10+ Copycat Recipes You Can Easily Make at Home

Copycat recipes let you whip up your favorite restaurant dishes right in your own kitchen. You get to enjoy those familiar flavors without going out or dropping a bunch of cash.

It’s honestly pretty fun to try making those meals you crave, but with your own twist. Plus, you can tweak things to your liking, which is always a win.

Most of these recipes just use basic ingredients you’ll find at any grocery store. Trying them out is a good excuse to sharpen your cooking skills—and maybe impress someone at dinner.

1) Copycat McDonald’s Fries

If you’re obsessed with McDonald’s fries, you can get surprisingly close at home. Start by peeling and slicing russet potatoes into shoestring strips.

Soak the fries in cold water to wash away extra starch—this helps them crisp up. Some folks swear by a quick dip in beef stock or a sugar-water brine for that signature taste.

Flash freezing the fries before frying? It actually helps with the texture. Use an oil with a high smoke point, like sunflower oil.

Salt the fries right after you pull them from the oil so it sticks perfectly. That little move really makes a difference.

Ingredients

• Russet potatoes (peeled, shoestring cut)
• Cold water
• Fine sea salt
• Granulated sugar
• Sunflower oil or other frying oil
• Unsalted beef stock (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak the potato strips in cold water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Drain and dry the fries well.
3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
4. Flash freeze fries for 40 minutes if you want extra crispiness.
5. Fry until they’re just light golden, then cool.
6. Bump oil up to 375°F (190°C).
7. Fry again until golden and crispy.
8. Drain and salt while hot.

2) Wendy’s Frosty Copycat

You can whip up a Wendy’s Frosty at home with just a few ingredients. It’s creamy, chocolatey, and honestly hits the spot when you want something cold and sweet.

Just blend chocolate milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped topping until it’s nice and smooth. No fancy machines needed—just a blender or mixer does the trick.

Adjust the sweetness or chocolate intensity to fit your mood. That’s the best part of making it yourself, right?

Ingredients

• 4 cups chocolate milk
• 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 8 ounces frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip)

Cooking Instructions

1. Add chocolate milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped topping to your blender.
2. Blend until everything’s creamy and smooth.
3. Pour into a glass and enjoy right away, or chill a bit if you like it extra cold.

Find the detailed recipe here.

3) Cheesecake Factory Shrimp Scampi

You can make Cheesecake Factory’s Shrimp Scampi at home with minimal fuss. Tender shrimp cooks in a buttery garlic sauce with a hit of lemon.

Serve it over angel hair pasta—light, bright, and full of flavor. Don’t overcook the shrimp; just a couple minutes per side does it.

A splash of white wine and some fresh parsley add a nice finish. Simple ingredients, big payoff.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound angel hair pasta
• 6-8 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 shallot, diced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook angel hair pasta as directed, drain, and set aside.
2. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium.
3. Add garlic and shallot; sauté for 1-2 minutes.
4. Toss in shrimp; cook 2 minutes per side until pink.
5. Pour in wine and lemon juice; simmer 1 minute.
6. Add pasta to the pan and toss with the shrimp mixture.
7. Stir in parsley, salt, and pepper. Eat while it’s warm.

For more details, check this copycat recipe.

4) IHOP Buttermilk Pancakes

You can get those fluffy IHOP buttermilk pancakes at home, no problem. They’re soft, with a subtle tang from the buttermilk that just works.

Mix your dry stuff—flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt—then add the wet ingredients. Don’t overmix; lumps are fine.

Cook on a medium-hot griddle for that golden color. Top with butter and syrup while they’re still warm.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 ¼ cups buttermilk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your griddle to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Make a well, add egg and buttermilk in the center.
4. Gently mix from the middle out—don’t worry about a few lumps.
5. Pour batter onto the griddle; cook until bubbles form, then flip.
6. Finish the other side until golden. Serve right away.

5) Chili’s Nashville Hot Chicken

Chili’s Nashville Hot Chicken is spicy, smoky, and a little sweet. The sauce uses cayenne, brown sugar, and butter or ghee for that real-deal flavor.

Marinate the chicken in buttermilk, hot sauce, and spices so it stays juicy. Then bread and fry until golden.

Once it’s fried, toss the chicken in that hot sauce. It’s messy, but so worth it.

Great for parties or just a fun dinner when you’re craving something bold.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken tenders
• 2-3 cups buttermilk
• 1/3 cup hot sauce
• 4 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter or ghee
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp black pepper
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix buttermilk, hot sauce, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and black pepper.
2. Marinate chicken for 2-4 hours in the fridge.
3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
4. Bread the chicken.
5. Fry until golden and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
6. Melt butter or ghee, stir in cayenne and brown sugar.
7. Toss fried chicken in the hot sauce.
8. Serve hot with your favorite sides.

