15 copycat classics: Recreate restaurant magic

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Turn your kitchen into the hottest restaurant in town. These 15 copycat recipes will save you from the drive-thru and bring the flavor of your favorite eateries right to your home.

A bowl of broccoli cheddar soup with broccoli and carrots.
Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Two slices of meatloaf on a plate with mashed potatoes and carrots.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Bring the comfort of Cracker Barrel into your kitchen with this meatloaf recipe that’s a dead ringer for the restaurant classic. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a slice of Southern charm without leaving your dining room.
Get the Recipe: Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup in a white bowl topped with basil.
Olive Garden Minestrone Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Who needs unlimited breadsticks when you can whip up Olive Garden’s Minestrone Soup in your Instant Pot? In just 30 minutes, you’ll have a veggie-packed pot of gold that tastes like it simmered all day.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Taco Bell Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes in a white ramekin topped with sour cream and green onions.
Taco Bell Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Skip the drive-thru and create Taco Bell’s Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes at home. Your kitchen will become the new go-to spot for crispy spuds smothered in that addictive cheese sauce.
Get the Recipe: Taco Bell Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

Chipotle Barbacoa

Barbacoa tacos on a tray topped with peppers and onions.
Chipotle Barbacoa. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Transform your slow cooker into a Chipotle kitchen with this Barbacoa recipe that’s all about the low-and-slow magic. You’ll have everyone fooled into thinking you snagged the secret recipe for that tender, juicy, flavor-packed beef.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Barbacoa

Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup

Bowl of copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup in a bowl with breadsticks in the background.
Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

With this Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe, you can skip the soup, salad, and breadsticks line. Your slow cooker does all the work, melding chicken, veggies, and pillowy gnocchi into a creamy dream.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup

P.F. Chang Mongolian Beef

Closeup of crispy beef in a bowl with green onions and sesame seeds.
P.F. Chang Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Recreate P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef with an air fryer twist that gets you crispy beef coated in a sticky sauce in a flash. This 20-minute wonder will have the kids declaring it’s better than takeout.
Get the Recipe: P.F. Chang Mongolian Beef

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

A bowl of broccoli cheddar soup with broccoli and carrots.
Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Now you can ladle up a bowl of Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup without having to leave the house. This homemade version brings the cheesy, velvety goodness of your cafe favorite right to your table.
Get the Recipe: Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Chilis Southwest Egg Rolls

Plate of southwest egg rolls cut open to show the filling of beans, chicken, corn and cheese.
Chilis Southwest Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Turn your air fryer into the ultimate Chili’s experience with these Southwest Egg Rolls that are a dead-on dupe for the real deal. Packed with chicken, veggies, and Tex-Mex spices, these crispy rolls are the perfect dip-worthy snack.
Get the Recipe: Chilis Southwest Egg Rolls

Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich

Copycat Chick-fil-A sandwich with tomato, lettuce and cheese.
Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Craving a Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich on a Sunday? No problem! This air fryer copycat will satisfy your cravings with a crispy, juicy chicken breast that rivals the original.
Get the Recipe: Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich

Polynesian Sauce

Dipping a waffle fry into copycat Polynesian sauce.
Polynesian Sauce. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Whip up a batch of this Polynesian Sauce and watch how fast it disappears—just like the Chick-fil-A version. It’s a three-ingredient wonder that brings a tangy, sweet kick to any dish.
Get the Recipe: Polynesian Sauce

Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Olive garden chicken pasta on a fork.
Olive Garden Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get your Olive Garden fix without leaving your slow cooker with this Chicken Pasta that’s a cozy, cheesy wonder. It’s a fall-apart tender chicken dish that simmers in a creamy sauce all day, making your kitchen smell like an Italian haven.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Taco Bell Nacho Fries Supreme

Nacho fries covered with beans and cheese.
Taco Bell Nacho Fries Supreme. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Nacho Fries Supreme at home means you can load up on all your favorite toppings without the side-eye from the Taco Bell cashier. These crispy, spicy fries are a DIY fiesta that’ll have you declaring every day a Taco Bell day. Plus, you can pile on as much cheese as you want—no extra charge!
Get the Recipe: Taco Bell Nacho Fries Supreme

Chick-fil-a Tortilla Soup

Mexican chicken tortilla soup in a white bowl.
Chick-fil-a Tortilla Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get cozy with a bowl of this Chick-fil-A Tortilla Soup and enjoy the comfort of your favorite chicken joint without stepping foot outside. This homemade rendition captures the soul-warming flavors you love.
Get the Recipe: Chick-fil-a Tortilla Soup

Panda Express Orange Chicken

Plate of orange chicken in a metal bowl from the top.
Panda Express Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Say goodbye to Panda Express lines and hello to Instant Pot Orange Chicken that’s bursting with citrusy sweetness. This at-home version is so flavor-packed, you’ll be patting yourself on the back with every bite.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp

A person dipping fried shrimp into a bowl of dip.
Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Bring the bang to your kitchen with this Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp recipe that’s perfect for game day—or any day, really. Your air fryer will churn out crispy shrimp with that signature spicy sauce in no time.
Get the Recipe: Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp

Chick-fil-A Sauce

Dipping a French fry into a jar of copycat chick fil a sauce.
Chick-fil-A Sauce. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

With this copycat recipe, you can slather everything in sight with Chick-fil-A Sauce, no drive-thru required. It’s the tangy, sweet, and smoky condiment that’s become a cult favorite for a reason.
Get the Recipe: Chick-fil-A Sauce

Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

Copycat recipe: Cheesy corn tortillas with tomatoes and cheese on a plate.
Taco Bell Mexican Pizza. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Recreate the magic of Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza in the comfort of your own kitchen. Whether you bake it or air fry it, you’ll get all the meaty, cheesy goodness with the added bonus of bragging rights.
Get the Recipe: Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

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