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 cook restaurant quality food 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

Who makes restaurant recipes? ›

A chef in a restaurant is typically in a “work for hire” situation. While they may create an incredible recipe, when they make it at work, it becomes the restaurant's property. However, nothing can stop the same chef from altering the recipe later on and claiming the new version as their own.

How do I come up with my own recipe? ›

Want to create your own delicious recipe? Here's how!
  1. Step 1: investigate your ingredients and what types of dishes they could make. ...
  2. Step 2: Think about what ingredients will taste good together. ...
  3. Step 3: How do you want your ingredients cooked? ...
  4. Step 4: Think about the steps to prepare each ingredient.

How much do you need to change a recipe to make it your own? ›

The general rule [...] is that three major [emphasis added] changes are required to make a recipe "yours." However, even if you make such changes, it is a professional courtesy to acknowledge the source of or inspiration for the recipe.

Why does restaurant food taste better than home cooking? ›

One of these factors is the ingredients and equipment. Lack of ingredients or the special type of kitchen equipment can affect the taste of food. As the restaurant has access to all these, home cooking is at a loss here. Time preparation is another factor.

How do you cook like a 5 star restaurant? ›

TIPS TO COOK LIKE A MICHELIN STARRED CHEF
  1. 1 Mise en place. This French culinary phrase refers to carefully preparing all your ingredients before starting to cook. ...
  2. 2 Nothing goes to waste. ...
  3. 3 Know your seasonings. ...
  4. 4 Invest in proper kitchenware. ...
  5. 5 Taste everything.
Jun 2, 2020

Does Gordon Ramsay own his restaurants? ›

Founded in 1997, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants comprises the restaurant business of acclaimed chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author Gordon Ramsay. It is one of the largest privately-owned restaurant groups in the UK, with additional restaurants internationally across the USA, France, Dubai, Singapore and more.

What dish does Gordon Ramsay make? ›

Gordon Ramsay's best recipes include Beef Wellington, Coq au Vin, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Piccata, Rack of Lamb, Baked Salmon with Lemon and Dill, Shrimp Scampi, Beef and Guinness Stew, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Beef Burgundy.

Who makes the most at a restaurant? ›

In the restaurant industry, the highest paying positions are typically managerial or executive roles.

What is the first thing you should do when you get a recipe? ›

Read the recipe.

Take a good look at the recipe. Don't just skim it; read it through from start to finish. As you read, visualize doing the steps, which will help when you're prepping and prevent that dreaded yikes-I'm-missing-an-ingredient moment.

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)
Apr 27, 2020

Can you legally own a recipe? ›

Recipes themselves are generally not protected by copyright. This is because they are considered to be a collection of facts and ideas, which are not copyrightable. However, the expression of the recipe can be protected by copyright. This includes the written instructions.

Is copying recipes illegal? ›

The first thing to understand is that recipes are not copyrightable. Copyright law protects original works of authorship, and while a recipe may be original, it is not an "original work of authorship." This means that anyone can freely copy and use a recipe without fear of infringement.

Is it cheaper to buy or make your own food? ›

Is It Cheaper to Cook or Eat Out? For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out.

Are homemade meals cheaper? ›

It is 5 times more expensive to order delivery from a restaurant than it is to cook at home. Meal kits are 3 times more expensive than cooking from scratch. When cooking at home, you'll save most money on carb-based meals (vs eating them at a restaurant).

What makes a dish restaurant quality? ›

The texture in the mouth reveals and accentuates how a dish tastes. A variety of textures will allow the dish to be appreciated in different ways (soft, hard, moist, crunchy, crisp), but also its consistency (fatty, dry, moist) as well as the temperature (hot, cold, warm, iced or boiling).

How do you make high quality food? ›

First and foremost, consider quality in everything you buy. The fresher and less traveled your produce, meat and fish are, the better flavor you'll get, and the more nutritional value they'll retain. This goes for everything, not just produce. Think about your vinegars, oils, herbs and spices as well.

How do restaurants make food so good? ›

Chefs season at every step of the cooking process

For restaurant chefs, this means seasoning at every step and tasting as they go to ensure each component tastes great. Salt can help coax the natural flavor out of ingredients like vegetables and meat, while herbs and spices infuse them with additional flavors.

Is restaurant food as healthy as home cooked food? ›

It's proven to be healthier

Some studies suggest that people who cook more often, rather than get take-out, have an overall healthier diet. These studies also show that restaurant meals typically contain higher amounts of sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and overall calories than home-cooked meals.

References

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