19 Copycat Recipes for the Takeout Habit You Can't Afford

Takeout can add up fast, especially when the same orders keep coming back every week. These 19 copycat recipes cover orange chicken, Zuppa Toscana, burrito bowls, smash burgers, chicken scampi pasta, honey walnut shrimp, chicken and dumplings, sirloin steak, fried chicken burgers, cheesy bites, cake pops, nuggets, biscuits, salads, wings, ham, and steak tacos. Some handle dinner, while others cover sides, sweets, and snack-style picks. Readers get restaurant-style recipes that can help keep the menu drawer closed without losing the meals they already like.

Two beef tacos on a plate, topped with sliced red onions, shredded cabbage, cilantro, and crumbled cheese, surrounded by lime wedges. — Street Steak Tacos. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Panda Express Orange Chicken

A plate of sesame chicken pieces covered in sauce, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. — Panda Express Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ready in 30 minutes, Panda Express Orange Chicken serves 4 with chicken breast, flour, cornstarch, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, orange juice, garlic, sesame seeds, and green onions. The chicken gets coated, fried in batches, and tossed with a glossy orange sauce. It fits the takeout-budget theme because it gives a familiar orange chicken order a home version. Serve with steamed rice, fried rice, broccoli, or snap peas.
Get the Recipe: Panda Express Orange Chicken

Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana

A bowl of creamy soup containing potatoes, crumbled sausage, kale, and sprinkled with grated cheese and red pepper flakes. — Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Made in 35 minutes, Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana serves 6 with spicy Italian sausage, bacon, onion, garlic, chicken stock, russet potatoes, heavy cream, kale, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. The sausage and bacon cook first before the broth, potatoes, and cream finish the soup. It brings a restaurant-style bowl to the table without ordering soup and breadsticks. Serve with biscuits, salad, or crusty bread.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana

Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Ready in 30 minutes, Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl serves 4 with olive oil, poblano peppers, bell peppers, red onion, fajita seasoning, romaine, cilantro lime rice, black beans, corn salsa, guacamole, and optional tortilla chips. The peppers and onion cook with seasoning before the bowl is built. It works for the takeout habit because everyone can build their own plate at home. Serve with salsa, sour cream, or extra beans.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Copycat Smash Burger

Cooked in 25 minutes, Copycat Smash Burger serves 4 with ground beef, salt, pepper, vegetable oil, cheddar cheese, burger buns, lettuce, tomato, spicy mayo, and pickles. The beef is shaped into balls, pressed onto a hot skillet, then cooked until the edges brown. It gives the burger shop order a fast home option. Serve with fries, onion rings, salad, pickles, or a simple side of chips.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Smash Burger

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Pasta

A plate of spaghetti topped with grilled chicken strips and garnished with chopped parsley, bell peppers, and shredded cheese. — Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Pasta. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ready in 45 minutes, Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Pasta serves 6 with angel hair pasta, chicken tenderloins, flour, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, paprika, peppers, onion, garlic, chicken broth, white wine, heavy cream, and parsley. The chicken is coated and browned before the vegetables and sauce finish the dish. It gives Olive Garden-style pasta a home route when delivery feels too expensive. Serve with salad, breadsticks, or steamed broccoli.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Pasta

Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp

Shrimp coated in a creamy sauce, topped with chopped walnuts, served on a white plate. — Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Finished in 15 minutes, Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp serves 4 with shrimp, cornstarch, flour, egg, sparkling water, mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice, walnuts, sugar, butter, and oil. The shrimp fry quickly before getting coated with sauce and paired with candied walnuts. It brings a seafood takeout order home without waiting for pickup. Serve with rice, stir-fried vegetables, chow mein, or a cucumber salad.
Get the Recipe: Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp

Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings

A bowl of Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings garnished with chopped parsley. — Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Made in 1 hour, Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings serves 6 with chicken breasts, chicken broth, flour, baking powder, butter, salt, pepper, milk, and parsley. The chicken simmers first, then the dumpling dough is rolled, cut, and cooked in the broth. It gives the family a restaurant-style bowl without leaving home. Serve with green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes, or a small side salad.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings

Panda Express Black Pepper Sirloin Steak

A bowl of stir-fried beef strips with red and green bell peppers, topped with sesame seeds. — Panda Express Black Pepper Sirloin Steak. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ready in 25 minutes, Panda Express Black Pepper Sirloin Steak serves 4 with thinly sliced steak, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, onion, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, garlic, beef broth, sesame oil, black pepper, sesame seeds, and cilantro. The steak and vegetables cook fast before the sauce thickens. It works when steak takeout sounds good, but the bill does not. Serve with rice, noodles, or broccoli.
Get the Recipe: Panda Express Black Pepper Sirloin Steak

Homemade KFC Zinger Burger

A chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and sauce on a bun, with fries in the background. — Homemade KFC Zinger Burger. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Cooked in 35 minutes, this Homemade KFC Zinger Burger serves 4 with chicken fillets, flour, corn flour, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, milk, cooking spray, burger sauce, buns, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, and fries. The chicken is coated and cooked before being layered into buns with sauce and toppings. It gives the fried chicken sandwich order a home version. Serve with fries, coleslaw, or pickles.
Get the Recipe: Homemade KFC Zinger Burger

