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48 Copycat Recipes from Your Favorite Chain Restaurants
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Not in the mood to go out? No problem. These recipes make it easy to enjoy your favorite dishes whenever you want.
Our Best Copycat Recipes
Whether you’re in the mood for pizza, crispy fried chicken, onion-y sliders or a generous slice of cheesecake, there's no need to go out to satisfy your craving. We’ve worked hard to crack the code on some of the best chain restaurant dishes—so that you can enjoy them anytime you like. You’ll find all the recipes right here, starting with our take on Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin’ Onion. Not surprisingly, the chain wouldn't share the official recipe, but our test kitchen came up with a version that tastes just like the app you know and love.
©Food Stylist: Anne Disrude Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver
Inspired by Cracker Barrel: Copycat Hash Brown Casserole
This copycat hash brown casserole is an incredibly comforting side dish you'll want to make for both breakfast spreads and dinner parties alike. We opted to ditch the canned creamed soup and make a homemade cheese sauce instead. The result is a homey rendition of the classic Cracker Barrel dish.
Photo By: Kate Mathis
Inspired by T.G.I. Friday's: Almost-Famous Green Bean Fries
Crispy Green Bean Fries hit the menu in 2006, and T.G.I. Friday's customers went crazy. The beans are coated in a garlicky breading, fried and served with cucumber-wasabi ranch dip. They’re a top-seller these days, and fans like Karlyn Siegwarth from Pittsburgh have been begging us for the recipe. Reps in Carrollton, TX, wouldn’t give it up, so our chefs created this perfect copy.
Inspired by Moe's: Almost-Famous Steak Taco Salad
At the popular chain Moe's, the taco bowl alone has 390 calories and 26 grams of fat. But if you're addicted to Moe's Close Talker salad, don't despair: Chefs in Food Network Kitchen created this copycat with a slimmed-down shell that's baked instead of fried.
Photo By: Kang Kim
Inspired by Panera Bread: Almost-Famous Baked Potato Soup
For a place with a carb-forward name, Panera Bread sells a lot of soup: nearly 250 million cups per year. Broccoli Cheddar has been the chain’s perennial best seller, and the creamy Baked Potato Soup has never been far behind. The company has taken the potato soup off most menus permanently, and although we’re not sure why it disappeared, we have a fix: Our test kitchen chefs created this version you can make at home.
Inspired by The Cheesecake Factory: Almost-Famous Pumpkin Cheesecake
What to do when you really want a recipe and a restaurant won’t hand it over? At Food Network Kitchens, we try and try again until we figure it out. The Cheesecake Factory has had its signature recipes locked up tighter than a CIA brief since founder David Overton opened the original location in Beverly Hills in 1978. We asked—OK, begged—for the pumpkin cheesecake recipe, and when we couldn’t get it, we ordered the real thing online and reverse-engineered this copy. Try it yourself and see how we did!
Inspired by Olive Garden: Almost-Famous Garden Salad
About 150 million people will sit down for dinner at an Olive Garden this year, and here’s guessing that 149.9 million of them will gorge on all-you-can-eat salad and breadsticks before any of the food they actually ordered shows up. The stuff is addictive, which explains why so many of you wrote in asking for the recipe. We couldn’t get the tight-lipped staff at Olive Garden’s Orlando, FL, headquarters to give up their secret to Nancy Kahm from Omaha, Kristin Collier from Baltimore and everyone else who wrote. But we did the next best thing: Food Network Kitchens ordered a big batch of salad and breadsticks to go, then developed these tasty copies just for you.
Inspired by California Pizza Kitchen: Almost-Famous Barbecue Chicken Pizza
When California Pizza Kitchen's cofounders created their first menu back in 1985, they had a theory: Anything that makes a great sandwich will make an even better pizza. Not all the chain's sandwich-inspired pies have been a success (egg-salad pizza was a flop in the late '80s), but the combo of barbecue sauce and chicken on a crust turned out to be a winning formula.
Photo By: Kang Kim
Inspired by McDonald's: Almost-Famous Shamrock Shake
Green food for St. Patrick’s Day is a purely American tradition — thanks in part to McDonald’s. The chain dyed milkshakes green as a promotion in 1970 and is still cranking them out 50 years later. Shamrock Shakes have developed a bit of a cult following. Fans debate the flavor (it’s officially vanilla-mint, but some insist there’s a hint of lime) and frantically visit multiple locations to get their hands on one. Only certain spots sell them, and only in February and March. If you can’t find one, get your fix with this recipe from our test kitchen.
