Best Ever Restaurant Copycat Recipes

Cravings for your favorite restaurant dishes can just about drive you mad. But with our list of Copycat Recipes at your fingertips, you can enjoy your restaurant favorites in the comfort of your home for a fraction of the cost.

Copycat Recipes

There are some things I can not seem to get enough of… I mean, I used to eat at Red Lobster just for the biscuits!!

By now, you all know of my love affair with Olive Garden, but there are so many more copycat recipes from restaurants and fast food joints to choose from.

I’ve built up quite a collection over the years so I can chow down on my restaurant favorites any time, any day, without ever leaving the house — and so can you!!

That’s why I’m sharing our list of the best ever copycat restaurant recipes, from appetizers and soups to entrees and even desserts.

Is there something missing from our list? A recipe you just have to have? Let us know in the comments and maybe you’ll see it in the future!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

Click on the BOLD recipe title, and it will open each one in a new tab. Click on the center of the image to Pin it to Pinterest.

Best Copycat Recipe for Appetizers

While these certainly make excellent starters for parties and dinner guests, they’re also great for snacking or a light meal too!

Applebee’s Spinach Artichoke Dip combines simple, fresh ingredients for mouthwatering flavor and one tasty appetizer. This copycat recipe will have you hooked the first time you make it. 

Our copycat version of Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella tastes even better than the original! Fresh, creamy mozzarella is coated in crispy, garlicky breadcrumbs for maximum crunch and flavor. Pair with all of your favorite dipping sauces!

Cheesecake Factory Avocado Egg Rolls are one of our favorite copycat restaurant recipes! Serve them with Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce, and your guests will be begging for more!

Make Outback’s Bloomin’ Onion at home by frying large sweet onions in a flavorful batter. It’s like crispy onion rings that you can share — don’t forget the sauce! Plus, this copycat recipe comes together in just about 30 minutes.

Soup & Salad

Whether you’re looking for a light meal or a hearty side, these copycat recipes for soup and salad are just the thing!

Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup is a comforting cheesy blend of tender veggies and spices for the perfect, velvety bite. One of the best copycat recipes for colder weather!

This homemade version of Olive Garden Minestrone is loaded with plenty of veggies, plus tender beans and pasta, to fill you right up! It’s ready in just 30 minutes and makes enough for leftovers too.

Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad is the ultimate flex dish! Include chicken to make it a meal, or enjoy it as a fresh, sweet, and nutty side without the meat.

What’s better than Outback Baked Potato Soup? A bowl of our homemade version, of course! Enjoy this one pot copycat recipe for soup made with simple, fresh ingredients.

Fast Food Favorites

Skip that mile-long drive-thru line and whip up your favorite order at home with our best copycat recipes. They’re sure to satisfy your late-night cravings!

Taco Bell Mexican Pizza is one of the most popular menu items, but it sometimes disappears without warning! Now, you can make it at home whenever you want — and this recipe makes 4 servings.

It’s so easy to recreate Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese at home, that it’s one of our favorite copycat recipes! Enjoy a bowl on its own or as a warm side for your homemade chicken sandwich!

This homemade Whataburger Patty Melt features two cheesy burger patties topped with caramelized onions and signature sauce, stacked onto crunchy Texas Toast. Add a side of zesty fries and a bottle of cherry cola!

Wendy’s Chili was one of our very first copycat restaurant recipes, and it has stood the test of time! Packed with beef and beans, plus green chiles for some heat, you can make it on the stove in just 30 minutes.

Best Copycat Recipes for Dinner

Finally, the main event!! Whether you’re looking for savory proteins or an all-in-one meal, these are the copycat recipes from restaurants that we get asked for the most!

Copycat Cheesecake Factory Bang Bang Shrimp is quick and easy to make and absolutely bursting with flavor. With this recipe at your fingertips, you can enjoy bang bang shrimp whenever the cravings strike — and in your slippers! — at a fraction of the price.

