The Best Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread

This Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread takes everything you love about cheesy garlic biscuits and turns it into one incredibly tender, buttery loaf! Made with sharp cheddar cheese, garlic, parsley, smoked paprika, homemade buttermilk, and plenty of melted butter, this easy savory quick bread is fluffy and cheesy inside with a golden crust brushed in irresistible garlic-herb butter. Dairy-free, Gluten-free, + Freeze Options!

Cheddar Biscuits—But Make It a Loaf!

If there's one thing that's almost impossible to resist, it's warm, cheesy bread—especially when garlic butter is involved. Back in the day, my husband and I would love visiting Red Lobster simply because of their cheddar bay biscuits, so I decided to make these Homemade Flaky Cheddar Bay Biscuits at home for a great nostalgic moment. Now, this Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread takes inspiration from those famously cheesy, garlicky biscuits and transforms those flavors into a thick, sliceable homemade loaf.

If you're into savory breads, then I recommend trying my Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread or my Easy Fluffy Vegan Brioche Bread recipe --- which is so easy to make and works as a great bread for things like french toast, sandwiches, etc.

The bread itself is loaded with sharp cheddar, garlic, parsley, butter, and a touch of smoked paprika, while a combination of all-purpose and bread flour gives it structure without losing that tender, biscuit-like quality. Homemade buttermilk adds moisture and a little tang, helping balance all that buttery cheese.

And then comes my favorite part: as if a loaf packed with cheddar wasn't enough, the top gets brushed with melted garlic-parsley butter with a tiny kick of cayenne. You get a golden crust, tender cheesy center, and buttery garlic flavor in every slice. Even better? This is a quick bread, meaning there's no yeast to activate, dough to knead, or hours spent waiting for it to rise.

Jump to:

• Cheddar Biscuits—But Make It a Loaf!
• Why You'll Love This Cheddar Biscuit Bread
• What Are Cheddar Bay Biscuits?
• How to Make Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread
• Ingredients
• Tips for the Best Cheddar Biscuit Bread
• The Best Flour for Cheddar Biscuit Bread
• The Best Cheese for Cheddar Bread
• Easy Cheddar Biscuit Bread Variations
• What to Serve With Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread
• How to Store Cheddar Biscuit Bread
• Can You Freeze Cheddar Biscuit Bread?
• How to Know When Quick Bread Is Done
• Common Q + A's for this Best Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread
• More Reader Favorite Cheese-infused Recipes
• MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
• The Best Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread

Why You'll Love This Cheddar Biscuit Bread

• No Yeast Required. This is a savory quick bread, which means baking powder does the heavy lifting. No yeast, proofing, or rising time required.
• No Kneading. Mix the wet and dry ingredients, fold in your cheese, and get it into the loaf pan. That's it!
• Loaded With Cheddar. We're using 2 whole cups of shredded sharp cheddar, so this is definitely not one of those breads where you have to search for the cheese.
• Buttery Garlic Topping. Melted butter, garlic powder, parsley, and a little cayenne create an irresistible savory finish.
• Soft + Tender Inside. Eggs, butter, and homemade buttermilk create a moist, tender crumb while bread flour provides enough structure to keep the loaf sliceable.
• Perfect With Dinner. Serve it with soups, chili, pasta, seafood, chicken, stews, or roasted vegetables—basically anywhere you'd normally want biscuits or garlic bread.
• Freezer-Friendly. Bake a loaf, slice it, and freeze individual portions so you can reheat cheesy bread whenever you need it.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS BREAD!

Here, I've curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially for this Best Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread. Everything from my fave baking sheet, dutch ovens, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

What Are Cheddar Bay Biscuits?

Cheddar Bay Biscuits are the well-known cheesy garlic biscuits associated with Red Lobster restaurants. They're known for their tender biscuit texture, cheddar cheese, savory garlic flavor, and buttery herb topping.

This recipe isn't attempting to make traditional individual biscuits. Instead, we're taking inspiration from that familiar combination of cheddar + garlic + herbs + butter and turning it into an easy homemade quick bread.

The result lands somewhere between a savory cheddar quick bread and a cheesy biscuit: tender, rich, flavorful, and sturdy enough to cut into thick slices.

How to Make Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread

Whisk together the all-purpose flour, bread flour, sugar, baking powder, parsley, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, melted butter, and buttermilk before gently mixing the wet and dry ingredients together and folding in the shredded cheddar.

Transfer the thick batter to a prepared loaf pan and bake until golden and cooked through. While the bread is still warm, combine the melted butter, parsley, garlic powder, and cayenne and generously brush it over the top. Let the loaf rest slightly before slicing.

Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour. All-purpose flour creates the main structure of the loaf while helping maintain a tender crumb. We're combining it with bread flour rather than using bread flour exclusively so the finished bread doesn't become overly chewy or dense.
• Artisan Bread Flour. Bread flour has a higher protein content than typical all-purpose flour, which can provide additional structure and chew.
• Organic Cane Sugar. Just a tablespoon helps balance the salty, savory flavors.
• Baking Powder. Baking powder is what makes this a quick bread. It provides leavening without yeast, allowing the batter to rise as it bakes.
• Dried Parsley. Parsley gives the bread little flecks of herb flavor throughout and reinforces that classic cheesy-garlic-biscuit inspiration.
• Garlic Powder. Garlic powder distributes garlic flavor throughout the entire loaf without adding additional moisture.
• Smoked Paprika. Smoked paprika brings subtle smokiness and savory depth.
• Sea Salt. Salt enhances the cheese, butter, garlic, and herbs.
• Eggs. Room-temperature eggs help bind the batter and provide structure, richness, and moisture.
• Unsalted Butter. Melted butter is responsible for much of the rich, biscuit-like flavor.
• Homemade Buttermilk. This easy dairy-free-style buttermilk can be made by combining almond milk with lemon juice. You can also use whole milk with lemon juice if dairy isn't a concern.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese. Cheddar is obviously the star! You can use regular or mild cheddar or combine multiple varieties. For the best melting and texture, I recommend freshly shredding your cheese from a block.
• Cayenne Pepper. Just a tiny amount provides subtle warmth rather than making the bread overtly spicy.

Tips for the Best Cheddar Biscuit Bread

Measure Your Flour Correctly

Too much flour is one of the easiest ways to end up with dry, dense quick bread.

For maximum accuracy, weigh your flour. Otherwise, fluff it first, spoon it into your measuring cup, and level the top rather than packing it down.

Don't Overmix

Once the wet ingredients meet the flour, mix only until everything comes together.

Overmixing encourages gluten development, which can make a biscuit-style quick bread tougher and chewier than intended.

Shred Your Own Cheese

Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking ingredients that can affect how smoothly it melts.

Freshly grated cheddar generally gives you the best melt and cheese distribution.

Use Sharp Cheddar for Bigger Flavor

There are a lot of strong flavors happening here, so sharp cheddar won't get lost among the garlic, butter, and herbs.

Bring Your Eggs to Room Temperature

Room-temperature ingredients combine more easily and can help create a more uniform batter.

Let Melted Butter Cool Slightly

You don't want extremely hot butter hitting your eggs. Let the butter cool briefly before mixing the wet ingredients.

Don't Overbake

Quick breads can go from tender to dry when left in the oven too long.

Begin checking toward the end of the recommended baking time. A tester inserted into an area without a big pocket of melted cheese should come out without wet batter.

Brush on the Garlic Butter While Warm

The warm crust absorbs some of that melted garlic-herb butter, giving you even more flavor.

Let It Rest Before Slicing

As tempting as warm cheesy bread is, give your loaf time to set before cutting. Slicing immediately can cause the tender interior to crumble.

The Best Flour for Cheddar Biscuit Bread

The type of flour you use can noticeably change your finished bread.

All-Purpose Flour: Best for a tender crumb. All-purpose flour has enough protein to provide structure without making the loaf overly chewy. If you're looking for a classic quick-bread texture, it's a reliable choice.

Bread Flour: Best for additional structure and chew. Bread flour generally contains more protein than all-purpose flour. That's helpful when your batter contains a substantial amount of cheese and other rich ingredients. I wouldn't necessarily use bread flour exclusively here, though. Too much strength can take the loaf further away from the tender biscuit-inspired texture we're after.

A Combination of Both: My preferred option for this recipe. Using 2 cups all-purpose flour + 1 cup bread flour gives you the best of both worlds: tenderness from all-purpose flour with a little extra structure from bread flour.

1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour: For a gluten-free adaptation, a quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour designed to replace all-purpose flour is your best starting point. Because gluten-free blends vary considerably, texture and liquid requirements may change. For the most reliable results, choose a blend intended for quick breads and follow any manufacturer recommendations.

The Best Cheese for Cheddar Bread

Cheddar might be in the name, but that doesn't mean you're limited to one variety.

Sharp Cheddar: My top pick. Bold, tangy, and flavorful enough to remain noticeable after baking.

Mild Cheddar: Great for kids or anyone who prefers a softer cheese flavor.