Inspired by IHOP: Almost-Famous Cheesecake Pancakes
In 2007, IHOP recipe developers did the unimaginable: They cut up a whole cheesecake, added chunks of it to pancake batter and topped the finished stack of flapjacks like a big dessert, with sweet strawberry sauce. The recipe is a big secret at IHOP headquarters, so Food Network Kitchen created this knockoff.
Photo By: Charles Masters
Inspired by Chi-Chi's: Almost-Famous Chimichangas
It has happened to all of us: A restaurant closes and just like that, a favorite dish is gone forever. For thousands of fans of the Tex-Mex chain Chi-Chi's that dish was the chimichanga: a big tortilla stuffed with beef, seafood or chicken, lettuce, jack cheese and salsa, and topped with a secret "zesty Mexi-sauce." Food Network Kitchen brings back this beloved dish from the restaurant graveyard.
Inspired by White Castle: White Castle-Style Sliders
White Castle was America's first fast food hamburger chain, and it's often credited with launching the country's burger obsession, with its small square steam-grilled sliders. They're sold in packs of four, sacks of 10 and even cases of 30. The company calls its fans "cravers" (Harold and Kumar of the 2004 cult movie weren't the only ones!), and every year new devotees are inducted into the Cravers Hall of Fame.
Photo By: RYAN DAUSCH
Inspired by Starbucks: Almost-Famous Mocha Frappes
It’s hard to believe, but 15 years ago coffee shops didn’t offer much in the way of cool summer drinks, aside from iced coffee or tea. It wasn’t until 1995 that the Frappuccino was born: At the request of customers, the manager at a Starbucks in Santa Monica, CA, started experimenting with a blender, mixing together espresso, milk and ice. The concoction became so popular that nearby stores started serving it, too, and once Starbucks headquarters got wind of the new hit drink, the company added mocha and coffee Frappuccinos to its menu — plus more than 40 flavors since then. Readers like Taylor Church from Purlear, NC, have been asking us to get the recipe, but Starbucks reps wouldn’t hand it over, so Food Network Kitchens blended this perfect copy.
Inspired by Chipotle: Almost-Famous Guacamole
We think we’ve cracked the code to Chipotle’s famous guacamole. The secret? Using equal parts fresh lemon and lime juice, which adds just enough brightness and tang. If you're feeling fancy, go all out and add a couple tablespoons of diced tomatoes.
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
Inspired by Chili's: Almost-Famous Molten Chocolate Cake
Most people think of one dish when they think of Chili’s: baby back ribs. Ever since that "I want my baby back..." jingle, ribs have been the star (along with comically oversized margaritas). But regulars covet something else: The Molten Chocolate Cake, oozing with warm chocolate ganache and topped with vanilla ice cream covered in a chocolate shell. The dessert debuted in 1998, and now Chili’s sells more than 6 million a year — not bad for a chain that started out as a lone Dallas hamburger joint. Readers like Nikki Lazzara from Park Ridge, IL, have been asking us how to make the cake, but Chili’s won’t give up the recipe. So our chefs created this perfect imitation.
Photo By: Jacob Snavely
Inspired by Red Robin: Almost-Famous Strawberry Lemonade
The burger chain Red Robin is famous for its unlimited steak fries, but regulars are even more excited about free refills of Freckled Lemonade, a bright red drink loaded with muddled strawberries. Diners go through about 420,000 gallons of the stuff every year — so much that Red Robin created a cocktail, a shake, cupcakes and even a pie inspired by the drink. Execs at the chain wouldn’t dream of spilling the recipe, so the chefs in Food Network Kitchens created this spot-on copy.
Photo By: Kang Kim ©2012, Kang Kim
Inspired by In-N-Out: Almost-Famous Animal-Style Burgers
No one knows how In-N-Out's Animal Style burger got its name, but customers have been ordering it since the '60s, even though it has never actually appeared on the menu. "Animal Style" is code for a patty grilled in mustard and served with lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions and an extra helping of the chain's signature sauce. Try them at home with Food Network Magazine's replica recipe.
