21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (2024)

    With restaurants temporarily closed, make these signature dishes in your own kitchen.

    by Hannah LoewentheilBuzzFeed Staff

    We're counting down the days until our favorite restaurants are able to reopen their doors to sit-down service, but in the meantime, you can make some of your favorite dishes at home with these copycat recipes.

    NBC

    1. Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets With Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (2)

    Bake Me Some Sugar / Via bakemesomesugar.com

    The secret to this perfectly moist fried chicken: pickle juice. Chicken tenders get brined in pickle juice, dredged in egg and flour, and fried until golden brown and crispy. Get the recipe for copycat Chick-fil-A nuggets here.

    2. Copycat Applebee's Tequila Lime Chicken

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (3)

    The Girl on Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

    These chicken breasts get marinated in a zesty mixture of chili powder, lime juice, garlic, and, of course, tequila. Then they're served over spiced rice and topped with pico de gallo, avocado, and tortilla strips. Get the recipe for copycat Applebee's tequila lime chicken here.

    3. Copycat P.F. Chang's Mongolian Beef

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (4)

    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    The key to this recipe is the five-ingredient sauce made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and vegetable oil. Serve it over rice with a healthy sprinkle of scallions for good measure. Get the recipe for copycat P.F. Chang's Mongolian beef here.

    Blue Jean Chef / Via bluejeanchef.com

    You don't need a ton of fancy ingredients to make this signature dish. You'll need a Vidalia onion, eggs, milk, and a handful of spices. This version gets a twist, cooked in the air fryer instead of fried in oil. Get the recipe for copycat Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion here.

    6. Copycat P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (6)

    Kirbie Cravings / Via kirbiecravings.com

    Bibb or romaine lettuce gets filled with a mixture of ground chicken, water chestnuts, mushrooms, and scallions tossed in a homemade hoisin-soy sauce. If you don't have ground chicken, try making these wraps with pork, beef, shrimp, or even tofu. Get the recipe for copycat P.F. Chang's chicken lettuce wraps here.

    The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

    There's nothing too difficult about whipping up this hearty Tuscan-inspired soup — made with Italian sausage, potatoes, chicken broth, cream, and kale — at home. Get the recipe for copycat Olive Garden zuppa toscana here.

    8. Copycat Panera Bread Mac 'n' Cheese

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (7)

    Yellow Bliss Road / Via yellowblissroad.com

    This super-luscious mac 'n' cheese is cooked entirely on the stove top, so it's quick and simple. Don't overlook the hot sauce and Dijon mustard, two ingredients you probably wouldn't think to put in your mac. Get the recipe for copycat Panera Bread mac 'n' cheese here.

    9. Copycat Outback Steakhouse Coconut Shrimp

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (8)

    Six Sisters Stuff / Via sixsistersstuff.com

    Start with frozen shrimp; coat them with a mixture of flour, cornstarch, and shredded coconut; fry them in oil; and serve with an easy, four-ingredient dipping sauce made with hot sauce, orange marmalade, Dijon mustard, and honey. Get the recipe for copycat Outback Steakhouse coconut shrimp here.

    10. Copycat McDonald's Sausage and Egg McMuffin

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (9)

    Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com

    Made with an English muffin, egg, American cheese, and homemade sausage patties seasoned with sage, thyme, and onion powder, the humble McMuffin just might be the greatest breakfast sandwich creation out there. Get the recipe for the copycat McDonald's sausage and egg McMuffin here.

    Savory Bites Recipes / Via savorybitesrecipes.com

    It doesn't get much more decadent than creamy fettuccine Alfredo, but Olive Garden's version is in a league of its own. Making it requires little more than butter, cream, Parmesan, cream cheese, your favorite pasta, and some spices. Get the recipe for copycat Olive Garden fettuccine Alfredo here.

    The Baker Mama / Via thebakermama.com

    Don't skimp on the homemade biscuits. After all, they come together with just five ingredients. The chicken is baked from start to finish in the oven, but it still achieves that delightful fried texture thanks to a coating of buttermilk, flour, and bread crumbs. Get the recipe for copycat Chick-fil-A mini chicken biscuits here.

    Layers of Happiness / Via layersofhappiness.com

    This thin pizza crust doesn't contain yeast, so there's no waiting for it to rise, and you can satisfy your pizza craving in a matter of minutes. If you don't have a pizza stone, it's not the end of the world. Cook your pizza on a preheated baking sheet. Get the recipe for copycat Domino's thin-crust pizza here.