Extra-Sharp Cheddar: For serious cheddar lovers! This creates an even more pronounced cheese flavor.

White Cheddar: A delicious alternative with all the cheddar flavor and a slightly different appearance.

Pepper Jack: Add Pepper Jack when you want more heat.

Colby Jack: Mild, creamy, and beautifully melty.

Smoked Gouda: Replace a portion of the cheddar with smoked Gouda to play up the smoked paprika.

Parmesan: A little freshly grated Parmesan can add salty, nutty depth alongside the cheddar.

Easy Cheddar Biscuit Bread Variations

Jalapeño Cheddar Bread

Fold diced jalapeños into the batter for a spicy kick.

Cheddar Herb Bread

Add extra dried or fresh herbs such as chives, thyme, oregano, or rosemary.

Everything Cheddar Bread

Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over the loaf before baking.

Extra-Garlic Cheddar Bread

Increase the garlic powder slightly or add roasted garlic to the batter.

Cheddar + Scallion Bread

Fold chopped scallions or chives into the batter for fresh onion flavor.

Spicy Cheddar Bread

Increase the cayenne and add a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Three-Cheese Biscuit Bread

Combine cheddar with mozzarella and Parmesan for extra cheesy goodness.

What to Serve With Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread

• Soups + Chili. This bread was basically made for dipping! Serve it alongside tomato soup, chicken soup, creamy potato soup, broccoli cheddar soup, seafood chowder, vegetable soup, or a hearty chili.
• Pasta. Pair thick slices with Alfredo pasta, spaghetti and meatballs, baked ziti, lasagna or lasagan soup, creamy Cajun pasta, or mac and cheese.
• Chicken + Meat. Serve it with roasted chicken, blackened chicken, meatloaf, pot roast, steak, or BBQ chicken.
• Seafood. The cheesy garlic flavor makes this especially good with salmon, shrimp, crab cakes, baked fish, seafood boils, or creamy seafood soups.
• Salads. For something lighter, pair warm bread with a Caesar salad, chopped salad, kale salad, or simple smoked collard greens.

How to Store Cheddar Biscuit Bread

Once completely cooled, store the bread tightly wrapped or inside an airtight container. For longer storage, refrigerate it, particularly because of the substantial amount of cheese in the loaf.

For the best texture, warm individual slices before serving.

You can reheat slices in a toaster oven or conventional oven until warm, then brush them with a tiny bit of melted butter if you want to bring back that just-baked richness.

Can You Freeze Cheddar Biscuit Bread?

Absolutely! This is a great bread to freeze.

Allow the loaf to cool completely, then either freeze it whole or cut it into individual slices. I especially like freezing slices because you can grab exactly what you need without defrosting the entire loaf.

Wrap the bread well and place it inside a freezer-safe container or bag. When you're ready to eat, thaw and reheat until warmed through.

For that fresh-from-the-oven experience, add a little garlic-herb butter after reheating.

How to Know When Quick Bread Is Done

Because this loaf contains plenty of melted cheese, determining doneness can be slightly trickier than with plain bread.

Look for a golden, set top and edges that appear fully baked. Insert a toothpick or thin tester into the center, aiming for an area without a large cheese pocket. It should come out without raw, wet batter.

If the top is browning faster than the center is baking, loosely tent it with foil and continue baking until the middle is done.

Then—and this part matters—let the loaf rest before slicing. The interior continues setting as it cools, giving you cleaner slices and a better final texture.

Common Q + A's for this Best Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread

More Reader Favorite Cheese-infused Recipes

If you thoroughly enjoyed this Best Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread recipe, don't forget to add these delicious creations to your "must-make" list:

• Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
• Southern Baked Gnocchi Mac + Cheese
• Garlic Herb Cheese Pizza
• Creamy Stovetop Southern Mac + Cheese
• Vegan Cheese Polenta with Pesto + Chickpea
• Top-Rated Pumpkin Mac + Cheese
• Best Chicken Birria Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
• My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese
• Homemade Texas Toast Garlic Bread
• The Ultimate Veggie Pizza Recipe
• BBQ Jerk Chicken Stuffed Shells
• Baked Garlic Chicken Broccoli Gnocchi Recipe
• Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Bucatini
• Grown-Up Baked Jerk Mac and Cheese
• Creamy Blackened Chicken with Tortellini
• Best Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pizza
• Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka]
• Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Gnocchi Bake

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried my Best Cheddar Bay Biscuit Bread or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag me @shanikagrahamwhite on Instagram. I love hearing from you!ove!

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