30 Red Lobster Copycat Recipes That Outdo The Original

For years, Red Lobster recipes have been a hot topic on many cooking and flog blogs. Just so you know, Red Lobster is a casual dining restaurant chain that has over 700 locations worldwide. It specializes in seafood, but steak, chicken, and pasta are also served.

Despite having many world-famous recipes, rumor has it that this restaurant chain is about to close its doors. Many of its die-hard fans choose to express deep regret, while some decide to come up with Red Lobster copycat recipes as a way to keep the memories alive.

Top 30 Delicious Red Lobster Copycat Recipes

For that reason, I’d like to give you some recipes inspired by the well-known Red Lobster for you to try and enjoy right at home. Check them out!

Red Lobster Copycat Appetizers

1. Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
2. Cheddar Bay Biscuits
3. White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
4. Hand-Battered Fish and Chips
5. New England Clam Chowder
6. Creamy Potato Bacon Soup
7. Baked Potatoes

Red Lobster Copycat Main Courses

8. Shrimp Scampi
9. Crab Alfredo
10. Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp
11. Baked Cod
12. Shrimp Nachos
13. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
14. Lobster Pizza
15. Cajun Chicken Pasta
16. Parmesan-Crusted Fresh Tilapia
17. Lobster Bisque
18. Asian Garlic Grilled Salmon
19. Crispy Shrimp Lettuce Wrap
20. Seafood-Stuffed Flounder
21. NY Strip and Rock Lobster Tail
22. Maple-Glazed Chicken

Red Lobster Copycat Condiments

23. Tartar Sauce
24. Pina Colada Sauce
25. Artichoke Dip

Red Lobster Copycat Drink and Desserts

26. Triple Berry Sangria
27. Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies
28. Chocolate Lava Cake
29. Layered Pumpkin Pie
30. Key Lime Pie

Keep reading to explore how these dishes are made. Let’s go!

Superb Starters To Wake Up Your Appetite

Red Lobster offers excellent choices of appetizers, and many successful (and even failed) attempts have been made to recreate those dishes. With the following recipes, it’s surefire that failure is not something you should worry about – the success rate is 100%!

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

Bacon and scallops may not seem like an item at first, but they create a flavor that’s unmatched by any other dishes when combined in this dish. Tender scallops are laced with Sauvignon Blanc (or white vinegar, if you are not into alcohol) before being wrapped around with crispy strips of bacon seasoned with black pepper and paprika.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

There’s a reason to begin the list with these sweet-and-savory biscuits – they are one of the staple items that bring fame and fortune to Red Lobster.

These biscuits are soft and buttery, with aromatic scents of garlic and parsley that build up your appetite. Sharp cheddar cheese adds a great depth of flavor to this starter, while cayenne pepper leaves an unforgettable kick in your mouth.

White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Get in line, mashed potatoes fans; there’s something you will fight for. It’s these creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes. Some of you may wonder how to make your potatoes so thick yet creamy and smooth at the same time. Well, I will gladly share some secrets with you.

First off, you may want to use Yukon Gold potatoes, as they are best for mashing. With white cheddar comes in, the texture becomes even smoother – which is lovely, if you ask me, and the taste is just pure bliss.

Once that’s done, pair this dish with chicken cordon bleu. The smooth, creamy texture from the mashed potatoes will be an intriguing contrast to the crunchy bite you’ll get from chicken cordon bleu. It’s truly a divine combination.

Hand-Battered Fish And Chips

No one feels strange about this hotdish anymore. Fish and chips are one of the most iconic British dishes. And you can see this recipe served almost everywhere in and out of London, but what makes fish and chips at Red Lobster stand out?

The fresh, chewy cod filet with crispy coating done by hand, and the fries make great finger food. For the best experience, serve this dish with some delicious tartar sauce (the recipe can be found later in this post, so keep scrolling).

New England Clam Chowder

Start your meal delightfully with this creamy and warm clam chowder made with Russet potatoes that guarantee to hold your flavor. Most people prefer to use fresh clams; surprisingly, they cannot be as “fresh” as canned clams.

Another useful tip is that once cool, chowder’s consistency will thicken, so make sure you serve it straight from the pan. Also, you’re free to choose from your fridge anything to accompany your clam chowder and raise its tastinest to a new level.

Creamy Potato Bacon Soup

One of Red Lobster’s top picks, this potato bacon soup will be an excellent dish for a winter night, especially when you want to warm yourself up after a long, tiring day.

