Made with apple cider vinegar, onion, Italian bread, meat, provolone cheese, cole slaw, tomatoes, French fries, green cabbage
Method: stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Fast Food Restaurants
The term "fast food" hit the dining scene in the 1950's when inexpensive restaurants opened that only sold a few limited specialty items, typically that were pre-cooked or pre-packaged. Hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, pizzas and shakes were the front-runners in this new dining concept. Most of the original "fast food outlets" were drive-ins, where you parked your car at a stall and ordered without ever having to leave your vehicle.
jump to the recipes
the evolution of fast food restaurants
Initially they had waitresses that came and took your order but technology quickly evolved to where you ordered from a speaker on a box that displayed the menu. Eventually, for many restaurants this evolved into the "drive through", where instead of sitting and eating in your car where you ordered, you would drive up to a window to order your food and then left once you got it. Some restaurants, like Sonic, still have the drive up stalls for you to order and eat at.
eat-in fast food restaurants
Most fast food restaurants now also have indoor service where you order at a counter and then sit at tables to eat your food (or, you can get the food to go). The most common items at these restaurants are still burgers (Burger King), fries (McDonald's), and pizza (Pizza Hut, Dominos, Godfathers), but more items have become popular as well. Both fried chicken (KFC) and Mexican-style foods (Taco Bell, Chipotle) are wildly popular.
mall food courts
Fast food has also become a popular fixture at shopping malls. The food courts are typically lined with nothing but fast food counters including such popular places as Auntie Anne's (famous for pretzels), Cinnabon with their amazing cinnamon rolls, and Panda Express with quick Asian-style food.
Primanti Brothers Sandwich
Pink's Guadalajara Dog
Pink's Hot Dogs have been around since 1939 and one of their most famous menu items is the Guadalajara dog. A simple beef hot dog topped with the right blend of ingredients.
Time: under 30 minutes
Panera Bread Asian Sesame Chicken Salad
Made with wonton wrappers, canola oil, almonds, romaine lettuce, cilantro, boneless, skinless chicken breast, sesame seeds, rice wine vinegar, toasted sesame oil
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: under 30 minutes
KFC - Big Bucket in the Sky Chicken
Made with butter, salt, tomato soup mix, paprika, self rising flour, Italian salad dressing mix
Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Just Like Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce
Every Coney Island shop has their own unique flavor of sauce. This version is made without any tomatoes or tomato sauce (also known as Detroit style).
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Get our daily recipe newsletter!
Every day we send out a featured recipe and our editor's favorite picks. Don't miss out!
Panera Bread Pudding With Apples, Pecans And Raisins
Made with jam or jelly, apples, butter, cinnamon raisin bread, brown sugar, pecan, orange, apple cider, vanilla extract or rum
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Panera Bread Butterscotch Bread Pudding With Bourbon And Pecans
Made with powdered sugar, rustic white bread or sourdough bread, pecan pieces, half-and-half, sugar, large eggs, bourbon whiskey, vanilla...
Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
White Castle Burgers
Made with ground beef, dinner rolls, salt, onions, water, beef bouillon cube, dill hamburger slices
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Panera Bread Five Onion Soup With Scallion And Gruyere Croutons
Made with yellow onions, red onions, shallots, leeks, scallions, garlic, salt and freshly ground black pepper, olive oil, red wine, thyme
Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Bruegger's Bagels Chicken Bagel Azteca
Made with onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, black pepper, salt, paprika, green chiles, whole fresh mild chili, onion bagels
Method: oven, stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Starbucks Black Bottom Cupcakes
Made with sugar, egg, chocolate chips, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, water
Method: oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Dairy Queen Ice Cream Pudding Mix Version
Made with milk, vanilla extract, sugar, eggs, vanilla instant pudding mix, Cool Whip
Time: 2-5 hours
Jack In The Box's Mini Sirloin Burgers
Made with slider rolls, ground sirloin, black pepper, seasoned salt, onion, American cheese, pickle, peanut oil, ketchup
Method: outdoor grill
Time: under 30 minutes
Sonic Drive-In Fritos Chili Cheese Wraps
Made with flour tortillas, onions, chili, corn chips, cheddar cheese
Method: microwave
Time: under 30 minutes
Boston Chicken Cranberry Sauce
Made with walnuts, cranberry sauce, orange marmalade, ground ginger, fresh cranberries
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Panera Bread Brown Betty
Made with vanilla extract, eggs, bread crumbs, butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, apples or pears or peaches, brown sugar
Method: oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Boston Market Squash
Made with butter or margarine, pumpkin pie spices, butternut squash, margarine or butter, salt, brown sugar, honey, ground ginger
Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Panda Express Spicy Chicken
Made with onion, red bell pepper, peanuts, chile pepper, chayote squash, ginger, garlic, red chile pepper, vegetable oil, cooking wine
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Chipotle Mexican Grill Braised Pork Shoulder
Made with dried chipotle chiles, bay leaves, whole cloves, fresh oregano, cumin powder, garlic, tomatoes, onion, olive oil, pork shoulder
Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Starbucks' Low Fat Blueberry Muffins
Made with unbleached flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, margarine, egg whites, blueberries
Method: oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Coney Island Wurst
Made with chili powder, cinnamon, ground beef, garlic, onion, tomato paste, water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Pink's Polish Pastrami Reuben Dog
Made with sauerkraut, mustard, hot dog bun, Swiss cheese, Polish hot dog, pastrami
Time: under 30 minutes
Chipotle Mexican Grill Barbacoa Burrito
Made with goat or beef roast, cider vinegar, Spanish onion, garlic, fresh thyme, Mexican oregano, allspice berries, ground cloves, cumin seeds, guijillo chiles
Method: oven
Time: over 5 hours
Orange Julius With A Twist Smoothie
Made with frozen concentrate orange juice, vanilla yogurt, berry yogurt, nonfat milk
Time: under 30 minutes
Starbucks' Orange Oatmeal Flat Scones
Made with all-purpose flour, oatmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, butter, egg, orange juice, orange or tangerine oil or extract
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Got leftovers? We've got recipes. 18 delicious recipes using cooked chicken (plus 9 bonus recipes!)
Keeping a can of frozen orange juice concentrate in the freezer means you can make more than just orange juice. Try it in a variety of orange-flavored recipes.
Make your mornings a little less hectic with these overnight breakfast recipes. Prep the night before and enjoy a warm, comforting meal in the morning.