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

How to develop recipes for a restaurant? ›

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

How to make a recipe from scratch? ›

Tips for recipe writing
  1. Write ingredients in the order in which they'll be used! ...
  2. Write the directions in an order that makes sense. ...
  3. If your recipe has multiple "recipes" within it, separate the ingredients and step for each. ...
  4. Offer additional methods or substitutions. ...
  5. Share when to know a recipe is ready.
May 4, 2022

How to change a recipe to make it your own? ›

On the same note, adding or removing ingredients in a dramatic way would help make the recipe your own. Pro tip: When it comes to herbs and seasoning, simply increasing or decreasing the amount you use doesn't make the recipe an original. But trading cinnamon sugar for Old Bay definitely would be a unique twist.

How do you make home cooking taste like restaurant food? ›

5 Hacks to make your home food taste like it's from a restaurant
  1. Hack #1: Base gravies all the way!
  2. Hack #2: Cook on a high flame.
  3. Hack #3: Brown your onions, golden brown!
  4. Hack #4: Cook like calories don't count.
  5. Hack #5: Combinations matter and presentation goes a long way!
Nov 7, 2022

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

How to create a unique recipe? ›

Here's what I find useful:
  1. Try cooking techniques you've never tried before. Make them up if you have to!
  2. Try ingredients or genres of food you've never tried before. ...
  3. Eat at restaurants that inspire you. ...
  4. Try recreating recipes from chefs that inspire you. ...
  5. Cook with a friend.
Feb 18, 2021

How do chefs create their own recipes? ›

Every chef has their own creative process and preferred method for documenting their ideas — ideas which eventually morph into recipes. This can range from notebooks, scrap paper and post-it notes, to note apps like Evernote and Apple Note, Google Docs and countless other ways.

What is a recipe formula? ›

A formula is your recipe, but converted to exact weights. These weights are then converted into percentages, to make sure you have the exact amount of each ingredient every time you (or your co-packer, or your employees) manufacture your product. It is often based on pounds, grams or other weight measurements.

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

Start with the ingredient list. List ingredients with exact measurements and in the order in which they will be used. Leaving out ingredients is the most common mistake in recipe writing. Listing them in the order used is a way to avoid that.

Can you get sued for copying a recipe? ›

Recipes are usually not protected by copyright due to the idea-expression dichotomy. The idea-expression dichotomy creates a dividing line between ideas, which are not protected by copyright law, and the expression of those ideas, which can be protected by copyright law.

Is there an app to write your own recipes? ›

Cookmate lets you create your own digital cookbook. Build your own recipe database by gathering recipes on the web and using the import features. It is you and your own cookery!

How do you get the DIY recipes you want? ›

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 to make food look restaurant quality? ›

To make your dish look restaurant-standard:
  1. use white or plain coloured plates.
  2. put any sauces under the meat or in a little jug on the side.
  3. only use edible garnishes.
  4. always wipe the rim of the plate so it's clean.

Why does restaurant food taste better than home cooking? ›

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.

How can I eat like a restaurant at home? ›

Dinner At Home Can Feel Like A Restaurant With These Tips
  1. Plan the menu. Lisegagne/E+ via Getty Images. ...
  2. Go to the store. ...
  3. Prep the food ahead of time. ...
  4. Create a special playlist. ...
  5. Use your favorite table linens. ...
  6. Break out the china. ...
  7. Decorate the table with flowers. ...
  8. Print out menus.
Sep 2, 2020

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