With a smooth and creamy texture made with pound potatoes, seasoned with lots of herbs and spices, the soup makes an excellent starter to regain your appetite. Garnish with some chopped bacon and shredded cheddar and serve hot. Yummy!

Baked Potatoes

Nothing can surpass a batch of potatoes that have just come out of the oven, am I right? Just get a whiff yourself. That tantalizing smell alone will make your mouth water for sure. If you want your baked potatoes to be a little extra, bring in the cheddar, sour cream, or some bacon bits to spice things up.

Outstanding Main Courses With Multifarious Flavors

Set your standards higher; these copycat Red Lobster main dishes are here to satisfy everyone, from the pickiest eaters to fastidious food critics.

Shrimp Scampi

In case you are craving for some authentic Italian flavors for your dinner, let’s try this shrimp scampi! Despite being much smaller than a lobster, scampi is sought after by many chefs for its delectable flavor.

When sauteed, scampi flaunts its beautiful golden-orange color, and its taste is elevated with intricate use of chardonnay, garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, and parmesan cheese.

Crab Alfredo

Alfredo is one of my favorite pasta dishes, so it’s always exciting to recreate this dish at home. And with some flavorful Alaska King crab leg meat, your alfredo will be more than appropriate for a small yet luxurious dinner with your lover.

Fettuccine is cooked to perfection before being drenched in a creamy sauce made with cream cheese, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.

Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp

Bring the tropical vibes to your dinner table with this scrumptious seafood plate. The shrimps are covered in sweetened coconut flakes for contrasting flavors, then air fried until crisp and golden brown. Dip them in signature Pina Colada sauce (I will show you how to do it later in this post) and enjoy the taste!

Nantucket Baked Cod

You may already be familiar with cod, a type of fish that belongs to the Gadidae family that is nutritious and tasty. In this recipe, fresh cod fillets are marinated with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and paprika, then baked until done with a crispy finish. For a full main course, serve these tasty fillets with tomatoes, parmesan, or rice.

Shrimp Nachos

No one can say no to nachos, ever, especially when it comes to this Red Lobster clone shrimp nachos. Adding shrimps to this traditional Mexican dish is a bold move: nachos turns into a hearty meal that boasts robust flavors of two kinds of cheese, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and a generous dollop of sour cream and pico de gallo on top.

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Fresh mushrooms and crab make a great combination, don’t you think? In this recipe, mushrooms are sauteed with a slew of vegetables to bring out an earthy flavor with sweet undertones. Crab meat is seasoned to taste before being stuffed inside mushrooms, which are topped off with appetizing melted cheese – you can’t have but wanting to take another bite!

Lobster Pizza

This fancy take on the Italian staple will keep everyone entertained at the next party. It’s truly a crowd pleaser – the pizza looks gorgeous with colorful toppings, and the flavor is simply out of this world. This pizza is worth the wait for featuring lobster chunks as the main attraction, along with juicy Roma tomatoes, freshly julienned basil, and a heaping amount of shredded cheese.

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Nothing can go past this pasta in terms of flavor; mark my words. As soon as my teeth go through the chicken, I can sense the pronounced flavors of Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, basil, and garlic powder exploding in my mouth.

The creamy sauce complements the chicken impeccably, and I’m proud to say that this pasta is quite close to the original.

Parmesan-Crusted Fresh Tilapia

Keep your eyes on tilapia – it is the next big thing that you don’t want to regret missing. Tilapia is a type of fish with a delicate texture and somewhat sweet to mild flavors, which is a superior choice to cook with panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese for a hearty main course. If you wish, serve with a side of veggies such as broccoli or coleslaw.

Lobster Bisque

This dish used to stir controversy for the restaurant chain, as people exposed that langostino prawn is used instead of lobster. With this copycat recipe in hand, you don’t have to worry about that! In a small bowl of bisque, you get to enjoy the rich taste of Maine lobster, along with a blend of veggies and spices served hot in creamy stock.

Asian Garlic Grilled Salmon

If you are looking for something brand-new to do with your salmon fillet, why don’t you grill it – with a twist? Salmon has a somewhat sweet to mild flavor with juicy flesh. Its flavor is enhanced to a great extent with intricate use of seasonings and spices: Cajun seasoning, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, fig preserves, and some finely chopped ginger and garlic.

Crispy Shrimp Lettuce Wrap

This dish is one of the best-sellers of Red Lobster, so it’s no surprise to see many home cooks attempt to recreate it. With sublime ingredients like fresh shrimps, lettuce, carrots, green onions, and other spices, the magic happens: it’s a glorious combo of colors and tastes that leave an unforgettable mouthfeel.

