Keto Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits: A Low-Carb Copycat Recipe

For those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, finding satisfying alternatives to favorite carb-heavy foods can be a challenge. Cravings for comforting classics, like Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits, can be particularly strong. This article provides a detailed recipe and guide for creating a keto-friendly version of these beloved biscuits, allowing you to enjoy a cheesy, garlicky treat without derailing your dietary goals.

Introduction: The Quest for Keto-Friendly Comfort Food

Many individuals on a low-carb or keto diet seek healthy ways to incorporate bread-like items into their meals. The struggle to find suitable low-carbohydrate bread options is a common experience. This recipe aims to solve that problem by offering a delicious and guilt-free alternative to traditional biscuits. The goal is to replicate the iconic flavor of Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits while adhering to keto principles.

Why Choose Keto Cheddar Bay Biscuits?

These keto cheddar biscuits offer several advantages:

  • Low Carb: Significantly reduces carbohydrate intake compared to traditional biscuits.
  • Keto-Friendly: Aligns with the ketogenic diet's macronutrient ratios, promoting ketosis.
  • Delicious Taste: Mimics the savory, cheesy, and garlicky flavor of Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
  • Quick and Easy: Requires minimal preparation and cooking time.
  • Versatile: Can be served as a side dish, snack, or breakfast sandwich component.

Understanding the Key Ingredients

The success of this keto biscuit recipe hinges on using the right ingredients and understanding their roles:

  • Almond Flour: This gluten-free and grain-free flour forms the base of the biscuits, providing a light and fluffy texture. Some recipes use coconut flour, but almond flour is a common and effective substitute.
  • Baking Powder: A leavening agent that helps the biscuits rise, creating a light and airy texture. Baking soda can also be used.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Provides the signature cheesy flavor. Freshly grated cheese is recommended over pre-shredded varieties, as the latter often contains added ingredients that can increase the carb count. Different cheeses, such as pepper jack or Colby Monterrey Jack, can be used to customize the flavor.
  • Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add moisture, contributing to the biscuit's structure.
  • Melted Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and moisture. Vegan butter alternatives can be used for a dairy-free option.
  • Garlic Powder: Essential for replicating the distinctive garlic flavor of Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
  • Sour Cream: Adds moisture and tanginess, contributing to the biscuit's tender texture.
  • Italian Seasoning (Optional): Adds an extra layer of savory flavor.
  • Parsley (Fresh): Used as a garnish and adds a touch of freshness to the finished biscuits.

Recipe: Keto Garlic Cheddar Bay Biscuits

This recipe provides a detailed guide to creating delicious keto-friendly biscuits.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Yields: 10-12 biscuits

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Cook Time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Almond Flour (or 1/2 cup Coconut Flour)
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/4 cup Melted Butter (cooled slightly)
  • 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese (freshly grated)
  • 2 tablespoons Melted Butter (for topping)
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (for topping)
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley, chopped (for topping)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat oven to 400-450°F (200-230°C).
  2. Prepare the muffin pan or baking sheet: Lightly grease muffin cavities of a 12-cup muffin pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using parchment paper liners in muffin tins is suggested to prevent sticking.
  3. Combine wet ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, and cooled melted butter. Whisk until smooth.
  4. Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour (or coconut flour), salt, baking powder, and garlic powder.
  5. Mix wet and dry ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the large bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix with a whisk or spoon until the batter is evenly combined. The batter will be quite thick.
  6. Stir in the cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  7. Portion the batter: Scoop ¼ cup of batter and place into each muffin mold or drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. The batter can be sticky, so using a spatula to scrape and remove all the batter from the measuring cup may be necessary.
  8. Bake the biscuits: Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Prepare the garlic butter topping: While the biscuits are baking, melt the butter for the topping in a small bowl. Dissolve the garlic powder into the melted butter and stir in the chopped parsley.
  10. Brush with garlic butter: Once the biscuits are removed from the oven, use a thin spatula to loosen the edges of the biscuits. Remove the biscuits from the muffin pan or baking sheet and immediately brush the tops of the hot biscuits with the garlic butter mixture. Ensure the butter is still liquid for even distribution.
  11. Serve: Serve the biscuits warm and enjoy! They are delicious as a side dish with your favorite keto meal or as a base for a keto breakfast sandwich.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Keto Biscuits

