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117 Copycat Recipes That Taste Just Like The Real Thing

Anything they can do, you can do better.

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crumbl sugar cookie copycat topped with chocolate icing and chocolate pieces
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We LOVE copycats here at Delish. Not only is it fun to try and figure out just exactly what makes our favorite restaurant dishes as good as they are, there are myriad other reasons to make these imitation recipes at home: cost efficiency, being able to control ingredients, being able to try foods from places located too far away (or that are closed certain days of the week, ahem Chick-fil-A), avoiding shrinking portion sizes... the list goes on. We’ve got tons of options here, from sit-down spots like The Cheesecake Factory to caffeine hot-spot Starbucks, with tons of fast-casual and fast food in between. Check out our list of 117 copycat recipes for ideas, and get ready to never have to deal with the drive-thru or not getting the good booth again. 😉

While we try not to eat out for every meal, with this list of restaurant copycats, you could enjoy a homemade meal that tastes just like your favorite take-out or to-go spots for every meal of the day. Looking for a fun breakfast option? Try our McDonald's McGriddle, our Starbucks vanilla bean Frappuccino, our Cracker Barrel hash brown casserole, or our IHOP pancakes. Need something extra yummy for lunch? You could go with a burger or sandwich, like our copycat Steak 'N Shake Frisco melt, our Carl’s Jr. bacon Western cheeseburger, our Panera chicken frontega panini, or our copycat Big Mac. Leaning for something a little lighter? Check out our Chipotle chicken burrito bowls, our Panera green goddess Cobb salad, or our Copycat Cheesecake Factory Mexican tortilla salad.

Is your family clamoring to go out to eat for dinner, but you want to make a home-cooked meal? Satisfy everyone with dishes like our CPK BBQ chicken pizza, our Olive Garden 5-cheese ziti al forno, our Cheesecake Factory shrimp scampi, or our Panda Express orange chicken. Feel free to mix and match when it comes to sides too—Texas Roadhouse rolls with Olive Garden madeira chicken, our P.F. Changs wonton soup alongside our '90s mall-style Instant Pot bourbon chicken, Chili's Nashville hot mozzarella sticks alongside some copycat pizza Hot Pockets… It’s your restaurant, er, kitchen, so make your meals exactly how you want them!

And don’t think we forgot about dessert. We’ve got all the best bakery and supermarket cookies, as well as some of the most spectacular restaurant (and theme park, we love you Disney!) desserts too. Love chocolate chip cookies? You’re in luck—we’ve included copycats from DoubleTree Inn, Levain, Mrs. Fields, Tate’s, and more here. Not a chocolate chip fan? Check out our Crumbl chilled sugar cookies, our Pepperidge Farm’s milanos and chessmen cookies, or our Carr’s ginger lemon creams instead. Craving cake? The Cheesecake Factory’s cheesecakes are the BEST—we’ve got the OG cheesecake, a mango- Key lime version, and an Oreo version you’re going to love. Feel free to get creative with these—decorate them exactly like they do, or have fun with it and change it up.

1

McDonald's Filet-O-Fish

fried fish in a sandwich
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Invented in 1962, the Filet-O-Fish was the first non-burger sandwich to be added to the McDonald’s menu. It was developed because of falling hamburger sales on meat-abstaining Fridays leading up to Easter. Fast forward to today, it’s one of the core items on the menu. TMYK!

Get the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish recipe.

2

Copycat Hawaiian Punch

red beverage poured into a cup with an umbrella
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Store-bought Hawaiian Punch has only 3% juice, and its second ingredient, after water, is high-fructose corn syrup. If that's uh, not your cup of tea punch, you've got to try this recipe. It doesn't even have to be bright red if you don't want (but if you do, a few drops of food coloring will do ya).

Get the Copycat Hawaiian Punch recipe.

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3

Copycat Chili's Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks

mozzarella sticks covered in hot sauce
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These mozzarella sticks are glazed in the sauce you’d normally see on Nashville hot chicken. It’s spicy and smoky with a little bit of sweetness. Serve these with ranch dressing to help mellow out the spiciness of the sauce—whether you're at Chili’s or at home, it's a must.

Get the Copycat Chili's Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks recipe.

4

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup

chicken tortilla soup in bowls topped with sour cream, tortilla strips, cheese, and cilantro
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Chick-fil-A’s chicken tortilla soup boasts a (very!) dedicated fan base, and we can see why: It’s packed with rotisserie chicken, beans, corn, and a blend of cozy spices, making it the perfect comfort food to warm up with. Whipping up a homemade version is the next best thing.

Get the Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.

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5

Copycat Pizza Hot Pockets

cheese and pepperoni stuffed in baked dough
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

To recreate the beloved pizza Hot Pocket, we used canned pizza dough, store-bought marinara, cheese, and pepperoni. The egg wash gives the crust a beautiful shine and helps it get golden brown. It's the upgrade the classic snack needs.

Get the Copycat Pizza Hot Pockets recipe.

6

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

meatloaf topped with sauce and fresh herbs
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

While you might think meatloaf is meatloaf, lots of Americans really love the version sold at Cracker Barrel restaurants. Made with ground beef, crushed Ritz crackers, a sweet–tangy ketchup glaze, and more, this Cracker Barrel copycat version is well worth making. Here’s how to make their recipe at home, no road trip required.

Get the Cracker Barrel Meatloaf recipe.

