Picking up food at the drive-thru is convenient, but who says you can’t make takeout meals at home? Not only do you get to enjoy your favorite fast-food meals, but making restaurant recipes at home helps save money. There are plenty of copycat recipes of famous foods from restaurants, theme parks, and other venues, from KFC’s potato wedges to Panda Express’s orange chicken. All you need to make these secret recipes are the right ingredients and a little time spent in the kitchen.
1. McDonald’s Sausage and Egg McMuffin
Four ingredients — an English muffin, cheese, egg, and pork patties — are all that stand between you and your favorite fast-food breakfast after the burger giant tweeted out its McMuffin recipe. To make it truly drive-thru-worthy, you’ll need a metal ring to fry up that perfect circular egg patty.
Recipe: Delish
2. KFC Chicken
The “original recipe” of 11 herbs and spices used to make Colonel Sanders’ world-famous fried chicken is still closely guarded, but home cooks have found ways of duplicating the deliciousness. Instructions even go into details about what brands of spices to buy.
Recipe: Food.com
3. Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
Most Taco Bell menu items are just ways of repackaging the basic ingredients of ground beef, nacho cheese, sour cream, and tomato. But the Crunchwrap Supreme is especially popular with its tostada-shell-within-a-flour-tortilla setup, although some advise breaking up chips for better crunch and easier folding than a tostada shell allows.
Recipe: Cooking With Janica
4. Disney’s Dole Whip
For many Disney lovers, there’s one thing and one thing only that can make that hour-plus wait for Big Thunder Mountain worth it: Dole Whip, one of the nation’s most iconic theme-park foods. Believe it or not, all you need to recreate it is three ingredients — vanilla ice cream, pineapple juice, and frozen pineapple — and a reliable blender, so hop to it and make staying home that much sweeter.
Recipe: Travel and Leisure
5. Chipotle’s Guacamole
Guacamole, we’ve never needed you more, and Chipotle’s version requires only six ingredients. If you just can’t bear to make some without the chain’s signature lime-dusted tortilla chips, there are plenty of copycat recipes online, though nothing officially from the restaurant.
Recipe: Today
Trending on Cheapism
6. Chick-fil-A Sandwich
Tender fried chicken breast and fluffy buns make Chick-fil-A’s signature sandwich a worthy competitor to the standard fast food hamburger. Use home-breaded chicken breast and improve on it with generous helpings of lettuce and tomato (usually short-changed at this chain restaurant).
Recipe: Damn Delicious
7. McDonald’s Big Mac
The world’s most popular hamburger tastes even better homemade. Just stack the ingredients in the right order and don’t forget the special sauce. Don’t be afraid to add other components, such as tomato or grilled onions, to improve on the classic.
Recipe: Top Secret Recipes
8. Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
Many have debated whether Chick-fil-A or Popeyes has the better fried chicken sandwich, but people are so excited about the Popeyes version that fights have broken out when branches ran out of the sandwich. Skip the lines and make it at home, making sure to secure those beloved brioche buns.
Recipe: Gimme Delicious
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9. Burger King Onion Rings
Onion rings are easy to make at home — as long as you have the patience to deep-fry sliced onions to a perfect golden brown. This homemade version emulates Burger King’s classic side.
Recipe: Food.com or, for a healthier alternative breaded without eggs or oil, One Ingredient Chef
10. Wendy’s Single
This classic hamburger stands out for its square patty and founder Dave Thomas’ dedication to using quality beef. The recipe suggests popping the burgers on the grill frozen — no thawing allowed — for the best result. And if you’re hitting up Wendy’s early in the morning, may we recommend ordering one of Wendy’s delicious breakfast sandwiches?
Recipe: Top Secret Recipes
11. Pizza Hut Pan Pizza
This clone may take longer to prepare than delivery, but it’s just as cost-effective, particularly since there’s no driver to tip. Knead and crisp the dough in oiled cake pans before adding seasoned tomato sauce, mozzarella, and thin pepperoni, or whatever other ingredients you desire.
Recipe: CD Kitchen
12. Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp
This recipe will require a little more time (okay, a lot more) than it takes to pick this up at the drive-through, but you can make a large quantity for less if you get frozen shrimp on sale. The recipe calls for an easy-to-make tempura batter; you sweeten the walnuts on your stovetop.
Recipe: Dinner, Then Dessert
13. Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl
Cut down the oversized portions of Chipotle’s fresh-made burrito bowls. The rice and chicken need fresh cilantro and, of course, chipotle peppers, but as with the real thing, the other toppings are entirely customizable.
Recipe: What’s Gaby Cooking
14. McDonald’s French Fries
Perhaps the only fast food item more popular than the Big Mac is the golden fries that come with it. Replicating the basic yet unique texture and flavor of McDonald’s fries involves special attention to the shoestring thickness and the heat of the cooking oil.