Find more on Chili’s Nashville Hot Chicken on TikTok here.

6) Olive Garden Breadsticks

You can make Olive Garden-style breadsticks at home—soft, chewy, and loaded with buttery garlic flavor. They’re perfect for dipping or just munching on their own.

Use warm water, yeast, and a little honey or sugar to get the dough going. Let it rise, then bake at 350°F (175°C).

Brush with melted butter, garlic powder, and salt while they’re warm. That’s the secret to making them irresistible.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 1 packet instant yeast
• 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
• 3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Stir warm water, yeast, and honey until yeast dissolves.
2. Add flour and salt, knead until smooth.
3. Let dough rise until doubled, about an hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
5. Shape dough into sticks and place on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.
7. Brush with melted butter, garlic powder, and salt.
8. Serve warm.

Check out this Olive Garden Breadsticks copycat for all the details.

7) Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

You can make a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte at home without much effort. It’s warm, cozy, and full of pumpkin and spice.

Mix espresso, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in a mug. Add steamed milk and vanilla syrup.

Top with whipped cream and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice if you’re feeling extra. It’s basically fall in a cup.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup
• 1-2 shots of espresso (3 ounces)
• 1 cup milk
• Whipped cream (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Steam milk to about 150°F (65°C).
2. In a mug, mix pumpkin puree, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice.
3. Add vanilla syrup and espresso, stir well.
4. Pour in steamed milk, filling the mug about ¾ full.
5. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice if you want.

8) Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

If you’re a fan of those soft, chewy pretzels from the mall, you’ll love making Auntie Anne’s style at home. The dough is sweet and buttery, thanks to a bit of powdered sugar.

Shape the pretzels, then give them a quick dip in baking soda water for that classic crust. Bake, brush with butter, and sprinkle with coarse salt.

They’re way easier than you’d think—and honestly, pretty addictive.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 1 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup bread flour
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• Baking soda (for boiling)
• Butter (for brushing)
• Coarse salt (for topping)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix warm water, yeast, and brown sugar. Let it sit until it gets bubbly.

2. Add powdered sugar, salt, bread flour, and all-purpose flour. Knead everything together until you have a smooth dough.

3. Let the dough rise for about an hour, or at least until it doubles.

4. Set your oven to 425°F (220°C).

5. Shape the dough into pretzels. This part’s fun—don’t stress if they’re not perfect.

6. Boil each pretzel in baking soda water for about 30 seconds.

7. Put them on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. You want that deep golden color.

8. As soon as they’re out, brush the hot pretzels with butter. Sprinkle on coarse salt before serving.

Honestly, this recipe makes a soft, salty, and just a little sweet snack. It’s actually pretty fun to make, too. If you want to see the full details, check out the copycat Auntie Anne’s pretzel recipe.

9) Orange Julius Smoothie

You can whip up an Orange Julius smoothie at home that tastes almost exactly like the original. It’s creamy, refreshing, and honestly takes just a couple of minutes in the blender.

This drink calls for frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, and a splash of vanilla. Toss in some ice cubes and it comes out cold and frothy, which is perfect when you want a quick treat.

If you’re feeling adventurous or just want something lighter, try using fresh oranges, banana, and coconut milk. That combo gives you a creamy texture without loading up on extra sugar.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5-6 ice cubes

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss all the ingredients into a blender.

2. Blend until it’s smooth and frothy.

3. Pour into a glass and drink it right away—it’s best fresh.

Want more details? Here’s the Orange Julius Smoothie Recipe.

10) Domino’s Garlic Knots

You can make Domino’s Garlic Knots at home with just pizza dough. Cut the dough into strips and tie them into small knots.

Bake until golden. When they come out, brush them with a buttery garlic sauce.

These knots make a great snack or side dish. They’re buttery, garlicky, and have just the right touch of parmesan.

Making them at home means you get to eat them fresh and warm, which honestly makes all the difference.

Ingredients

• Pizza dough
• Garlic cloves, minced
• Butter
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Chopped parsley

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Roll out the pizza dough. Cut it into strips.

3. Tie each strip into a knot. Toss them onto a baking sheet—no need to be perfect.

4. Bake for about 12-15 minutes. You’re looking for that golden color.

5. Melt some butter. Stir in minced garlic, a splash of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and chopped parsley.

6. Brush the garlic butter over the hot knots. Sprinkle parmesan cheese right on top—don’t hold back.

7. Serve while they’re still warm.

If you’re curious or want to tweak things, check out this Domino’s Garlic Bread Twists recipe for more ideas!