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7

Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein

copycat panda express chow mein
ANDREW BUI

The exact origins of chow mein are not entirely clear, but historians suspect this dish was born in northern China millennia ago. Thousands of years later, it’s been popularized by a beloved chain with a cute panda mascot. Now you can make it at home!

Get the Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein recipe.

8

Copycat Chobani Yogurt Protein Drinks

blended protein yogurt drink in multiple flavors
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Getting all your protein in doesn’t have to be a wallet-busting nightmare—these protein-packed, 5-minute copycat Chobani yogurt drinks will help you start the day off feeling full, focused, and fiscally responsible.

Get the Copycat Chobani Yogurt Protein Drinks recipe.

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9

Chocolate Crumb Cake Crumbl Cookie Copycat

crumbl sugar cookie copycat topped with chocolate icing and chocolate pieces
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Imagine biting into a warm, soft cookie that perfectly balances rich chocolate and the subtle warmth of cinnamon that a crumb or coffee cake is known for...this recipe makes it a reality. This isn’t just any cookie, either—it’s a decadent experience, capturing the essence of Crumbl’s famous chocolate cookie.

Get the Chocolate Crumb Cake Crumbl Cookie Copycat recipe.

10

Copycat Egg McMuffin

copycat egg mcmuffin
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

When the McDonald’s drive-through window is closed, you can rely on this easy-to-follow copycat recipe for backup. All you need are some English muffins, Canadian bacon, American cheese, and eggs!

Get the Copycat Egg McMuffin recipe.

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11

Copycat Olive Garden Limoncello Lemonade

copycat olive garden limoncello lemonade
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

The recipe is very simple, but we do recommend that you use limoncello AND a citrus-infused vodka. What we’re looking for here is to build lemon flavor in every step.

Get the Copycat Olive Garden Limoncello Lemonade recipe.

12

Copycat Steak 'N Shake Frisco Melt

copycat steak n shake frisco melt with fries
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If two butter-smothered toasted slices of sourdough bread with a tangy creamy dressing on one slice and some classic caramelized onions on the other, with the pièce de résistance smashed burger with two slices of silky melted cheese in the middle sounds good to you, then this is about to become your new favorite lunch star.

Get the Copycat Steak 'N Shake Frisco Melt recipe.

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13

Copycat Big Mac

two patties stacked between three buns with melted cheese, lettuce, onions, and special sauce
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: TIFFANY SCHLEIGH

This is my stab at making a copycat version of the classic at home: “I’m lovin’ it,” and I know you will too! The best part? Don’t love pickles? Want a different kind of cheese? Prefer lettuce wraps to a bun? With a copycat, you can “have it your way” (including using whichever fast food jingles you want 😉!).

Get the Copycat Big Mac recipe.

14

Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets

copycat chick fil a nuggets
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY

Chick-fil-A's lightly breaded morsels of golden chicken breast take the top spot for people's favorite fast food nuggets. This copycat recipe allows you the joys of eating incredible chicken nuggets without having to step foot into a restaurant—and you'll save a couple of bucks too.

Get the Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets recipe.

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15

Copycat Trader Joe's Green Goddess Salad Dressing

copycat trader joe's green goddess dressing
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

A fan favorite at Trader Joe’s is their green goddess salad dressing. It’s simple and fresh with bright lemon flavor and lots of creaminess (thanks avocados!). It’s no wonder they can't keep it in stock. Next time your local store runs out, make our copycat version instead.

Get the Copycat Trader Joe's Green Goddess Salad Dressing recipe.

16

Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites

whipped eggs and cottage cheese blended with crispy bacon or sauteed kale and mushroom and steamed in the oven until fluffy
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Giving cold hard cash to Starbucks seems far-fetched in this economy, even if that cash is in exchange for their fluffy, cheesy, protein-packed egg bites. Lucky for you (and your wallet), we've figured out a perfect dupe for the iconic breakfast bites that will make you swear you shelled out $5 for a serving.

Get the Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites recipe.

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17

Copycat Cheesecake Factory Shrimp Scampi

copycat cheesecake factory shrimp scampi
PHOTO & FOOD STYLING: JOEL GOLDBERG

This Cheesecake Factory staple is a seafood lover’s dream! The richness of the cream sauce is balanced by the acid of the tomatoes and the herbaceousness of the fresh basil. To top it all off, you'll add some golden breadcrumbs for a bit of crispy texture. Mmm.

Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Shrimp Scampi recipe.

18

Crumbl Cookies & Cream Cookies

cookie topped with white icing and a mini oreo
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Today, with 950 locations in the United States and a menu of rotating cookie flavors, Crumbl and their thick, chewy cookies are here, there, and nearly everywhere. But what if you want to make these legendary treats at home? Here are some tips for making your own copycat version of Crumbl’s cookies & cream cookies.

Get the Crumbl Cookies & Cream Cookies recipe.

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19

Copycat Klondike Bars

copycat klondike bars
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING:MAKINZE GORE

Klondike Bars are a freezer case staple, but what if we told you that it’s easy to make a homemade version with a simple no-churn ice cream and a two-ingredient DIY chocolate topping? IT'S TRUE.

Get the Copycat Klondike Bars recipe.

20

Copycat Olive Garden Meatballs

copycat olive garden meatballs with spaghetti in a bowl
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Aside from their signature breadsticks and their creamy zuppa toscana, one of Olive Garden’s most iconic dishes is their meatballs. Sauced in bright marinara and perched atop a glossy mound of spaghetti, they transform into a showstopping entrée that still manages to deliver those down-home comfort food vibes.

Get the Copycat Olive Garden Meatballs recipe.

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