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites

A bowl of golden-brown, crispy fried arancini served in a white dish on a plain background. — Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Finished in 1 hour and 22 minutes, Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites serve 6 with pepper Jack cheese, jalapeños, flour, egg, milk, breadcrumbs, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, and oil. The cheese and jalapeños are shaped into balls, frozen, coated, and fried until crisp. It brings the steakhouse appetizer home for less than a restaurant starter round. Serve with ranch, burgers, steak, wings, or salad.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites

Copycat Starbucks Cake Pop

Starbucks pink cake pops in a glass on a table. — Copycat Starbucks Cake Pop. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Made in 1 hour and 30 minutes, Copycat Starbucks Cake Pop makes 24 with vanilla cake mix, butter, confectioners’ sugar, sour milk, vanilla extract, white chocolate, red food coloring, sprinkles, and cake pop sticks. The cake is baked, cooled, crumbled, mixed, shaped, dipped, and set. It helps replace the small coffee-shop treat that can add up quickly. Serve with coffee, milk, fruit, or party snacks.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Cake Pop

Chick-fil-A Nuggets

Golden fried chicken pieces with a side of dipping sauce. — Chick-fil-A Nuggets. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ready in 30 minutes, Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets serve 4 with chicken breasts, milk, egg, flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and peanut oil. The chicken is cut into small pieces, dipped in milk and egg, coated in seasoned flour, and fried until golden. It gives the fast-food nugget order a home version. Serve with sauce, fries, fruit, salad, or macaroni and cheese.
Get the Recipe: Chick-fil-A Nuggets

Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Close-up of fluffy cheddar biscuits topped with herbs on a metal tray, with leafy greens in the background. — Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Baked in 30 minutes, Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits serve 8 with flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, cayenne, buttermilk, melted butter, cheddar cheese, parsley, and more garlic butter for brushing. The dough comes together quickly before baking into cheesy biscuits. It gives the Red Lobster-style side a place at home without ordering a seafood dinner. Serve with soup, salad, shrimp, pasta, or chicken.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Copycat Big Mac Salad

Close-up of a salad featuring ground beef, sliced pickles, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and diced onions, topped with a creamy dressing. — Copycat Big Mac Salad. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Ready in 30 minutes, this Copycat Big Mac Salad serves 4 with ground beef, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, butter lettuce, onion, cheddar, pickles, sesame seeds, tomato, mayonnaise, relish, sugar, vinegar, mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper. The beef cooks first while the sauce chills. It brings burger flavor into a bowl instead of another drive-through run. Serve with fries, pickles, roasted potatoes, or chips.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Big Mac Salad

Cheesecake Factory Chicken Madeira

A plate of chicken breast topped with melted cheese and herbs, served with sautéed mushrooms and asparagus, with a knife and fork on the side. — Cheesecake Factory Chicken Madeira. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Cooked in 30 minutes, Cheesecake Factory Chicken Madeira serves 4 with chicken breasts, olive oil, butter, mushrooms, shallot, garlic, Madeira wine, beef broth, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper, and asparagus. The chicken cooks first, then the skillet sauce reduces before the cheese melts over the top. It brings a restaurant-style chicken plate home without the restaurant’s total. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Cheesecake Factory Chicken Madeira

Copycat Crumbl Cookie Dough Cookie

Enjoy these delectable cookies topped with white frosting, chocolate chips, and small cookie dough pieces—a perfect Copycat Crumbl Cookie Dough Cookie recipe. — Copycat Crumbl Cookie Dough Cookie. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Finished in 27 minutes, Copycat Crumbl Cookie Dough Cookie makes 12 cookies with butter, brown sugar, egg, vegetable oil, vanilla, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, powdered sugar, frozen cookie dough chunks, and mini chocolate chips. The cookies bake thick, then get frosting and a cookie dough topping. It helps replace the bakery cookie run when dessert sounds necessary. Serve after pasta, burgers, nuggets, or party food.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Crumbl Cookie Dough Cookie

Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

Close-up of grilled chicken wings with a crispy texture, next to a red bowl of creamy dipping sauce. — Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Baked in 25 minutes, Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings serve 4 with chicken wings, smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and olive oil spray. The wings are coated in seasoning and baked until crisp. It gives the wing order a home version with no need to buy a full combo. Serve with celery, ranch, fries, salad, or biscuits.
Get the Recipe: Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

Copycat Honey Baked Ham

Close-up of seasoned and roasted meat with crispy edges. — Copycat Honey Baked Ham. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Baked in 2 hours and 10 minutes, Copycat Honey Baked Ham serves 12 with a fully cooked spiral ham, honey, butter, Dijon mustard, onion powder, paprika, pumpkin spice, white sugar, and brown sugar. The ham gets coated, baked, and finished with a sweet crust. It works when a holiday-style ham order is too expensive. Serve with biscuits, potatoes, green beans, salad, or roasted vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Honey Baked Ham

Street Steak Tacos

Ready in 40 minutes, Street Steak Tacos serve 6 with flank, skirt, or sirloin steak, olive oil, garlic, lime juice, cumin, oregano, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, red onion, apple cider vinegar, honey, and taco toppings. The steak marinates before cooking, while the onions pickle quickly. It gives taco-shop flavor a home option. Serve with rice, beans, salsa, guacamole, or chips.
Get the Recipe: Street Steak Tacos

19 Copycat Recipes for the Takeout Habit You Can’t Afford