Stewed with onions, tomatoes, and spices, these pinto beans make a stellar Southwest side dish.
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Copycat Recipes & Restaurant Favorites
What are copy cat recipes? These are secret recipes from restaurants (or developed by home cooks to taste similar) and homemade versions of packaged brand products you find in the grocery store. With these recipes you can prepare your favorite restaurant dishes and name brand foods in your own kitchen! CDKitchen features some of the most popular restaurant and copycat clones.

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Peggy Goldwater's Arizona Ranch Style Beans
Cheddar's Santa Fe Spinach Dip
Made with salt and pepper, sour cream, onion, spinach, plum tomatoes, green chiles, cream cheese, Monterey jack cheese, half and half, red wine vinegar
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Sanders' Hot Fudge Imitation
Made with sweetened condensed milk, milk chocolate chips, light corn syrup, butter
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Mamie Eisenhower's Sugar Cookies
Create memories with Mamie Eisenhower's classic sugar cookies. This easy-to-follow recipe yields perfectly soft, buttery cookies, ideal for holidays or family...
Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Freddie's Bar-B-Que & Steakhouse Tabbouleh Salad
Mint, tomatoes, and parsley elevate some bulgur wheat dressed with lemon juice and oil in this copycat tabbouleh salad
Time: 2-5 hours
Every day we send out a featured recipe and our editor's favorite picks. Don't miss out!
Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
Love Olive Garden? You'll adore this chicken scampi recipe that brings the restaurant's classic flavors right to your kitchen.
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Mamie Eisenhower's Marble Cookies
Made with pecan halves, salt, semisweet chocolate chips, pecans, butter, sugar, vanilla extract, flour
Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Stanley & Seafort's Hot Dungeness Crab Dip
Made with parsley, mayonnaise, dungeness crab meat, onion, artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Full Moon Cafe Tortilla Soup
Full Moon Cafe marinates their chicken in fajita seasoning to give it that special spice in the soup. Garnish with tortilla strips for a nice crunch.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Red Lobster's Clam Chowder
Very few things can satisfy a comfort food craving better than a bowl of clam chowder. This Red Lobster copycat is a keeper with its perfect blend of ingredients. Don't...
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Rosa Mexicano's Pomegranate Margarita
If you love margaritas then you have to try this copycat recipe from Rosa Mexicano made with pomegranate juice.
Time: under 30 minutes
Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken
Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken is a copycat recipe that you can easily make at home. The chicken is grilled, covered in creamy mexi-ranch dressing and cheese, and served...
Method: outdoor grill
Time: 2-5 hours
TGI Friday's Fire Bites
Copy this hot and spicy snack from TGI Friday's at home! Jalapeno slices are deep fried with a crispy coating. Eat them plain or serve with a dipping sauce.
Method: deep fryer
Time: under 30 minutes
Famous Dave's Key Lime Pie
A delicious dessert that has a long history originating in the 19th century. Famous Dave's does right by this southern treat with this recipe.
Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Chicken and Dumplings like Cracker Barrel
Cooking a whole bird until it's fall-off-the-bone tender is the key to copying Cracker Barrel's chicken while buttermilk gives a deep flavor to their...
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Bonefish Grill's Raspberry Martini
Discover how to whip up Bonefish Grill's Raspberry Martini, a perfect mix of raspberry vodka and schnapps balanced with a splash of sour mix.
Time: under 30 minutes
Lindy's New York Cheesecake
Good cheesecake is pretty much redundant, but this is a REALLY good cheesecake. Citrus peel and vanilla extract add delicious, subtle flavors to a heavenly thick New York...
Method: oven
Time: over 5 hours
Red Lobster's Maryland Crab Cakes
Old Bay and Dijon mustard add a New England kick that's right on point with these crab cakes, but what else would you expect from a Red Lobster copycat?
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Applebee's Blue Skies
Blue curacao with peach schnapps and pina colada mix makes a gorgeous looking drink that's sure to turn heads. Bonus: it's tasty, too!
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Rice-A-Roni
This copycat recipe is just like the rice mix you buy at the store. It contains rice, vermicelli, and powdered bouillon. Simply saute in butter and add water.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Horn & Hardart's Creamed Spinach
This copycat creamed spinach recipe is the perfect side dish for a Sunday dinner or special occasion. It's creamy and flavorful without being overly rich and heavy.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Buca Di Beppo Chicken Saltimbocca
Made with heavy cream, lemon juice, white wine, chicken breast halves, Prosciutto ham, fresh sage, olive oil, all-purpose flour, artichoke hearts, capers
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Chi Chi's Salsa
The key to Chi Chi's salsa isn't some secret recipe, it's just good tomatoes. Blending ripe tomatoes just for a second yields a uniformly chopped salsa, perfect for scooping up with...
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Red Lobster's Shrimp Quiche
Looking for a dish that's both satisfying and posh? Red Lobster's version of shrimp quiche is here to bring a touch of seaside charm right to your table without the fuss.
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Applebee's Walnut Blondie With Maple Butter Sauce
Try your hand at making this famous Applebee's blondie recipe at home. A blonde brownie with white chocolate chips is topped with a creamy maple butter...
