23 Restaurant Copycat Dishes to Recreate at Home

A restaurant craving can hit on a night when you would rather eat at home. Pick one that matches the kind of plate you want, from a full dinner to a side that rounds out what you already have. Serve it with what is already on the table or make it the main part of dinner.

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.

Copycat Savvy Slider

A hamburger with cheese and lettuce on it. — Copycat Savvy Slider. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Stacked with two thin beef patties, American cheese, pickles, lettuce, and Boom Boom sauce, Copycat Savvy Slider brings the drive-thru build home in 30 minutes. The recipe makes two sliders and seasons the beef with garlic powder, salt, and pepper before skillet cooking. Each bun gets two cheese-topped patties for the signature double layer. Serve the sliders with French fries for a casual dinner or game-day plate.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Savvy Slider

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.

Pepper Jack cheese and diced jalapeños give Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites their molten center and steady heat. The six-serving batch is shaped, frozen, then coated with flour, egg, milk, seasoned breadcrumbs, cayenne, paprika, and garlic powder before frying. Including the freezing time, the total is 1 hour 22 minutes. Bring them out with ranch or another dipping sauce for a restaurant-style appetizer at home.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites

Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast

A bowl of white rice topped with stir-fried chicken, green beans, and carrots, garnished with black sesame seeds. — Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

For a lighter takeout-style dinner, Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast pairs thinly sliced chicken with fresh string beans in 22 minutes. Garlic, low-sodium soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, and sesame oil form the sauce, while sesame seeds finish the dish. The recipe serves three and cooks in one skillet. Spoon it over rice when you want a fast homemade version of the familiar Panda Express order.
Get the Recipe: Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast

Big Mac Crunchwrap

Close-up of a stack of folded tortillas filled with beef, melted cheese, lettuce, and onions on a white plate. — Big Mac Crunchwrap. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Wrapped inside flour tortillas with a crisp tostada, Big Mac Crunchwrap turns burger-shop layers into a handheld dinner for four. Ground beef, cheddar, lettuce, onion, pickles, sesame seeds, and Big Mac sauce fill each wrap before it is folded and cooked. The total time is 45 minutes. Cut the wraps in half and serve them while hot for a mashup that covers both burger and crunchwrap cravings.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Crunchwrap

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.

Warm from the oven in 30 minutes, Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits make eight cheesy biscuits for the bread basket. Cheddar, buttermilk, melted butter, garlic powder, and a small amount of cayenne build the familiar savory flavor. The dough is portioned onto a baking sheet, then brushed with more garlic butter after baking. Pair them with seafood, soup, pasta, or any dinner that could use a restaurant-style side.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Street Steak Tacos

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.

Lime, garlic, cumin, oregano, and paprika season Street Steak Tacos with the bold steak filling expected from a taqueria-style order. Flank, skirt, or sirloin steak cooks in a skillet before being sliced and tucked into tortillas with the recipe’s toppings. The batch serves six, making it useful for a family taco night. Set out extra lime and salsa so everyone can finish each taco to their liking.
Get the Recipe: Street Steak Tacos

Lamb Rogan Josh

A bowl of white rice topped with chunks of beef in a reddish-brown sauce, garnished with fresh herbs and a dollop of cream. — Lamb Rogan Josh. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Slow simmering turns Lamb Rogan Josh into a rich restaurant-inspired curry that serves six in 2 hours 20 minutes. Cubed lamb shoulder cooks with onion, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, garam masala, paprika, curry powder, tomato paste, stock, and yogurt. The longer cook gives the lamb time to soften while the sauce develops. Serve it with rice or naan for an Indian restaurant night without leaving home.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Rogan Josh