Photo By: Kang Kim ©2012
Inspired by Sweetgreen: Copycat Guacamole Greens
This salad is inspired by a popular menu item at a healthy restaurant chain. We love it -- but we also love saving money. So set aside some time during your week to make this vinaigrette, which makes enough for about five salads. And if you're super ambitious, go ahead and prep enough ingredients for a week's worth of lunches.
Photo By: Tara Donne
Inspired by California Pizza Kitchen: Copycat Kung Pao Spaghetti
We've cracked the code on a beloved California Pizza Kitchen dish: Now you can Kung Pao your spaghetti at home in just 30 minutes. Tender chunks of stir-fried chicken are tossed with pasta, toasted peanuts and a sweet-and-spicy sauce.
Photo By: Matt Armendariz
Inspired by Chipotle: Almost-Famous Corn Salsa
Fans of Chipotle restaurants will wait in notoriously long lines for the chain's made-to-order burritos. Founder Steve Ells, a former San Francisco chef, hit on a magic formula with his concept for a mix-and-match taqueria: Ells came up with all the recipes himself, including this popular corn salsa. If you get lucky at the restaurant, your burrito maker will pile on a little extra.
Photo By: Kang Kim
Inspired by LongHorn Steakhouse: Almost-Famous Chocolate Mousse Cake
LongHorn Steakhouse is known for its cowboy-size portions, but fans of the chain somehow manage to save room for the Chocolate Stampede: a dark cocoa cake covered with two kinds of chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache, whipped cream, ice cream and fudge sauce. LongHorn created the dish 10 years ago to remedy a lack of chocolate on the menu, and now the place sells more than a million a year.
Photo By: Kang Kim
Inspired by P.F. Chang's: Almost-Famous Chicken Lettuce Wraps
P.F. Chang's wouldn't spill the secret recipe for its most popular dish, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, so the chefs at Food Network Kitchen created this spot-on knockoff. Serve the rice noodles separate from the lettuce leaves and for guests to wrap themselves — just like at the restaurant.
Inspired by Ikea: Almost-Famous Swedish Meatballs
Some people drive for hours to get to an Ikea store, and we know they aren't making the trek just for the $9.99 chairs. They're going for the Swedish meatballs. Ikea is keeping the recipe a secret, so chefs in Food Network Kitchen hit a nearby store for a tasting, then created this spot-on copy.
Photo By: Kang Kim
Inspired by Panera Bread: Almost-Famous Broccoli-Cheddar Soup
The broccoli-cheddar soup at Panera Bread practically has a cult following; the bakery-cafe chain ladles out more than 50 million cups of it every year, blowing through five million heads of broccoli in the process. You'll need just one head of broccoli for this perfect imitation — bread bowls are optional, but very highly recommended.
Inspired by Long John Silver's: Almost-Famous Hushpuppies
Ironically, one of the most popular dishes at the seafood chain Long John Silver’s is a landlubber one: hushpuppies. The deep-fried cornmeal snacks gained a cult following soon after they debuted in 1977, and although two pups still come with every entrée, many diners end up ordering more on the side to get their fill. The recipe is a secret, but Food Network Kitchens created a perfect copy so you can make them at home. Beware: This recipe makes 30. Try not to eat them all at once.
Photo By: Kang Kim
Inspired by Pinkberry: Almost-Famous Frozen Yogurt
Mass hysteria seems to ensue whenever the frozen-yogurt chain Pinkberry opens one of its mod, pastel- colored shops. In 2005, when the first store arrived in West Hollywood, CA, lines snaked around the block and security guards were called in for crowd control. The commotion hasn’t died down since. Fans are so faithful, they’ll often wait up to half an hour for the specialty: tart, tangy, not-too-sweet frozen yogurt loaded with fresh fruit and oddball toppings like Fruity Pebbles and yogurt chips. Of course, at around $5 a cup plus $1 per topping, the soft-serve treat can take a toll on the wallet, which is why Victoria Edelman, from Randolph, NJ, wrote to us begging for the recipe. Pinkberry reps said they’d never divulge their secrets, so Food Network Kitchens designed this addictive copy.
Inspired by Texas Roadhouse: Almost-Famous Fried Pickles
Texas Roadhouse may specialize in hand-cut steaks and fall-off-the-bone-ribs, but the crispy fried pickles have their own cult following — and we can easily see why. But thanks to this easy recipe, you can get your hands on the golden-brown rounds without ever having to wait for a table.