Recipe: Food.com
15. Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnuts
Fans of Krispy Kreme’s gleaming, glazed doughnuts have little choice but to make them at home if there’s no shop nearby. The addictive glaze is simple to make, but leave some time to roll out the dough and allow it to rise before frying.
Recipe: My Thirty Spot
16. The Cheesecake Factory’s Korean Fried Cauliflower
True to form, The Cheesecake Factory has gone big, releasing several of its recipes to the public so we can all gorge in the comfort of our own home. One of the most notable, delicious recipes is its signature Korean Fried Cauliflower appetizer, which is the most calorie-laden of its small plates and snacks — though it has nothing on these diet-busters.
Recipe: The Cheesecake Factory
17. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets
Though beloved by many, McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets have been criticized for using preservatives and processed meat. Enjoy the taste clear of those concerns by using chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces and a simple breading of flour, eggs, and seasonings.
Recipe: CD Kitchen
18. Ikea’s Swedish Meatballs
Let’s be honest: We don’t go to Ikea only for the flat-packed furniture. If you have to satisfy that meatball-shaped void in your life, you’re in luck. Ikea has released the recipe for one of its most iconic dishes, Swedish meatballs with cream sauce, to hold us over until we can take another bewildering trip through our favorite maze-like furniture store.
Recipe: A Family Feast
19. Shake Shack’s SmokeShack Burger
Released a few years ago in conjunction with a full-fledged Shake Shack cookbook, this indulgent burger recipe has everything you need to eat your feelings and then some: beef, bacon, and butter.
Recipe: Epicurious
20. Jack in the Box Tacos
No other taco tastes quite like Jack in the Box’s, although a homemade imitation can come close — without the paste-like ground beef texture. The decidedly un-Mexican creation requires ingredients including American cheese, refried beans, soy grits, and soy protein.
Recipe: Food.com
21. Disney’s Churro Bites
Not a Dole Whip fan? Sacrilege! But fear not: Disney has you covered with another one of its most popular treats: churro bites. Making these chewy tubes of cinnamon-sugar goodness requires only basic pantry baking staples, but you will need a piping bag with a large star tip if you want to achieve their signature shape.
Recipe: Taste of Home
22. Chick-fil-A’s Cole Slaw
The world only got its hands on Chick-fil-A’s coleslaw recipe when the chain decided to discontinue it in favor of a kale salad in 2016. Remind yourself of the good ol’ days with its official, easy-to-make recipe that would no doubt earn your grandma’s stamp of approval.
Recipe: NBC News
23. The Cheesecake Factory’s Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
When you just can’t decide between two breakfast favorites, The Cheesecake Factory is here for you with this mashup, another member of their at-home recipe collection. Just don’t look up the sugar content on this baby.
Recipe: The Cheesecake Factory
24. Disney’s Toy Story Land Grilled Cheese
Leave it to Disney to elevate a humble grilled cheese sandwich into something a little, well, magical. Made at Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land, it features a cream-cheese spread and a mix of garlic, mayo, and coarse salt on top of a blend of cheddar and provolone.
Recipe: Disney Parks
25. DoubleTree’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
The suites at DoubleTree are nice and roomy, but let’s be honest: What we’re really looking forward to is those warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in. The treat even became the first food to be baked in space, by crews on the International Space Station. We say that’s reason enough to give grandma’s cookie recipe a rest … maybe just this once.
Recipe: Hilton
26. Famous Dave’s Ribs
Carnivores, rejoice: Years ago, “Famous Dave” himself adapted his rib recipe for all of us casual grillers without a fancy smoker. While he warns the process is long, it’s worth it to make some good ribs.
Recipe: Esquire
27. Hardee’s Mushroom and Swiss Burger
This creamy mushroom-and-Swiss burger is an easy make-at-home meal, it turns out. According to this recipe, the trick is adding some mushroom soup.
Recipe: Food.com
28. Arby’s Curly Fries
No deep-frying is necessary to replicate the unique paprika-accented flavor of Arby’s curly fries. To give the potatoes their identifiable corkscrew shape, the recipe requires a vegetable spiralizer (starting at $25 on Amazon).
Recipe: Like Mother Like Daughter
29. McDonald’s Egg McMuffin
With only four basic ingredients, McDonald’s original breakfast sandwich is almost as easy to make at home as to pick up from the drive-through — and that includes the perfectly circular egg patty.
Recipe: Top Secret Recipes
30. Dollywood’s Cinnamon Bread
If you’ve ever strolled along the charming footpaths snaking through Dollywood, chances are the heavenly smell of cinnamon bread accompanied you for at least part of the journey. Now you can make the park’s famous gooey treat at home — and you won’t even have to wait in line for it.