Chicken Chipotle Pasta

A bowl of creamy chicken pasta garnished with herbs, served with a side of rice and a small bowl of fresh parsley. — Chicken Chipotle Pasta. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Creamy sauce with smoky heat makes Chicken Chipotle Pasta a close-at-home answer to a restaurant pasta order. Short pasta, cubed chicken breast, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, asparagus, chipotle sauce, Parmesan, and parsley come together in 40 minutes. The recipe serves four and combines protein, vegetables, and pasta in one main dish. Plate it for a weeknight dinner when plain pasta will not do.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Chipotle Pasta

Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Built in layers rather than wrapped, Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl serves four in 30 minutes with plenty of mix-and-match toppings. Romaine lettuce, cilantro lime rice, black beans, corn salsa, guacamole, poblano, bell peppers, and red onion fill each bowl. A homemade fajita seasoning adds chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic, and cayenne. Use it for lunch, dinner, or meal prep when a counter-service bowl sounds good.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Copycat Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken

A bowl of white rice topped with glazed chicken and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds. — Copycat Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Glossy sauce coats skillet-browned chicken thighs in Copycat Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken, a four-serving dinner ready in 25 minutes. Brown sugar, soy sauce, water, garlic powder, ginger, and cornstarch cook into the sweet-savory coating. The chicken is sliced after the sauce thickens, then served with rice, scallions, and sesame seeds. Make it on a busy night when ordering takeout would take longer than cooking.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken

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.

High-heat stir-frying keeps Panda Express Black Pepper Sirloin Steak quick, with four servings ready in 25 minutes. Thinly sliced sirloin or flank steak cooks with red and green bell peppers and onion. Soy sauce, oyster sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and black pepper create the coating. Serve it over steamed rice or noodles for a homemade takeout dinner with crisp vegetables and tender beef.
Get the Recipe: Panda Express Black Pepper Sirloin Steak

Sweet Orange Chicken

A bowl of crispy tofu coated in sesame sauce, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, served on a bed of lettuce. — Sweet Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Crisp-coated chicken meets a fresh citrus sauce in Sweet Orange Chicken, which serves four in 40 minutes. Chicken breast is breaded with cornstarch, egg, and corn flour before frying. Orange juice, orange zest, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper paste form the sauce. Add green onions and sesame seeds, then serve it with rice for a familiar Chinese takeout-style dinner.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Orange Chicken

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.

Skipping the bun does not remove the familiar burger layers from Copycat Big Mac Salad, a four-serving dish ready in 30 minutes. Seasoned ground beef sits over butter lettuce with onion, cheddar, pickles, sesame seeds, and optional tomato. Mayonnaise, dill relish, mustard, vinegar, paprika, and sugar make the special sauce. Pack the components separately for lunch or serve the salad right away for a fork-and-bowl version of the drive-thru order.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Big Mac Salad

Raising Cane Tenders

A breaded and golden-brown fried chicken tender being dipped into a white sauce in a bowl, with more chicken tenders in the background. — Raising Cane Tenders. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

After a buttermilk rest, Raising Cane Tenders fry into a crisp six-serving batch with a total of 1 hour 50 minutes. Chicken tenders are dipped in buttermilk and egg, then coated with flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Frying in batches helps the coating brown evenly. Serve them hot with a creamy dipping sauce, fries, and toast for a full copycat chicken-tender plate.
Get the Recipe: Raising Cane Tenders

Bang Bang Shrimp

A bowl of rice topped with shrimp in a creamy sauce, garnished with cucumber slices, lime wedge, cilantro, and sliced green onions. — Bang Bang Shrimp. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Ready in 20 minutes, Bang Bang Shrimp combines pan-cooked shrimp with a creamy sweet-chili sauce for four servings. Lime juice, cornstarch, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha cover the main flavor and texture points. The shrimp finishes in the sauce until it thickens slightly. Spoon it over basmati rice with cucumber, green onions, and cilantro for a quick restaurant-style bowl.
Get the Recipe: Bang Bang Shrimp

Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken breast slices served over a bed of greens with lemon wedges on the side. — Chipotle Grilled Chicken. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Smoky chipotle and lime soak into chicken thighs before Chipotle Grilled Chicken hits the grill for a 25-minute total. Garlic, chipotle in adobo, onion powder, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper season the four-serving batch. Once cooked, the chicken can be sliced for easier serving. Add it to burrito bowls, tacos, salads, or rice plates when you want the restaurant protein without the extra order.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Plant-Based Copycat Impossible Burger

Close-up of a burger with a plant-based patty, lettuce, and sauce in a bun. — Plant-Based Copycat Impossible Burger. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Mushrooms, brown rice, tempeh, oats, and grated beet create the base for Plant-Based Copycat Impossible Burger, which makes two burgers in 35 minutes. Nutritional yeast, steak sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and optional liquid smoke deepen the patty mixture. The patties brown in a skillet for two to three minutes per side. Serve them on buns with lettuce, ketchup, pickles, mustard, or your usual burger toppings.
Get the Recipe: Plant-Based Copycat Impossible Burger

Copycat Chipotle Sofritas

A plate of chickpea salad with chopped red onion, roasted red peppers, capers, almonds, and fresh herbs, served with a spoon. — Copycat Chipotle Sofritas. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Roasted vegetables and crumbled tofu give Copycat Chipotle Sofritas a hearty texture for burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas, or rice plates. The four-serving recipe combines bell peppers, onion, tomato, garlic, chipotle in adobo, tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Roasting and simmering bring the total time to 1 hour. Portion it for meal prep or set it out as a build-your-own dinner filling.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Sofritas

Korean Fried Chicken

A bowl of glazed chicken pieces topped with chopped green onions, with chopsticks resting on the bowl and green onions beside it. — Korean Fried Chicken. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Cornstarch helps Korean Fried Chicken stay crisp under its sticky glaze, with four servings ready in 35 minutes. Boneless chicken thighs are fried, then tossed with soy sauce, gochujang, honey, garlic powder, ginger powder, and sesame oil. Chopped green onions add the final touch. Bring it to the table with rice and quick vegetables for a homemade Korean takeout-style dinner.
Get the Recipe: Korean Fried Chicken

Copycat Smash Burger

Pressed against a very hot skillet, Copycat Smash Burger develops the browned crust associated with griddle-counter burgers. The 25-minute recipe makes four burgers from ground beef, cheddar, buns, lettuce, tomato, spicy mayo, and pickles. Each patty cooks after being smashed thin, then gets cheese as soon as it is flipped. Serve the burgers straight from the pan with fries or onion rings for an easy diner-style dinner.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Smash Burger

General Tso’s Chicken

Stir-fried chicken pieces in a spicy sauce, garnished with chopped green onions, served in a round metal dish on an orange placemat. — General Tso’s Chicken. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Marinated, breaded, and fried chicken gives General Tso’s Chicken its crisp base before the sauce is added. The recipe serves six in 1 hour, using chicken breast, cornstarch, flour, egg whites, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, hoisin, rice vinegar, sugar, stock, and red pepper flakes. A cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce so it clings to each piece. Spoon it over steamed rice for a full homemade takeout dinner.
Get the Recipe: General Tso’s Chicken

Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara

A dish of ravioli with bacon and parsley that can be found at Olive Garden. — Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Cheese ravioli in a creamy garlic sauce makes Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara a three-serving dinner ready in 20 minutes. Butter, cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, milk, garlic, bacon bits, and parsley complete the restaurant-inspired bowl. The cooked ravioli is folded directly into the sauce before the toppings go on. Pair it with salad and garlic bread when you want an Italian chain-style dinner at home.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara

Panda Express Orange Chicken

Fresh orange juice and brown sugar coat crisp chicken pieces in Panda Express Orange Chicken, a four-serving recipe with a 30-minute total. Chicken breast is breaded with flour and cornstarch, then fried in batches. Soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, orange juice, and brown sugar simmer into the glossy sauce. Finish with sesame seeds and green onions, then serve over rice for a homemade version of the food-court order.
Get the Recipe: Panda Express Orange Chicken