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Gagliardi's Spaghetti Sauce
A blend of sausage and beef spiced with everything from fennel seeds to basil makes a hearty, heavenly pasta sauce.
Method: stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Claim Jumper's Whiskey Chicken
Made with white pepper, sourdough croutons, Granny Smith apples, dried tarragon, parsley, chicken breasts, apple juice, brandy, whiskey
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Bennigan's Potato Soup (Restaurant Version)
Bennigan's may have gone out of business but you can still have their famous potato soup by making this copycat recipe at home!
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf (Crowd Size)
If you've got a big crowd to serve, here's just the meatloaf recipe. The Cracker Barrel secret is mixing in biscuit crumbs into the beef mixture for the perfect...
Method: convection oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Beaches and Sandals' Dirty Banana
Coffee liqueur and banana make up a frosty cocktail that's borderline too good. If you're looking for a thicker drink (to slow yourself down?), try freezing the banana...
Time: under 30 minutes
Loretta's Bloody Mary
This recipe hails from Loretta's Restaurant in Mobile, Alabama. It's just as good without the vodka, too.
Time: under 30 minutes
Panera Bread French Onion Soup
French onion soup is unmistakable with its rich flavor and cheesy croutons. Copy Panera's version with this recipe.
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Olive Garden Salad Dressing
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
California Pizza Kitchen's Thai Chicken Pizza
This copycat CPK pizza brings the Thai flavor with a spicy peanut sauce, shredded carrots and cilantro. If you're up for a delicious kitchen challenge...
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Gallagher's Cheddar Cheese Soup
A quick and simple copycat version of Gallagher's cheddar cheese soup using basic pantry ingredients and fresh vegetables. Easily prepared on busy weeknights in about 30...
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Sylvia's Restaurant Signature Banana Pudding
Sylvia Woods is known as the Queen of Soul Food and her signature banana pudding, still served at her restaurant today, is a perfect example of her...
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Big Boy's Strawberry Pie
Have a slice of nostalgia with this classic Big Boy's strawberry pie. Made with fresh strawberries and a delicious gelatin glaze, it's a dessert that never goes out of style.
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Applebee's Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue sauce just like Applebee's does it. The secret ingredient is apple butter for a touch of fruity sweetness. Ready for ribs, chicken, or pulled pork.
Time: under 30 minutes
Pagano's Chicken Marsala
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
Lady Bird Johnson's Famous Lemon Cake
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
House Of Blues' File Chicken Gumbo
Turn your kitchen into the House of Blues with this gumbo recipe. It's a soulful mix of simmereed chicken, sausage, and veggies. Just when you thought your cooking...
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 2-5 hours
Simon Pearce Butternut Squash Bisque
This delicious bisque recipe comes from the Simon Pearce restaurant. It is the perfect fall dish, made with butternut squash, onion, cream, apple cider, and spices.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Applebee's Pizza Snacks
These copycat Applebee's pizza snacks are somewhere in the delicious in-between of pizza and breadsticks. Sausage, pepperoni, or any of your other favorite pizza toppings can...
Method: deep fryer, stovetop, oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Chili's Salsa
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
Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion
You know this appetizer is a huge hit at the Outback Steakhouse so it will definitely go over big when you serve it to your party guests!
Method: deep fryer
Time: 30-60 minutes
Brown Hotel Kentucky Hot Brown
The Brown Hotel in Kentucky is famous for their Hot Brown sandwich. It's made of turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and mornay sauce on toast. If you can't get to the Brown Hotel...
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Hard Rock Cafe Ribs
To bring the Hard Rock Cafe home with you, just make these ribs and toss on some classic rock n' roll music. These ribs have a sweet and tangy sauce that is irresistible.
Method: stovetop, oven, outdoor grill
Time: 2-5 hours
Steak & Ale Hawaiian Chicken
Nothing says Hawaiian flavor like the pairing of pineapple and soy sauce. Using that dynamic duo in a marinade is an awesome idea for flavorful grilled chicken.
Method: outdoor grill
Time: over 5 hours
Luby's Baked Cheesecake
There's nothing quite like a slice of cheesecake. Luby's has served up their famous cheesecake for more than seven decades. Now you can make it at home!
Method: oven
Time: 2-5 hours
Rainforest Cafe's Blue Mountain Grilled Chicken Sandwich
This sandwich is one of the most popular items on the menu at the Rainforest Cafe. The chicken is seasoned with Cajun spices and teriyaki sauce...
Method: oven, outdoor grill
Time: under 30 minutes
What's the secret ingredient in these cakes? Pudding mix. It not only adds flavor but it gives the cake a richer, creamier texture. No one will know your secret ingredient!
It may look like a sad little package shoved in the back of your freezer, but frozen spinach actually has a lot of culinary uses (and some may surprise you).
This Italian cheese is so versatile that it can be used in both sweet and savory recipes from cheesecakes to lasagnas.


























































