The best copycat recipes to make your favorite restaurant dishes at home (2024)

Find out how to make Red Lobster biscuits, Chick-fil-A nuggets, Taco Bell Mexican pizza, IHOP pancakes and more!

Copycat recipes allow you to make your favorite restaurant dishes without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. Plus, nowaiting for a table!

Here are a few of the best copycat recipes out there:

IHOP Buttermilk Pancakes

Nothing says “good morning!” like a plate full of light, fluffy flapjacks, and the International House of Pancakes has its pancakes down to an art form. But you can easily steal their recipe and make them at home. Pancakes in your PJs? Perfect!

Recipe blogger and YouTuber Joshua Weissman even claims his recipe is better than IHOP’s — test it out to see for yourself!

Chipotle Burrito Bowl

I love me some Chipotle, as do my kids, but I sometimes cringe at paying so much for what is essentially a bowl of beans and rice. Luckily, this copycat recipe for burrito bowls from Brown-Eyed Baker makes it easy to prepare delicious, fresh Mexican food at home.

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Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

Taco Bell Mexican Pizza is the perfect cheesy, spicy and tangy item to order at the drive-thru. Brandie Skibinski, the blogger behind The Country Cook, provides a detailed step-by-step guide and even a video so you can make this fast food favorite at home.

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Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets

Chick-Fil-A is one of the best fast food places around, but it’s easy to make their beloved nuggets at home. This is another recipe that comes to us from The Country Cook, a pro at creating copycat recipes that sometimes taste even better than the real thing.

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TGI Friday’s Potato Skins

Who doesn’t love TGI Friday’s Potato Skins? And now you can make these crispy, cheesy and chewy skins at home. Get the recipe from Cincy Shopper.

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Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

If you’re anything like me, you max out so quickly on Red Lobster’s delicious biscuits that you barely have any room in your belly when your main course arrives. Chungah Ree, the blogger behind Damn Delicious, has an excellent copycat recipe so you can make these the main course at home, anytime.

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Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

Panera’s broccoli cheese soup is always a must-order for me, whether it’s a hot day in July or a snowy day in December. Now you can make it anytime you want at home with this copycat recipe from Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons.

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Chili’s Enchilada Soup

A friend of mine used to swear by the healing powers of this soup from Chili’s. She said that the spicy, comforting soup was her go-to whenever she felt a cold coming on. Give her cure-all a try yourself with this copycat recipe from Princess Pinky Girl.

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McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin

McDonald’s breakfast is the best way to ease the pain of waking up early. But, if you want to enjoy a Sausage McMuffin without having to hit the drive-thru, you can easily prepare one at home with this guide from Recipe Tin Eats.

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MORE: This Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker will upgrade your breakfast every day

Kentucky Fried Chicken

Kentucky Fried Chicken is the quintessential joint for fried chicken in a hurry. But if you’ve got some time or just want a home-cooked meal rather than fast food, look no further than The Cookie Rookie for a perfect copycat.

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Olive Garden Breadsticks

The endless supply of breadsticks is one of the best things about dining at Olive Garden. But now you can make them at home and impress your family and friends with this copycat recipe from Handle the Heat.

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Applebee’s Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

Thanks to their shareable sides and drink specials, Applebee’s is a favorite casual dining spot for millions of Americans. But here’s good news: You can skip the happy-hour rush and enjoy Applebee’s Cheeseburger Egg Rolls at home. Here’s a copycatrecipe fromSpend With Pennies.

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Panda Express Chow Mein

If you have ever had a craving for fast, filling Chinese food while you are at the mall, you are probably very familiar with Panda Express. The national chain is known for its super-quick service and comforting Chinese-inspired fare. Now you can make one of their signature dishes, chow mein, in the comfort of your own home thanks to this video from Joshua Weissman:

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

The salad at Olive Garden is one of the highlights of the meal. Luckily, it’s easy to copy the dressing, and you don’t even have to shell out for a store-bought bottle. Get the recipe here from Dessert Now Dinner Later.

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Disney-Inspired Churros

Disney Resorts’ churros have become the stuff of legends. This BakedCinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups recipe from Kylee Cooks will help you make a delicious version at home.

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Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

On her recipe blog Well Plated, Erin Clarke showcases a way to enjoy a copycat version of this Olive Garden soup without having to leave the house!

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MORE: This is the best slow cooker

Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter

If you can’t squeeze a Trader Joe’s run into your week but absolutely must have their cookie butter, look no further than this copycat recipe from Averie Cooks. She put a slight twist on the recipe by combining it with peanut butter.

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McDonald’s Fries

Joshua Weissman might be the king of copycat recipes because not only is he on this list three times, he came up with a copycat recipe to make McDonald’s famous French fries at home.

Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino

Save your money and make our own version of Starbucks’ Mocha Frappuccino at home with Recipe Girl’s copycat recipe!

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Wendy’s Frosty

Who doesn’t love a Wendy’s Frosty? Whether you dip your fries in it or slurp it plain, this copycat recipe makes it so easy to make at home … with just three ingredients! Check out the how-to video from Pro Home Cooks below:

The best copycat recipes to make your favorite restaurant dishes at home (2024)

FAQs

How to make restaurant quality meals at home? ›

HOW TO MAKE RESTAURANT-QUALITY FOOD AT HOME
  1. Add chef-level fragrance to home-made food with quality oil and salt.
  2. Buy the best knives you can afford to chop like a chef at home.
  3. Use fresh herbs to add flavour to any dish.
  4. Revive old spices by frying them quickly.
  5. Organize Your Kitchen.
  6. It's okay to experiment.
Oct 1, 2020

What is the best recipe format? ›

1. Standard format. This recipe format is the simplest to understand and uses the least amount of room. It includes an ingredient list followed by a step-by-step process to make the recipe.

