are RICH. I could taste the pounds of butter. Lol.
As you can see, my version came out cheesy and buttery and pretty darn close to the original.
HOW TO LIGHTEN UP CHEDDAR BAY BISCUITS
My first instinct was to go for a version of 2-ingredient dough, using nonfat, plain Greek yogurt. I see a lot of people making biscuits that way on IG. You can see by the picture below that I started with a nearly 1:1 ratio of flour and Greek yogurt.
The result was good, but I could taste the yogurt way too much. It didn’t have that buttery flavor of the original and was too tangy. That’s actually why I’m not a huge fan of 2-ingredient pizza dough, either. I’d rather play around with an extra point or two for much better flavor.
Adding melted light butter (I use Earth Balance whipped) to the flour, along with almond milk and spices, and just a little bit of Greek yogurt to tenderize the batter was the perfect solution.
The dough comes out pretty wet, so an ice cream scooper helps with portioning each one out. Think about 3 tablespoons of dough for each biscuit.
I’m able to get 10-11 biscuits each time, but I’m calculating points and calories for 10 total just to be safe.
Comparing points and calories
There’s no doubt that the Red Lobster biscuits are insanely good and totally worth a splurge once in a while. Each biscuits is around 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 6 WW SmartPoints on all plans.
The problem is that I’m not sure how anyone would eat just one of those. I could easily eat three or four without even thinking about it. There goes all of my points for the day!
My version cuts all of those stats in half. So even if you have three in one sitting, you’re only down 9 SP. That’s no too bad! Especially if you pair it with a really low point soup like my veggie-packed Broccoli Cheese Soup.
I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! It makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there!
Print Recipe
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
A lightened-up version of your Red Lobster favorite, these Cheddar Bay Biscuits are golden on the outside and fluffy and buttery on the inside
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10
Calories: 80kcal
Author: Geri
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup shredded, reduced-fat cheddar cheese
- 3 tbsp light butter, divided
- 3/4 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup nonfat, plain Greek yogurt
- (optional) fresh minced parsley to garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, spices, and cheese.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter (save the other tablespoon for the tops of the cooked biscuits). Mix melted butter into flour mixture to disperse evenly.
Whisk in almond milk and Greek yogurt until just mixed together. The dough will be very wet.
Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. Use an ice cream scoop or about three tablespoons to portion the dough into 10 equal rounds.
Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until tops are somewhat firm. Broil for a minute if you want more browned tops.
Melt remaining tablespoon of butter. Remove pan from oven and brush tops of biscuits with the melted butter. Let rest for at least 5 minutes before eating.
(optional) Sprinkle tops with extra salt and chopped parsley.
Notes
Click hereto determine your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe (if you are logged in to your WW app, it should calculate for you automatically).
WW Green, Blue, and Purple SmartPoints: 3 per biscuit
Nutrition
Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
FAQs
Brush the biscuits with melted, herby butter. Ooooh yeah. If there's a “secret” to why cheddar bay biscuits are so good, it's this—they're dripping with butter, both in the dough and on top.
Can you leave Cheddar Bay biscuits out overnight? ›
Cheddar biscuits may be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days depending on the humidity of your kitchen. For longer storage, place leftover biscuits in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 1-2 months.
Why are they called Cheddar Bay biscuits? ›
The name was inspired by a fictional geographical name "to reflect the seaside atmosphere of Red Lobster restaurants," the company shared in a release. Biscuits were first served on trays to hungry customers waiting in the restaurant lobby for seating.
What goes good with Cheddar Bay biscuits? ›
What to Serve with Cheddar Bay Biscuits? 10 Side Dishes
- 1 – Creamy Tomato Soup.
- 2 – Roasted Garlic Broccoli.
- 3 – Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus.
- 4 – Lemon-Herb Roasted Potatoes.
- 5 – Kale and Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette.
- 6 – Cheesy Grits.
- 7 – Sautéed Green Beans with Almonds.
- 8 – Balsamic Glazed Carrots.
The secret to the best biscuits is using very cold butter and baking powder. We've made a lot of biscuits, but this easy biscuits recipe is the one we turn to the most (they are so fluffy!).
Are cheddar bay biscuits being discontinued? ›
You can still eat Cheddar Bay Biscuits despite Red Lobster closures.
What did Red Lobster have before Cheddar Bay Biscuits? ›
The restaurant initially sold hush puppies, and it wasn't a hit with patrons, leading to the creation of the tasty biscuits, originally called "freshly baked, hot cheese garlic bread."
Do Cheddar Bay Biscuits freeze well? ›
To Store: Keep at room temperature for up 3 days in an air-tight container. To Freeze: Individually wrap each baked biscuit in plastic wrap. Place inside of a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 1 month. To Reheat: Cook in the microwave for 20 seconds or in the oven at 350°F for 5-6 minutes.
Should you refrigerate biscuits after baking? ›
First, Day confirmed that storing biscuits in the fridge is fine as long as they're in an airtight container. This keeps the biscuit fresh for up to five days. “For long term storage, wrap biscuits in plastic wrap, then with tin foil. Store for up to one month in the freezer,” she said.
Are cheddar bay biscuits good without cheese? ›
No cheese? No problem! You can either omit the cheese shreds or replace them with ½ cup of nutritional yeast instead. You may want to decrease the flour to just 1 ¾ cups if using this substitute so your biscuits aren't too dry.
Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but don't worry: You can still get the seafood chain's famous buttery Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix in stores across the country.
What cheese goes well with biscuits? ›
The cheeses that work best with a Digestive are creamy goats' cheeses, as their piquancy compliments the sweetness of the biscuit. The classic digestive is a McVities or Hovis, but Doves Farm also make an award-winning digestive using 100% wholemeal flour and malt for richness.
How do you store leftover Cheddar Bay biscuits? ›
Store any leftover biscuits in a zip-top bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to a day. The biscuits are best eaten when they are warm, so I recommend reheating them before digging into the leftovers. The quickest and easiest way to reheat your Cheddar Bay biscuits is in a toaster oven.
How many calories are in 1 Cheddar Bay biscuit? ›
Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits (1 serving) contains 16g total carbs, 15g net carbs, 10g fat, 3g protein, and 160 calories.
What did Red Lobster have before Cheddar Bay biscuits? ›
The restaurant initially sold hush puppies, and it wasn't a hit with patrons, leading to the creation of the tasty biscuits, originally called "freshly baked, hot cheese garlic bread."
What makes biscuits taste better? ›
Brush the biscuits with butter after baking
“If you want the most luscious biscuits ever, brush the tops with melted butter after they come out of the oven,” says James. Brushing the butter on after baking ensures that the butter soaks into the baked biscuit so you get that great buttery flavor in every bite.
What makes Southern biscuits so good? ›
Inside those bags is an exceptionally fine flour ground from 100 percent soft red winter wheat, which has a lower protein content compared to other wheat. It literally feels softer and finer in your hands than other common brands, and it's this texture that gives baked goods a uniquely light yet tender Southern twist.
What is in the cheddar bay biscuit mix? ›
Garlic Herb Blend: Garlic Powder, Maltodextrin, Salt, Onion Powder, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Torula Yeast, Dehydrated Parsley, Malic Acid, Sugar, Natural And Artificial Flavors (Maltodextrin, Butter Oil), Corn Oil, Silicon Dioxide (Anti-Caking Agent). CONTAINS: wheat, milk, soy. May contain eggs and tree nuts.
