Cheddar Bay Butter Swim Biscuits

These Cheddar Bay butter swim biscuits combine two popular favorites into one easy recipe. They have the cheesy, garlicky flavor of Red Lobster’s famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits with the soft center and buttery edges that make butter swim biscuits so irresistible.

Instead of rolling and cutting biscuit dough, everything is mixed in one bowl and baked in melted butter. Sharp cheddar cheese, garlic, and a buttery herb topping give these biscuits their signature restaurant-style flavor while the butter swim method keeps them tender on the inside and perfectly golden around the edges.

If you love Red Lobster biscuits but want an easier homemade version, these cheddar bay butter swim biscuits deliver the same savory flavor with less work.

What Makes This Recipe Different

There are plenty of cheddar biscuit recipes and butter swim biscuit recipes online, but this one combines the best parts of both into a single easy recipe.

Instead of making traditional drop biscuits or rolling out biscuit dough, these cheddar bay biscuits are baked directly in melted butter. The butter swim method creates a soft, fluffy center while giving the edges a golden, buttery crust that you simply can’t get from a standard biscuit recipe.

What really sets these apart is the flavor. Sharp cheddar cheese, garlic, onion powder, parsley, and a buttery herb topping recreate the signature taste that made Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits famous. The result is a homemade version with the same savory flavor and cheesy goodness, but with far less work.

If you love Red Lobster biscuits but want an easier homemade version, this recipe delivers the same savory flavor with less work.

Why You’ll Love It

• Red Lobster-inspired flavor: Sharp cheddar cheese, garlic, and a buttery herb topping give these biscuits the classic Cheddar Bay flavor everyone loves.
• No rolling or biscuit cutter needed: The butter swim method keeps things simple. Just mix the dough, spread it into the baking dish, and bake.
• Buttery crispy edges: Baking the biscuits in melted butter creates golden edges while keeping the center soft and fluffy.
• Perfect with seafood dinners: These biscuits pair beautifully with shrimp, salmon, crab, fish, and other seafood favorites.
• Easy enough for beginners: If you’ve never made homemade biscuits before, this recipe is a great place to start.
• Ready with simple pantry ingredients: Most of the ingredients are likely already in your kitchen, making these an easy side dish for busy weeknights.

Ingredient Tips

Flour: All-purpose flour works best for butter swim biscuits because it creates a soft, tender crumb while still providing enough structure to hold the melted butter and cheese.

Buttermilk: The tanginess of buttermilk helps create the classic flavor and texture found in both traditional biscuits and butter swim biscuits. If needed, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.

Cheddar cheese: Freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese delivers the best flavor and melts more smoothly into the dough. Pre-shredded cheese can be used, but it won’t create quite the same cheesy texture.

Butter: Since the dough bakes directly in melted butter, use a good-quality butter for the richest flavor. Salted or unsalted butter both work, but adjust the added salt if using salted butter.

Garlic and seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley create the signature Cheddar Bay flavor. While fresh herbs are delicious, dried seasonings provide the closest flavor to the restaurant version.

Chef’s Tips

• Don’t overmix the dough: Stir the ingredients together just until no dry flour remains. Overmixing can make the biscuits dense instead of light and fluffy.
• Shred your own cheese if possible: Freshly shredded cheddar melts better and creates more flavor throughout the biscuits than pre-shredded varieties.
• Pour the butter into the baking dish first: The melted butter should be waiting in the dish before the dough is added. This is what creates the signature buttery crust around the edges.
• Let the biscuits rest for a few minutes after baking: The butter needs a few minutes to settle back into the biscuits. This also makes slicing much cleaner.
• Brush on the garlic herb topping while hot: Applying the topping immediately after baking helps the flavor soak into the biscuits and gives them that classic Cheddar Bay finish.
• Cut the dough before baking: Once the dough is spread into the baking dish, score it into squares with a knife. This helps the biscuits separate cleanly and allows butter to flow between each portion as they bake.

How To Make

Step 1: Prepare the dough

Preheat the oven to 450°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, salt, and shredded cheddar cheese. Pour in the buttermilk and stir just until a dough forms.

Step 2: Melt the butter

Add the butter to a 9×9 baking dish and place it in the oven until fully melted. The hot butter helps create the signature crispy edges that make butter swim biscuits so popular.

Step 3: Add and score the dough

Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and spread the biscuit dough evenly over the melted butter. Using a knife, score the dough into 9 squares. This allows the butter to flow between each biscuit while they bake.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the center is fully cooked through.

Step 5: Finish with the Cheddar Bay topping

While the biscuits are still hot, mix the melted butter with the garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, and salt. Brush the mixture generously over the tops of the biscuits.

Step 6: Cool and serve

Allow the biscuits to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This gives the butter time to settle into the biscuits and makes them easier to slice and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What To Serve With

These Cheddar Bay butter swim biscuits are the perfect side dish for seafood dinners, just like the famous restaurant version. The cheesy garlic flavor pairs well with everything from salmon and shrimp to rich chowders, seafood soups, and creamy pasta dishes.

Some of my favorite pairings include:

• Tuscan Butter Salmon
• Shrimp And Corn Soup
• Pecan Crusted Salmon
• Salmon Risotto

If you’re serving these for a holiday meal or family gathering, they also make a great alternative to traditional dinner rolls thanks to their buttery texture and savory cheddar flavor.

More Butter Swim Biscuit Recipes

If you love these Cheddar Bay butter swim biscuits, here are a few more variations to try:

Butter Swim Biscuits – The classic version that started it all. Simple, buttery, and perfect for pairing with almost any meal.

Garlic Parmesan Butter Swim Biscuits – A savory variation loaded with garlic, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. These are perfect alongside pasta, soups, and Italian-inspired dinners.

Honey Butter Swim Biscuits – A sweet and buttery version with rich honey flavor baked right into the biscuits.

Blueberry Butter Swim Biscuits – Soft butter swim biscuits packed with juicy blueberries and finished with a sweet glaze.

Lemon Blueberry Butter Swim Biscuits – A bright citrus variation featuring fresh lemon flavor and blueberries in every bite.