I have never been to a Red Lobster, none of my friends have been to a Red Lobster. Hell, I would be hard-pressed to tell you where the closest Red Lobster is to me. Most of what I know about Red Lobster I’ve learned online or from people I’ve met while working in tourism. I haven’t tried the seafood myself, so I can’t say for sure what people think, but EVERYONE loves their Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
We didn’t have to, though, because most of us knew someone who worked as a lobsterman. When tourists ask me where the best lobster roll is, I have no idea because I get the lobster from my dad or a friend and make it myself.
Most Americans don’t have this lobster luxury and for them, Red Lobster is synonymous with seafood. It’s become an iconic part of modern American food culture, and these chain restaurants are the only way for people to get seafood that tastes like the stuff I used to eat all the time.
Red Lobster’s fluffy, cheesy Cheddar Bay Biscuits are arguably the most beloved menu item at the popular seafood chain. Served piping hot and brushed with garlic herb butter, these biscuits have gained a cult-like following, with many customers coming just for the biscuits!
But with Red Lobster being synonymous with seafood, some biscuit lovers have wondered – do the famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits actually contain any seafood ingredients? Or are they seafood-free?
In this article, we’ll uncover the facts on whether Red Lobster’s biscuits have any seafood in them. We’ll also look at:
- The original Cheddar Bay Biscuit recipe ingredients
- Why some people think they taste like seafood
- If other Red Lobster biscuit varieties contain seafood
Here’s the definitive answer to the question “Do Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits have seafood?”
The Original Cheddar Bay Biscuits are Seafood-Free
According to Red Lobster, their traditional Cheddar Bay Biscuits do not contain any seafood ingredients. So you don’t have to worry about any shellfish, fish or other seafood lurking in the biscuits.
Red Lobster’s headquarters has confirmed that the biscuits only contain common baking ingredients like flour Cheddar cheese, garlic butter and herbs. Here is the ingredient list directly from the company
- Enriched bleached wheat flour
- Water
- Vegetable oil blend
- Cheddar cheese
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Monosodium glutamate
- Baking powder
- Onion powder
- malted barley flour
- Soybean oil
- Artificial flavors
- Parsley
As you can see, it’s basic biscuit dough ingredients along with cheese, garlic and herbs to give the Cheddar Bay flavor. No seafood is used in the recipe.
Why Do People Think They Taste Like Seafood?
Even though Red Lobster biscuits contain zero seafood, some biscuit lovers swear they detect hints of shrimp, crab or lobster flavor.
There are a few reasons people might get this seafood taste impression:
Garlic Butter – The melted garlic butter brushed on top can give a similar flavor as seafood dipped in garlic butter.
Power of Suggestion – Dining at a seafood restaurant may psychologically prime you to expect seafood flavors.
** MSG** – Added for umami flavor, MSG can impart a subtle briny or seafoody taste.
Cheddar Cheese – Aged Cheddar has slight salty and umami notes that could be interpreted as shellfish essence.
So while the biscuits themselves are 100% seafood-free, the flavors we associate with seafood can trick our brains into thinking we taste it!
Do Red Lobster’s Other Biscuit Flavors Contain Seafood?
Over the years, Red Lobster has introduced some creative twists on their Cheddar Bay biscuit recipe to tie-in with current menu offerings, like:
- Peppercorn Bacon Biscuits
- Lobster and Langostino Biscuits
- Shrimp Scampi Biscuits
These varieties do actually contain seafood ingredients blended into the biscuit dough or baked on top.
For example, the Lobster and Langostino Biscuits are made with a blend of Cheddar and New England lobster and langostino. Meanwhile, the Shrimp Scampi Biscuits are topped with a creamy garlic shrimp scampi sauce and shrimp.
However, Red Lobster has confirmed the core traditional Cheddar Bay Biscuit recipe remains seafood free. So you don’t have to worry about getting surprised by fish in your biscuits – unless you intentionally order a seafood biscuit variety!
Enjoy Red Lobster’s Famous Biscuits Guilt-Free
While Red Lobster is renowned for delicious seafood, their wildly popular Cheddar Bay Biscuits are melt-in-your-mouth delicious even without any seafood ingredients. That’s why you can happily enjoy unlimited biscuits with your seafood meal at Red Lobster, without a trace of fish, shrimp or crab in the biscuits themselves.
So go ahead and get your biscuit fix at Red Lobster – unless you opt for one of the specialty seafood biscuit flavors, the classic Cheddar Bay biscuits remain blissfully seafood-free!
Where Does Red Lobster Get Their Cod?
Red Lobster deserves praise for putting a lot of space on their website to talk about where they get their seafood. While I don’t think they were as open in the past, they now make it clear where and what kind of lobster they serve, which is a good thing. Someone said that the use of langostino, which is not allowed to be sold as lobster by FDA rules, was bad. But Langostino is good in its own right. It’s the scampi…in scampi.
I can’t say for sure that any of Red Lobster’s seafood is good, but the fact that most of it is frozen does NOT mean that the ingredients aren’t good. Fresh is not inherently better than frozen seafood. If you are not within driving distance to the seacoast, frozen is the better option.
About Red Lobster At Home
The “At Home” line of frozen seafood is made for Red Lobster by Chicken of the Sea. Thai Union is the company that owns Chicken of the Sea and many other familiar brands of seafood. They have been supplying Red Lobster for over 20 years and are now in a strategic partnership.
We Finally Know Why Red Lobster Is So Cheap
Do Red Lobster biscuits have a lot of dough?
Now, that’s a lot of dough. Cheddar Bay Biscuits from Red Lobster are essentially a buttermilk biscuit with extra, extra flavor. They’re amped up with garlic powder, Cheddar cheese, and herbs. The biscuits come together like all others, with a mix of dry ingredients.
Does Red Lobster eat biscuits?
If you prefer to eat the appetizer in a restaurant setting, you may have noticed a quirk of how Red Lobster prepares its baskets. Servers always seem to bring just enough biscuits so that it’s impossible for diners to distribute them evenly amongst their party.
Are Red Lobster biscuits cheesy?
Red Lobster Biscuits Recipe – These cheesy, soft biscuits have a hint of garlic and are topped with melted butter and fresh parsley. It’s easy to make your favorite Cheddar Bay Biscuits at home from scratch! I don’t know what it is about those delicious buttery biscuits…
What are Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuits?
It wouldn’t be a far stretch to say Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits are as iconic as the restaurant itself. After all, a hot, buttery, garlicky biscuit studded with melty Cheddar, packed with flavor, and served tableside is an unforgettable thing. Just imagine how memorable they’ll be, fresh out of the oven, served tableside in your very own home.