Recipe: Travel and Leisure
31. Disney’s Cookie Fries
The Happiest Place on Earth delivers again, and this time, the Disney recipe is vegan-friendly — yes, really. Whether you’re following a plant-based diet or want a crispy, crunchy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, how could anything named “cookie fries” be a bad idea?
Recipe: Disney Parks
32. KFC Potato Wedges
KFC potatoes boast their own distinct flavor and crunchy texture. For home cooks, that means steaming, then frying russet wedges using little more than flour, seasonings, and buttermilk.
Recipe: Dinner, Then Dessert
33. Disney’s Mickey Beignets
Though they might not be quite as ubiquitous as Mickey ice cream bars, Mickey beignets are still one of Disneyland’s and Disney World’s tastiest treats. Your at-home version won’t come with the delectable dipping sauces, but a liberal dusting of powdered sugar should blunt any disappointment.
Recipe: Disney Parks
34. Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken Thighs, Spicy Rice, and Macho Peas
Founded in South Africa, this chain focusing on spicy chicken also has several restaurants in the United States, Canada, U.K., Australia, and other parts of the world. Customers craving its famous peri-peri chicken can try their hand at it after the chain’s step-by-step Instagram cookalong.
Recipe: The Daily Mail
35. Pizza Express’ Margherita Pizza
Pizza Express is a prominent U.K.-based chain, and if you haven’t had the privilege of inhaling one of its hand-tossed pies, make sure to do so on your next hop across the pond. In the meantime, satisfy your pizza cravings with one of its longtime menu staples, the classic margherita.
Recipe: Pizza Express
36. Buckingham Palace’s Royal Cupcakes
Speaking of the Brits, if you love following the royals, you can try your hand at a very prim, proper chocolate cupcake recipe, released by the royal pastry chefs in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s 94th birthday. Premade royal icing is a fine substitute for homemade buttercream, the chefs acknowledge — but good luck with those tiny golden crowns.
Recipe: Good Housekeeping
37. Wagamama’s Katsu Curry
Though it has only a small foothold in the U.S., Wagamama is a popular spot for Brits to fuel up on noodle dishes and other Asian-inspired fare. The chain shared how to make one of its most signature dishes, katsu curry, for home chefs to perfect in their own kitchens.
Recipe: Facebook
38. Panda Express Orange Chicken
Orange chicken is an irresistible, if not authentic, fixture of Americanized Chinese food. It also happens to be the best thing on the Panda Express menu. A quick and straightforward copycat recipe calls for ingredients found in most kitchens to bread and fry the chicken pieces before combining them with the tangy, orange-juice-based sauce.
Recipe: Food.com
39. Wendy’s Frosty
Wendy’s is probably most famous for this ice cream-like chocolate concoction. The good news is it can be made at home. This low-fat recipe suggests only four ingredients: frozen whipped topping, sweetened condensed milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, and chocolate milk.
Recipe: Averie Cooks
40. Shake Shack Double Shack Stack
The double-stacked burgers at New York’s fast-expanding Shake Shack are simple in appeal but a little more complicated in execution, as Epicurious reveals. They can still be made at home, from potato bun to sautéed portobello mushrooms.
Recipe: Food.com
41. In-N-Out Double-Double
Beloved by locals and visitors to the West Coast, In-N-Out has just about perfected a burger with toasted buns, relish-filled special sauce, and ground chuck in place of ordinary ground beef. This replica includes even the “Animal Style” grilled onions.
Recipe: Your Homebased Mom
42. White Castle Sliders
There aren’t any White Castle locations in the western United States, but those who can’t buy the greasy, onion-loaded sliders from the nation’s first burger chain can make them at home in less than an hour. The ingredients are straightforward but for a single tablespoon of peanut butter that gives these mini-burgers their unusual texture.
Recipe: Favorite Family Recipes
43. Wendy’s Chili
Wendy’s chili is a cold-weather must, and topped with cheese it’s a filling lunch. This recipe combines chili seasoning, canned tomatoes, and ground beef to capture the fast-food standard.
Recipe: Dinner, Then Desert
44. Dairy Queen Blizzard
Dairy Queen is known for its Blizzards: soft-serve ice cream with candy toppings mixed in. At home, the trick is getting the thick texture right without buying your own specialized blending machine.
Recipe: Rock-a-Bye Parents
45. Cinnabon Classic Roll
It’s far more cost-effective to make Cinnabon’s decadent namesake rolls in batches at home using this recipe than to buy a single $4 bun at the mall food court. At 463 calories per roll instead of 880, it’s a whole lot healthier, too — if you can resist eating more than one at a time.
Whether you’re making this Cinnabon classic or trying your hand at the orange chicken from Panda Express, these secret recipes from restaurants are a sure-fire way to enjoy your favorite fast-food meals from the comfort of your own home.
Recipe: Jo Cooks
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