How to make a good recipe? ›

A standard recipe must contain the following data:
  1. Title.
  2. Description.
  3. Preparation and cooking time.
  4. Number of servings and serving size.
  5. List of ingredients with accurate measurements.
  6. Step-by-step directions.
  7. Accurate nutrition information.
  8. Notes and FAQ.
Feb 11, 2021

How do I come up with my own recipe? ›

Tips to keep in mind when writing recipes:
  1. List ingredients in chronological order. ...
  2. Separate ingredients for major steps in a recipe. ...
  3. List steps in order, keeping instructions short and to the point. ...
  4. Give specifics about doneness. ...
  5. Include storage suggestions. ...
  6. Offer extra methods or substitutions (when tested).
Nov 19, 2020

What makes a dish restaurant quality? ›

We first discover a dish with our eyes. The dish must be harmonious and balanced; its colours, shape, presentation or originality must be eye-catching. It must arouse our curiosity and make us really want to taste it, regardless of the technique or culinary style used (classic, new-style or evolutionary).

What makes restaurant food taste better? ›

Restaurants use fresh in-season ingredients

Comparatively, restaurants usually receive daily deliveries of fresh ingredients from their suppliers. Chefs order produce, meat, and other items from high-quality providers and prioritize what is in season at any given time. This results in better-tasting dishes all around.

Where to find best recipe? ›

2024's Best Recipe Websites: Our Picks
  1. Minimalist Baker.
  2. Love and Lemons.
  3. Cookie and Kate.
  4. Pinch of Yum.
  5. Budget Bytes.
  6. Smitten Kitchen.
  7. A Cozy Kitchen.
  8. David Lebovitz.
Apr 2, 2024

What should you always do first to your recipe? ›

Read it and re-read it. Make certain that it makes sense. AND make certain that if you are going to do a 'written in granite' recipe, that you have all of the ingredients. It is easy to make mistakes when writing a recipe: ie 4 tablespoon instead of 4 teaspoons.

What are four things that should be included in a good recipe? ›

  • Yield. The yield tells the number and size of servings the recipe will make.
  • List of Ingredients & Amounts.
  • Step By Step Directions for Mixing & Handling.
  • Equipment (Container Size & Type)
  • Temperature & Time.

What are 2 qualities of a good recipe? ›

A good recipe has two parts
  1. Ingredients listed in the order of their use.
  2. Exact measurements (amounts) of each listed ingredient.
  3. Simple, step-by-step directions (steps listed in sequence)
  4. Cooking time.
  5. Cooking temperature.
  6. Size of correct cooking equipment to use.
  7. Number and size of servings the recipe makes.

What are 2 tips for using a recipe? ›

10 Tips for Recipe Success
  1. Read the Recipes from Beginning to End Before you Begin. ...
  2. Google Unfamiliar Words. ...
  3. Pay Attention to How Ingredients are Listed. ...
  4. Read Reviews First. ...
  5. Prep Before you Cook. ...
  6. Start Small. ...
  7. Test Recipes Before Special Occasions. ...
  8. Use All Your Senses.
Jan 5, 2018

What is the most important element of a recipe? ›

Ingredient List - The ingredient list is one of the most critical parts of a recipe. The ingredients should be listed in chronological order, with the ingredient used first at the very top of the list (Palmer, 2020).

Where can I get more DIY recipes? ›

How do you find DIY recipes to craft?
  1. Find messages in bottles on the beach (randomised) ...
  2. Shoot down floating balloon presents (randomised) ...
  3. Walk in on neighbors by chance while they're crafting in their homes (randomised) ...
  4. Invite villagers to your campsite using amiibo Cards (randomised)
Nov 8, 2021

How do chefs create new recipes? ›

At a high level, recipe development requires two distinct processes:
  1. Exploration: The process wherein a chef explores varying techniques, food genres, ingredients, and influences. ...
  2. Exploitation: The process wherein a chef hones the particular techniques, ingredients, and flavor profiles that define a final dish.
Feb 18, 2021

Can you legally own a recipe? ›

Similar to ideas, facts and history, there isn't copyright protection in recipes as mere lists of ingredients. This is clearly stated by the U.S. Copyright Office. Most recipes, however, include content beyond the ingredient list.

How can a good tasting and quality dish be prepared and cooked? ›

10 Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better
  1. Don't Prepare Garlic and Onions in Advance. ...
  2. Don't Seed Tomatoes. ...
  3. Keep Fats Tasting Fresh. ...
  4. Strike Only When the Pan Is Hot. ...
  5. Never Discard the Fond. ...
  6. Season with Sugar, Too. ...
  7. Bloom Spices and Dried Herbs in Fat. ...
  8. Brown Breads, Pies, and Pastries.

How do you make a restaurant menu from scratch in 10 steps? ›

How to Make a Restaurant Menu
  1. Write Out all Menu Items. Before you dive into design, you have to learn to write a restaurant menu. ...
  2. Categorize Menu Items. ...
  3. Set Menu Prices. ...
  4. Create Menu Descriptions. ...
  5. Decide on a Menu Color Scheme. ...
  6. Design Your Restaurant Menu. ...
  7. Restaurant Menu Photos. ...
  8. Choose Menu Fonts, Spacing, and Composition.

What should be included in a quality dinner? ›

Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats. Eat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice).

How do you make healthy meals taste good? ›

How to Make Healthy Food Taste Good | Secrets for Healthy Eating
  1. Tip #1: Buy in-season vegetables for a richer taste.
  2. Tip #2 Use more herbs and spices.
  3. Tip #4 Cook more food from scratch.
  4. Tip #5 Use citrus juice to add a healthy zest.
  5. Tip #6 Use vinegar to add a tangy kick.
Aug 23, 2022

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