Copycat Recipes & Restaurant Favorites

Patti LaBelle's potato salad is the perfect blend of creamy and tangy, with just the right amount of spice (since you control how much goes into it).


Time:   1-2 hours

Homemade dressing is the easiest way to give your salads an upgrade. Benihana's ginger dressing works on everything from a simple spinach side salad to a full-out dinner...


Time:   under 30 minutes

Instead of making dressing from scratch, why not turn some store-bought Italian into this creamy Olive Garden copycat? And we're talking Olive Garden here - don't forget the...

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

Here's a salsa that's as easy as it is tasty. It's all blending and no chopping, so it's ideal for making a big batch for parties or game days.


Time:   1-2 hours

Made with barbecue sauce, St. Louis ribs, water

Method:   outdoor grill, oven
Time:   2-5 hours

Every day we send out a featured recipe and our editor's favorite picks. Don't miss out!

This rich seafood ravioli isn't on the menu anymore at Regalo so you'll have to make it at home (but it's worth it!)

Method:   stovetop
Time:   1-2 hours

Made with jalapenos, whole milk, buttermilk, egg, oil, sugar, baking powder, cornmeal, all-purpose flour, red bell pepper

Method:   oven
Time:   30-60 minutes

Made with lime juice, sweet onion, tomatoes, garlic, fresh cilantro, fresh parsley, olive oil, red wine vinegar


Time:   2-5 hours

Nachos, chili dogs, pretzel dip, the only limit to what you can do with a good cheese sauce is your imagination.

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

No grill? No problem. This recipe can easily be made with a grill pan (or cast iron skillet) instead.

Method:   stovetop, outdoor grill
Time:   under 30 minutes

Recreate Olive Garden's signature Italian dressing at home with this simple recipe. Featuring mayonnaise, vinegar, and classic Italian herbs, this creamy, zesty dressing...


Time:   under 30 minutes

Pico de gallo is an absolute must for Mexican night. Tomatoes, onion, jalapeno and cilantro is how Applebee's does it. Great on tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, you name it.


Time:   over 5 hours

When you first bite into one of Aunt Chilada's Yucatan-style tamales, you're hit with a savory and slightly spicy flavor blend of shredded pork and just the...

Method:   stovetop
Time:   2-5 hours

Made with sweetened condensed milk, shortening, cake flour, sugar, salt, egg, skim milk, egg yolks, key lime juice

Method:   oven
Time:   1-2 hours

Discover how to make Kyoto Steak House style teriyaki chicken at home with just a few ingredients. This easy-to-follow recipe features tender chicken, sesame seeds...

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

The key to this luscious lemon cake? Zest and juice in the cake and the icing for a double dose of citrus. Great option for those who don't usually go for heavier...

Method:   oven
Time:   1-2 hours

An easy salsa recipe that tastes like the salsa fresca from Don Pablo's restaurants


Time:   under 30 minutes

The Outback Steakhouse serves this honey mustard with their famous Alice Springs chicken. You can use it as a dipping sauce or salad dressing.


Time:   under 30 minutes

The sauce is key for these crispy, coconut-coated morsels. Sweet mango with a bite of jalapeno and a splash of Thai fish sauce make up the delightful dipping sauce.

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

Made with chili seasoning mix, chili powder, chili con carne seasoning, cumin, sugar, thyme, fresh sage, onions, chile peppers, red kidney beans

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

Fresh shrimp is stir fried with bean sprouts, water chestnuts, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots and served with crispy chow mein noodles.

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

This cottage pie with buttery mashed potatoes, baked to a beautiful golden brown in the oven and layered on top of a savory beef and onion mixture may not be complicated...

Method:   oven, stovetop
Time:   30-60 minutes

Bob Evans' Maple Sausage Breakfast Burritos are a hearty take on the traditional breakfast burrito.

Method:   stovetop, oven
Time:   under 30 minutes

Copy this famous Outback Steakhouse recipe at home! Shrimp are seasoned with a dry rub then pan fried or grilled with an olive oil and white wine baste.

Method:   stovetop, outdoor grill
Time:   1-2 hours

Beef stock, basil and cream turns ordinary tomato soup into a savory, herby bowl of beauty. Add a grilled cheese and the perfect lunch is complete.