    14. Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (10)

    Life In The Lofthouse / Via life-in-the-lofthouse.com

    Make sure to use burrito-sized flour tortillas for these breakfast wraps, which are large enough to contain the cheesy beef filling. Nacho cheese gives these wraps extra decadence, and corn tortilla chips add that satisfying crunch. Get the recipe for the copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme here.

    15. Copycat Arby's Beef and Cheddar

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (11)

    Oh Sweet Basil / Via ohsweetbasil.com

    A simple sandwich of sliced roast beef and American cheese on an onion bun gets topped with a tangy sauce made with ketchup, garlic powder, and onion powder. Get the recipe for copycat Arby's beef and cheddar here.

    16. Copycat Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad

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    My Organized Chaos / Via myorganizedchaos.net

    Our minds are blown that such a simple salad can be so satisfying. Maybe it's the chicken tenders, but more likely it's the homemade honey Dijon dressing. Get the recipe for copycat Applebee's Oriental chicken salad here.

    Brown Eyed Baker / Via browneyedbaker.com

    The marinade makes all the difference for this moist and flavorful chicken. It's made with adobo sauce, olive oil, ancho chile powder, cumin, and oregano. Serve it with rice and a scoop of guacamole. Get the recipe for copycat Chipotle chicken here.

    18. Copycat Shake Shack Burgers

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (13)

    Umami Girl / Via umamigirl.com

    What separates Shake Shack's burgers from the rest is the homemade sauce, which calls for nothing more than some pantry staples: ketchup, mayo, Dijon mustard, dill pickle brine, and spicy cayenne pepper. Get the recipe for copycat Shake Shack burgers here.

    The Chunky Chef / Via thechunkychef.com

    With just three ingredients — vanilla ice cream, Nesquik powder, and milk — there's absolutely no reason not to whip up a delicious Frosty at home. Get the recipe for the copycat Wendy's Frosty here.

    20. Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (14)

    The Anthony Kitchen / Via theanthonykitchen.com

    These buttery and garlicky biscuits require little more than the ingredients that are already sitting in your pantry. You'll need buttermilk, baking powder, baking soda, flour, cheddar cheese, and some spices. Get the recipe for copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits here.

    Butter Your Biscuit / Via butteryourbiscuit.com

    Butter, flour, chicken stock, whole milk, and sharp cheddar cheese make this one of the most indulgent and heartwarming bowls of soup around. Get the recipe for copycat Panera Bread broccoli cheese soup here.

    21 Copycat Recipes To Make Your Favorite Restaurant Foods At Home (2024)

    FAQs

    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.

    When was the first recipe written? ›

    The earliest known written recipes date to 1730 BC and were recorded on cuneiform tablets found in Mesopotamia. Other early written recipes date from approximately 1600 BC and come from an Akkadian tablet from southern Babylonia. There are also works in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depicting the preparation of food.

    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.

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

    First, you take the recipe that you intend to cook and read it thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the timing, techniques, equipment, and ingredients you will need. Second, you pull all of the necessary equipment and arrange it near your cooking station, so that it is at the ready.

    Can you legally own a recipe? ›

    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.

    Is copying recipes illegal? ›

    Can You Copyright 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.

    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 is the oldest food dish in the world? ›

    Nettle Pudding

    Originating in 6000 BCE, England; it is the oldest dish of the world that's rich in nutrients. Nettle pudding is made with stinging nettles (wild leafy plant), breadcrumbs, suet, onions, and other herbs and spices.

    What is the oldest food known to man? ›

    Here is the answer for you! Bread is considered to be first prepared probably some 30000+ years back and is one of the very first foods made by mankind. The earliest proof of making bread loaf occurred with the Natufian hunter-gatherers that lived in the Levant.

    What is the first food ever cooked? ›

    The detailed study of fish teeth unearthed at the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site, situated on the edge of the ancient lake Hula, revealed that some of our early ancestors — most likely hom*o erectus — were able to cook fish, said study author Dr.

    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).

    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.

    How is cooking at home different from cooking in a restaurant? ›

    The most universal difference is that restaurants tend to use more fat and more salt than a typical home cook. More oil in the pan for frying. More butter in the sauce. Restaurant cooks are more consistent with salting/seasoning than home cooks are.

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