Photo By: Kang Kim ©Copyright Kang Kim 2012
Inspired by Friendly's: Almost-Famous Milkshakes
In 1965, Friendly's lost the right to use the name of its super-thick shake, the Awful-Awful (so named because a customer called it "awful big and awful good"). Execs held a company contest to rename it, and three employees won $100 each with "Fribble," meaning frivolous. Chefs in Food Network Kitchen whipped up this great imitation.
Photo By: Paul Sirisalee
Inspired by Waffle House: Almost-Famous Pecan Waffles
If you've lived in the South or driven through it, you've likely been to a Waffle House, one of those bright yellow joints off the highway that dishes out breakfast 24/7. Regulars know that for the namesake dish, pecans are the way to go; although you can watch the waffles being made behind the counter, you'll never get the recipe. Chefs in Food Network Kitchen had to figure it out on their own.
Photo By: Kang Kim
Inspired by Smashburger: Smashburger-Style Burgers
Smashburger was founded a decade ago with the idea that Americans were in search of a different kind of burger. The company's answer was a flat crisp patty made by putting a mound of meat on a buttered griddle and smashing it down with a heavy metal press. Fans love the irregularly shaped burgers — and the huge menu of buns, cheeses and toppings.
Photo By: RYAN DAUSCH
Inspired by Famous Dave's: Almost-Famous Barbecue Spareribs
Dave Anderson became "Famous" by accident. In 1994, after spending years fine-tuning his ribs recipe in a homemade garbage-can smoker, Dave was about to open his first restaurant, Dave's Famous BBQ. But the sign arrived with the first two words swapped. Dave decided to keep the sign and has tried to live up to his name ever since. The rub recipe is a corporate secret — only Dave and two senior execs know it — but Food Network Kitchen put together this close match.
Inspired by Applebee's: Almost-Famous Maple-Butter Blondies
Applebee's wouldn't hand over the recipe for Maple-Butter Blondies so Food Network Kitchen whipped up a perfect match. Applebee's serves theirs in a sizzling skillet; we don't recommend you go to those extremes, but don't even think about serving the blondies without ice cream!
©Food Stylist: Anne Disrude Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver
Inspired by Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Almost-Famous Popcorn Shrimp
It's risky to call a dish the "Best Ever," especially one as common as popcorn shrimp. But after testing more than 25 batters and untold numbers of deep-fried mix-ins (sweet potato, asparagus, even oranges), Bubba Gump execs think their version is worthy of the title. Try this remarkable copy.
Inspired by Macaroni Grill: Almost-Famous Rosemary Bread
You can't get much for free these days, but diners have been eating insane amounts of free rosemary bread at Macaroni Grill since the first one opened in Leon Springs, TX, in 1988. You can eat all the rosemary bread you want, but you'll never get the recipe. So Food Network Magazine created a perfect imitation.
Photo By: Lisa Shin ©Lisa Shin Photography Inc.
Inspired by Shake Shack: Shake Shack-Style Burgers
Shake Shack started in 2001 as a lunchtime hot dog cart run by the kitchen of Michelin-starred restaurant Eleven Madison Park. The cart was supposed to be temporary, but demand was so huge that in 2004 owner Danny Meyer opened a kiosk in Madison Square Park and expanded the menu to include burgers and shakes. There are now 133 other locations — as far away as Tokyo and Dubai — along with a new cookbook, Shake Shack: Recipes & Stories.
Photo By: RYAN DAUSCH
Inspired by Domino's: Almost-Famous Stuffed Cheesy Bread
For years, Domino's customers made one consistent request: more cheese on the cheesy breadsticks. But Domino's execs were stumped. How could they add cheese to a dish that was already covered from corner to corner with mozzarella and cheddar? In 2011, they solved the problem by putting cheese inside the breadsticks. Try this perfect copy from Food Network Kitchen.
Photo By: Sam Kaplan
Inspired by Cosi: Almost-Famous Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Flatbread Sandwiches
The T.B.M. (short for tomato, basil and mozzarella) has been on Cosi's menu since the chain originally opened in 1996. It's still the top-selling sandwich at the restaurant's 137 stores. Chefs in Food Network Kitchen ate more than a few of them so they could re-create this recipe.
Photo By: Kang Kim