Method:   stovetop
Time:   1-2 hours

Copy the popular cheese fries from Outback Steakhouse with this simple recipe that starts with frozen french fries and ends with a sprinkling of bacon.

Method:   deep fryer, oven
Time:   under 30 minutes

Made with pecan halves, salt, semisweet chocolate chips, pecans, butter, sugar, vanilla extract, flour

Method:   oven
Time:   1-2 hours

There's nothing not to like here. Macadamia nuts, ice cream, hot fudge, cool whip... All that in one pie. If you can find some macadamia nut ice cream it really makes a difference


Time:   2-5 hours

These individual, decadent, gooey lava cakes perfectly copy Red Lobster's discontinued dessert (some locations may still serve it).

Method:   stovetop, oven
Time:   2-5 hours

The chicken madras at Bombay Palace is a dish not to be missed. But if you can't make it to the restaurant, we think you'll love this copycat version.

Method:   stovetop
Time:   30-60 minutes

Marinated chicken is served with a blended adobo cream sauce, green chiles, penne pasta, and cojita cheese.

Method:   stovetop
Time:   over 5 hours

A bruschetta appetizer is the easiest way to be an A+ host for a dinner party. This Red Lobster copycat with shrimp, melty fontina, and white cheddar really makes the grade.

Method:   oven
Time:   under 30 minutes

A copy cat recipe from the famous Pat O'Brien's located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The punch calls for passion fruit cocktail mix, lemon juice, and dark rum....


Time:   under 30 minutes

We often think of pumpkin as only being for sweet dishes, but this risotto is a perfect example of a great savory use.

Method:   stovetop
Time:   30-60 minutes

Made with salt, nonfat dry milk, water, egg, shortening, butter, sugar

Method:   oven
Time:   2-5 hours

Pagano's copycat chicken Marsala is a classic Italian dish that is simple to make and full of flavor. The chicken is cooked in a rich Marsala wine sauce and is best served with...

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

Imagine yourself at The commander's Palace in New Orleans when you bite into these jumbo lump crabcakes. Easy to make at home with the taste of NOLA that they...

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

This knock off recipe for Bennigan's potato soup tastes just like they used to serve at the restaurant!

Method:   stovetop, oven
Time:   1-2 hours

Made with eggs, baking soda, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, salt, cream cheese, butter

Method:   oven
Time:   1-2 hours

This recipe is a great copycat of the restaurant's Young Chow Fried Rice. It calls for shrimp, ham, and shredded barbecued pork which is the signature...

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

This low carb copycat recipe skips the carbs but keeps the flavor. Use anywhere you use regular thousand island salad dressing.


Time:   1-2 hours

These aren't just any ribs, they're Claim Jumper ribs, marinated in a concoction that's part backyard genius, part culinary wizardry.

Method:   outdoor grill
Time:   over 5 hours

Tasty and healthy steamed fish fillets. Mild whitefish takes on the flavors of ginger and toasted sesame oil. Perfect served with steamed broccoli...

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

These copycat fish tacos from Austin's famous Hula Hut are topped with a roasted jalapeno sauce made with garlic and ranch dressing that completes the tropical island ensemble.

Method:   oven, outdoor grill
Time:   1-2 hours

Made with soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, shrimp, cornstarch or potato starch, canola oil, lemon, vegetables, black pepper

Method:   stovetop
Time:   under 30 minutes

A side salad is crucial for a big family-style Italian affair of lasagna or chicken parm and this copycat recipe makes a proper creamy Italian...


Time:   over 5 hours

This copycat recipe for Chili's Calypso Cooler is the perfect way to enjoy the cocktail at home. The spiced rum, peach schnapps, and orange juice create the unique flavor it's...


Time:   under 30 minutes

Anybody who's checked into a Doubletree knows that the cookie is the best part of the stay. Grab the recipe and make your home feel as luxurious as a hotel for...

Method:   oven
Time:   under 30 minutes

The American actress, Katharine Hepburn, was beautiful, intelligent, and a little bit eccentric. She was also known for her rich, chocolately brownies.

Method:   oven, stovetop
Time:   1-2 hours

Made with hamburger buns, butter, salt and freshly ground black pepper, celery, chicken broth, ground top sirloin, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, grated nutmeg

Method:   stovetop, oven
Time:   30-60 minutes