Have you ever been in a restaurant and wondered how you could possibly replicate the delicious goodness in your mouth? This happens to me just about every time I go out to eat.
Luckily for people like us, there’s a little internet trend called “copycat recipes.” What this means is that there are whole online communities dedicated to knocking off popular restaurant recipes, making them easy to make at home. What this really means is that you don’t have to spend $20 or more every time you want high-quality restaurant food.
If you happen to be a Pinterest user, you already know what I’m talking about —these Pinterest copycat favorites are being repinned like crazy.
1. Cheesecake Factory red velvet cheesecake recipe
Image: Domesticated duch*ess
Yes, there is a god, and he wants to bless you with a delectable Cheesecake Factory cheesecake recipe you can make at home. The Domesticated duch*ess simplifies this diner favorite by incorporating a box of Duncan Hines Red Velvet cake mix. Genius.
2. Chick-fil-A nuggets recipe
Image: Damn Delicious
Have you seen the line that wraps around Chick-fil-A every time they open a new one in a neighborhood? I rest my case. These copycat Chick-fil-A nuggets can save you the drive-thru headache with a total cook time of just 30 minutes.
3. Chili’s Southwestern egg rolls recipe
Image: Cake & Allie
For all the times when you want to feed your Chili’s addiction but don’t want to admit you eat at a popular restaurant chain way more often than you should. Cake & Allie’s ingenious Chili’s hack yields 48 mini or 24 regular Southwestern egg rolls with a side of blended avocado ranch dip.
4. IHOP buttermilk pancakes recipe
Image: Cookin Up North
Way back in high school, my husband and I both worked at trusty ole IHOP, and we still never figured out their fluffy pancake recipe. (Thank you, internet.) For being one of “America’s Most Wanted Recipes,” IHOP’s signature pancakes are easy to re-create with just a few key ingredients.
5. Olive Garden salad dressing recipe
Image: Family Fresh Meals
You may not be human if you don’t inhale Olive Garden’s salad. Keep this quickie copycat salad dressing recipe on hand to make your own bottomless salad at home when you don’t feel like schlepping the entire family to the OG.
6. Panera Bread broccoli cheese soup recipe
Image: The Recipe Critic
While I cannot confirm or deny, I am fairly certain people have killed for Panera’s broccoli cheese soup before —or at least thought about it. Save all that cheesy goodness for yourself with a perfect Panera copycat that takes only 45 minutes.
7. P.F. Chang’s sesame chicken recipe
Image: Baked in the South
P.F. Chang’s is one of my all-time favorite restaurants, but dining there seven nights a week can get a wee bit pricy. Mouthwatering P.F. Chang’s sesame chicken may require a little extra prep work at home, but as Rhiannon of Baked in the South says, it’s more than worth it.
8. Red Lobster shrimp scampi recipe
Image: Food.com
Just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, I find out that Red Lobster’s unreasonably delicious shrimp scampi recipe has been leaked online. For such a rich dish, the recipe is surprisingly simple —it requires only nine ingredients.
9. Starbucks frozen caramel macchiato recipe
Image: Around My Family Table
Well, now I can die happy —or at least die caffeinated —drinking my lifelong Starbucks favorite. Master this Starbucks drink at home, made with espresso or strong coffee, and save yourself $5 a day on your latte habit.
10. T.G.I. Friday’s baked potato skins recipe
Image: CopyKat
Kitschy as it is, T.G.I. Friday’s will always hold a special place in my heart because their food is so consistently delicious. Get down on one of Friday’s most popular appetizers (without leaving the house) with just 10 minutes of prep time and six ingredients.
11. Wendy’s Frosty recipe
Image: Creations by Kara
Take a moment to collect yourself, because this is some next-level Frosty hacking right here. DIY blogger Kara’s copycat recipe looks and tastes just like the Wendy’s original, made by churning sweetened condensed milk, Cool Whip and chocolate milk in an ice cream maker.
More copycat recipes
Copycat Reese’s peanut butter eggsHomemade copycat candy barsCopycat Chipotle Sofritas are so easy to make at home