  • Use Freshly Grated Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains cellulose, which can affect the texture and melting properties of the cheese. Grating your own cheese ensures optimal flavor and texture.
  • Don't Overmix the Dough: Overmixing can lead to tough biscuits. Mix the ingredients until just combined to maintain a flaky texture.
  • Avoid Overbaking: Overbaking can result in dry biscuits. Keep a close eye on the biscuits while they are in the oven and remove them when they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Adjust Sweeteners Carefully: Specific sugar alternatives are not given in the recipes presented on this site. Only suggestions are given as to the 'kind' of alternative to use. It is up to you to select the alternative to use that suits your needs best. If the recipe is heated or cooked, it is best to use an alternative that can be heated or cooked with for best results.
  • Experiment with Flavors: Feel free to add other seasonings to the dough, such as Italian seasoning, onion powder, or red pepper flakes, to customize the flavor.
  • Make Breakfast Sandwiches: Use these Keto Cheddar Biscuits to make a breakfast sandwich. Load up your biscuit with your favorite eggs, meat, cheese and veggies.

Serving Suggestions

These keto cheddar biscuits are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in various ways:

  • Side Dish: Serve them alongside your favorite keto-friendly soups, salads, or main courses.
  • Breakfast Sandwich: Use them as a base for a breakfast sandwich with eggs, sausage, bacon, and cheese.
  • Snack: Enjoy them as a satisfying snack on their own or with a smear of cream cheese or butter.

Storage Instructions

  • Refrigerator: Store leftover keto biscuits in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the biscuits. Allow them to cool completely, then wrap them individually in parchment paper and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator or at room temperature before reheating.

Reheating Instructions

  • Microwave: Reheat the biscuits in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until warmed through.
  • Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and reheat the biscuits for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Cheese: Experiment with different types of cheese, such as pepper jack, Colby jack, or mozzarella.
  • Flour: While almond flour is the primary choice, coconut flour can be used in smaller quantities. If using coconut flour, remember that it absorbs more liquid than almond flour, so you may need to adjust the amount of wet ingredients accordingly. If you wish to use almond flour, you will want to use 4 times the amount of coconut flour. This comes out to about 1.2 cups.
  • Dairy-Free: Substitute vegan butter and dairy-free cheese alternatives to make this recipe dairy-free.
  • Herbs and Spices: Add different herbs and spices to the dough to customize the flavor. Some popular options include rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
  • Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the dough for a spicy kick.

Troubleshooting

  • Biscuits are Flat: If your biscuits turn out flat, it may be due to the cheese you used. Use cheese that you grate yourself. The already grated cheese has added ingredients that add in carbs that are not needed for this recipe.
  • Biscuits are Dry: Overbaking can cause dry biscuits. Make sure to not overbake your biscuits. Once you remove the biscuits from the oven, given them a few minutes to finish baking on the baking sheet.

The Magic of Pork Rind Crumbs

For those seeking an even closer texture to the original Red Lobster biscuits, consider incorporating pork rind crumbs into the recipe. Pork rind crumbs can mimic the texture of traditional biscuits with impressive accuracy.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Embrace the Keto Lifestyle

If you are new to the Keto lifestyle or just trying to eat low carb, these Keto biscuits are a great place to start. The ketogenic diet is a diet high in fat with healthy fats for weight loss. You will also want to keep things sugar free. A lot of recipes call for cheese or cream cheese.

A Note on Nutritional Information

The nutrition information provided in recipes is typically estimated based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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