Skip the takeout and try these Copycat Recipes featuring homemade versions of your favorite restaurant dishes and fast food picks.
authorโs note
Better Off The Menu Copycat Recipes!
I donโt know what it is, but takeout always sounds like the best ideaโฆ until the total hits or the portions show up way smaller than I expected. And Iโve lost count of how many times Iโve taken one bite and thought, I could totally make this better at home.
So I started doing exactly that. Iโd take my favorite restaurant meals and test them over and over until they hit that same flavor, but with easier steps, better portions, and way more flexibility. Extra sauce, more toppings, no upcharge for guac, all the things that make it better.
These are the meals I turn to when the craving hits but I donโt want to leave the house or spend a ton, and theyโve quickly become some of my most-made dinners. If youโve ever been stuck between ordering out or cooking at home, this is the sweet spot right in the middle.
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad
Thisย Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Recipeย brings the classic sandwich back to your kitchen! Creamy, crunchy, and super simple to throw together.
Olive Garden Dinner
A copycat recipes dinner new moms or anyone in need will love, because who doesnโt love Olive Garden?
Kneaderโs French Toast
People travel far and wide for this local bakeryโs french toast and I got the inside scoop on how to make it.
Applebeeโs Chicken Salad
My absolute favorite thing on the Applebeeโs menu, so of course I had to recreate it for whenever the craving hits.
Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp
If youโre looking for a flavor-packed QUICK weeknight dinner, this is the move.
Chipotle Burrito Bowl
Chipotle servings tend to be underwhelming, and an extra dollar for a scoop of guac? Make it at home and measure the guac with your heart!
Raising Cane Chicken Tenders
These Raising Caneโs Chicken Tenders are one of my favorite copycat recipes, crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor.
Crunchwrap Recipe
Why did no one tell me Crunchwraps are ridiculously easy to make at home?
Chick-Fil-A Coleslaw
One of the best copycat recipes, this Chick-Fil-A Coleslaw tastes just like the original they took off the menu.
Chipotle Chicken Recipe
Thisย Chipotle Chicken Recipeย is smoky, full of flavor, and gorgeously charred. Just season, broil, and load it into tacos, bowls, or whatever sounds good!
Wendyโs Taco Salad
Taco Salad Recipeย with seasoned beef and beans, cheddar, tomatoes, crispy tortilla strips, and a creamy chili-lime dressing.
Panda Express Orange Chicken
When one menu item makes up 1/3 of a restaurantโs sales, you know itโs doing something right. Yep, the Panda Express orange chicken is that good.
Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo
This is one of those copycat recipes you want in your back pocket so you donโt have to pay $22 at Olive Garden for something you can make at home for $1.89.
Raising Canes Sauce Recipe
I used to go to Raising Caneโs just to get the sauceโฆ until I figured out how to make it at home.
Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Recipe
100 test batches, way too many grocery runs, and more Chick-fil-A orders than Iโd like to admitโฆ and I think I beat their chicken nuggets.
Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
Make Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt at home with crisp bread, melty cheese, tender chicken, and creamy avocado.
Chipotle Beef Barbacoa
Skip the takeout and make Chipotle Beef Barbacoa at home with melt-in-your-mouth beef and a smoky, flavorful sauce.
Sweet Green Baked Chicken Thighs
I make this Sweet Greenโs baked chicken thighs copycat recipe almost weekly. It is perfect for meal prep and packed with flavor.
Hibachi Chicken Recipe
Hibachi Chicken Recipe is quick, flavorful, and loaded with tender chicken, buttery rice, and sautรฉed veggies just like your favorite restaurant.
In-N-Out Sauce Recipe
Iโm convinced the sauce is what basically carries the entire In-N-Out menu.
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe
A hill I will die on: The best thing at Cheesecake Factory isnโt the cheesecakeโฆ itโs the brown bread.
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Copycat Chick Fil A Chicken Sandwich Recipe is crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor on a soft bun with pickles just like the original.
Bajio Queso Recipe
A local Mexican restaurant favorite called Bajio makes the best queso Iโve ever had, so of course I had to get in the kitchen and test until I nailed my own copycat version.
Olive Garden Salad
Olive Garden Salad Recipeย filled with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crunchy croutons, and tossed in a creamy Italian dressing youโll want onย everything.
Restaurant Desserts to Serve With These Copycat Recipes
When Iโm going all in on a takeout-style dinner at home, Iโm definitely not skipping dessert. It just makes the whole meal feel more fun and complete, and honestly, some of these are the best parts of the restaurant anyway.
These are a few of my favorite copycat desserts to finish things off:
- Magnoliaโs Bakery Banana Pudding Recipe
- Chilliโs Lava Cakes
- Copycat Gideonโs Bakehouse Cookie Recipe
- Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar
- Levain Cookie Recipe