Chipotle’s Famous Barbacoa is the Mexican barbecue of my dreams. Seared beef is slow-cooked in a spectacular spicy adobo sauce, creating the most tender Mexican shredded beef. Even better, you can make it in the crockpot!

Nothing says comfort food like Cracker Barrel Meatloaf. One of our heartiest copycat recipes, this meatloaf is made with crackers and the best glaze you’ve ever had! Serve over creamy mashed potatoes with your favorite veggies.

Chili’s Monterey Chicken is one of the best copycat recipes for the whole family, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes! This skillet dinner will save you time on busy nights, and it’s kid-approved too.

Side Dishes

Often overlooked, restaurant side dishes can make or break the whole meal! These are the ones we come back to again and again, whether it’s a weeknight meal or a holiday feast.

Chipotle’s Cilantro Lime Rice is so versatile — enjoy as a side, add it to burritos, or use it to make a bowl! Enjoy fluffy, flavorful rice in just 30 minutes.

Soft, buttery, and simply addicting, you’ll want to make these Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls as often as you can! This easy recipe makes 4 dozen rolls so no one needs to fight over the last one.

Everyone’s got their go-to recipe for Thanksgiving, but Boston Market Copycat Sweet Potato Casserole always steals the show! Creamy sweet potatoes are topped with marshmallows and brown sugar streusel for the ultimate in decadent side dishes.

Dessert Copycat Restaurant Recipes

We’re usually way too stuffed to even look at the dessert menu, so copycat recipes let us enjoy some sweets when we have the room.

Cheesecake Factory Key Lime Cheesecake is tart and tangy with a tender graham cracker crust. The fluffy whipped topping really sets this baked cheesecake recipe over the top!

Why share a slice when you can make a whole pan? Olive Garden Chocolate Brownie Lasagna is the ultimate dessert for the chocoholics in your life, featuring layers of brownie, cream cheese frosting, and even more chocolate on top.

Make Cake Batter Ice Cream just like Cold Stone with this easy 5-minute recipe. Each bite is so sweet and creamy — all you have to do is wait for it to freeze!

Dole Whip is an iconic Disney dessert, and this homemade version is sweet, creamy, and made with real ingredients. Enjoy this frozen pineapple treat for the perfect touch of magic on a hot summer day.

Breakfast

You didn’t think we’d miss the most important meal of the day, did you? Whether you want something sweet, savory, or easy to grab on the way out the door… we’ve got you covered!

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls feature ribbons of thick cinnamon-sugar filling and a cream cheese frosting that you’re sure to remember long after the cinnamon roll is gone. It’s one of our top copycat recipes for the holidays!

One thing you can always count on — no matter the season — is the Starbucks Blueberry Muffin! Make a dozen to enjoy at home, featuring that signature crunchy, sweet layer that makes every bite extra scrumptious.

Denny’s Moons Over My Hammy is the ultimate diner breakfast sandwich, and now you can make it at home! With layers of juicy ham, fluffy eggs, and plenty of gooey cheese on toasted bread, it’s a clear winner for breakfast or brunch!

Sauce & Dressing Copycat Recipes from Restaurants

One of the best budget hacks is to order your favorite takeout dressing or sauce and make the dish itself at home. Now, you don’t even have to do that! Make your favorites from start to finish without ever leaving the kitchen.

Creamy Olive Garden Alfredo is always a winner on pasta and veggies, but you can use it for so much more! Try it as a dip for appetizers or mix it into casseroles. This recipe makes plenty, and you can freeze it for later too!

There never seems to be enough Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce, so why not make a big batch yourself? With just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of your time, you can enjoy it with all your takeout favorites or as a party dip!

Copycat McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce tastes just like the real thing, and you can add as much as you want to your burger! Tangy and creamy, this special sauce is also tasty with fries, veggie sticks, or as a dressing for pasta salad.

Panera Green Goddess Dressing packs a punch of herb flavor into a light, creamy topping for salads, chicken, and more. Make this copycat recipe at home in just a few minutes!

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Originally published July 2014, updated and republished April 2024

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