Seafood-Stuffed Flounder

This flounder pays tribute to the original version that everyone has talked about for years. Why are people so obsessed with it, you ask?

It’s a pure delight mostly made with flounders and crab meat, but feel free to add different types of seafood. Serve this main course with some bread, and your friends will ask whether you have just ordered Red Lobster!

New York Strip And Rock Lobster Tail (Surf & Turf)

I’m proud to say that this version is a million times better than the original. Surf and turf is a vintage main course – premium rock lobster tail enriched with aromatic crumb toppings, while juicy tenderloin steak is cooked to doneness. Together, lobster and steak create a dream team that ensures to satisfy your taste buds at the very first bite.

You can see this video to know more:

Maple-Glazed Chicken

Undoubtedly, roasted chicken makes a filling dinner, but this dish keeps you from eating more and more. The list of ingredients alone will make your hunger grow, with chicken thighs, acorn squash, carrots, and onions. Sweet maple syrup is the dominant element in this recipe, imparting rich, unique flavors to the tender chicken meat.

You can see this video to know more:

Lip-Smacking Condiments Inspired By Red Lobster

True Red Lobster fans will know that Red Lobster offers a wide selection of dipping sauces. So far, these are the three condiments that I have successfully replicated.

Tartar Sauce

Creamy tartar sauce always sits next to fry dishes for a reason. The sauce brings multi-dimensional taste to many dishes like nuggets or fish and chips, so it’s a good idea to make some in advance for dipping. The Red Lobster version calls for mayonnaise as the main ingredient, but you can experiment with aioli, Greek yogurt, or cucumber sauce.

Pina Colada Sauce

Does Insipid food make you feel bored? Some pina colada sauce will change the game. Inspired by the iconic Puerto Rican drink with the same name, this dipping sauce is made with sour cream, coconut cream, crushed pineapples, and lemon juice. 

This sauce goes great with anything, but it’s a perfect match with a plate of Parrot Isle jumbo coconut shrimp, in my humble opinion.

Artichoke Dip

What can you do when the staff at Red Lobster tells you that they have run out of artichoke dip? You make your own at home! Unlike the two dipping sauces above, this one is much more complex in flavor: artichoke boasts mild, nutty flavor, blended with three types of cheese to create a lovely, soft mouthfeel. Talk about that flavor combination!

Delectable Drinks And Desserts To Savor After Meals

Most people tend to skip the final course at Red Lobster, but they don’t know many hidden gems on the drinks and desserts page. What are the highlights?

Triple Berry Sangria

Nothing can deliver such a kick as sangria, an after-meal cocktail made with alcohol and succulent strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

And while you might worry about sangria’s shelf life when left outside for a long time, it’s still ok for you to take one sip at a time to enjoy it to the fullest.

Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies

These cookies come pretty close to those served at Red Lobster, so make a big batch and impress your guests! Although they are called “cookies,” these comfort foods have a shape similar to muffins, while the texture is moist and chewy. For a finishing touch, add a scoop of ice cream on top and drizzle some chocolate syrup.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Also known as chocolate wave, this gooey dessert filled with hot chocolate fudge is a dream come true. It’s always an honor to be the one to cut lava cake open to let the decadent filling out. Serve this delicious dessert with some vanilla ice cream to balance the bittersweet flavor if desired.

You can see this video to know more:

Layered Pumpkin Pie

It’s not difficult to see this dessert on the tables when you dine in Red Lobster. As the name implies, this dessert has several layers; it is literally a pumpkin pie served in a jar filled with layers of graham cracker crumb, whipped cream, and pumpkin goodness. It tastes best when chilled and served with a dollop of cream on the top.

Key Lime Pie

Key lime pie is everywhere to be found, but this copycat Red Lobster recipe proves that it’s more than just a dessert. It is the latest addition to Red Lobster’s menu, with the right balance of sweet and tangy citrus notes that will please your taste buds.

Red Lobster – Anytime, Anywhere!

With these Red Lobster copycat recipes, there’s no need to waste your time driving to their locations; in addition, you get to save your pennies and have total control over how you want your dishes to turn out.

I believe that you have already had an eye on something on this list, right? If you want to share a recipe inspired by Red Lobster, or a few tweaks you make to improve the recipes, let me know via the comment section below. Many thanks for your contribution!