19 copycat dinner recipes better than the originals

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Who says you have to go out to enjoy your favorite restaurant meals? Recreate those beloved dishes but to make them even better! These 19 copycat dinner recipes surpass their restaurant counterparts.

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

P.F. Chang Orange Chicken

Plate of orange chicken in a metal bowl from the top.
P.F. Chang Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Forget the takeout menu; your Instant Pot is about to show Panda Express how it’s done with this zesty orange chicken. In just 45 minutes, you’ll be serving up a dish packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: P.F. Chang 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.

Who needs Bonefish Grill when you can whip up Bang Bang Shrimp in your air fryer that’ll knock everyone’s socks off? Crunchy shrimp paired with that signature spicy sauce is just the thing to make your game day party the talk of the town.
Get the Recipe: Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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

This slow cooker chicken gnocchi soup is just like Olive Garden’s, but enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. You’ll marvel at how the creamy broth, tender chicken, and veggies meld together while you’re off living your life. It’s comfort food that cooks itself—what’s not to love?
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

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

Enjoy slice of homestyle heaven with this Cracker Barrel meatloaf that’s seasoned just right and perfectly cooked. It’s like Sunday dinner at your favorite table, except the dress code is pajamas and slippers. And let’s be honest, leftovers taste better when they’re from your own fridge.
Get the Recipe: Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Chick-fil-A Tortilla Soup

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

With this copycat Chick-fil-A Tortilla Soup recipe, you can skip the drive-thru and still indulge in all the comfort this soup has to offer. It’s the same delicious taste, now available in unlimited refills from your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Chick-fil-A Tortilla Soup

Chipotle Barbacoa

Mexican barbacoa in a bowl with rice.
Chipotle Barbacoa. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Bring the bold flavors of Chipotle home with this barbacoa recipe that turns your slow cooker into a flavor factory. You’ll be the taco night hero with meat so tender and juicy, your family will be begging for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Barbacoa

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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

Who needs a bread bowl when you’ve got your own pot of gold with this broccoli cheddar soup that would make Panera jealous? It’s cheese, it’s broccoli, it’s everything good in a bowl, and you didn’t even have to leave the house to enjoy it.
Get the Recipe: Panera Broccoli Cheddar 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.

Take a trip to P.F. Chang’s without leaving your kitchen with this air fryer Mongolian beef that’s crispy, coated in a heavenly sauce, and ready in 20 minutes. It’s a win-win for flavor and time-saving.
Get the Recipe: P.F. Chang Mongolian Beef

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

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

Enjoy a bowl of this minestrone soup and discover why your Instant Pot might just be your new best friend. Chock-full of veggies and flavor, it’s a nutritious one-pot wonder that’s ready in 30 minutes flat. Olive Garden’s got nothing on this homemade hearty goodness.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich

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

Crispy, juicy, and utterly satisfying, this air fryer chicken sandwich brings the Chick-fil-A experience to your kitchen without the wait. It’s a simple pleasure that’ll have you wondering why you ever waited in line for a chicken sandwich. So go ahead, make it a combo with some waffle fries—you deserve it.
Get the Recipe: Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich

Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

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

This slow cooker Olive Garden chicken pasta is all about the creamy, cheesy, fall-apart chicken goodness that you can now enjoy without leaving your house. Your family will think you’ve been cooking all day, but we’ll keep it our little secret.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Chipotle Burrito Bowl

A Copycat Chipotle burrito bowl, filled with rice, fajita veggies, corn salsa, tortilla chips. and topped with a lime wedge.
Chipotle Burrito Bowl. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Why pay for a Chipotle burrito bowl when you can make it at home and save your coins for something else—like more guac? You get to customize it to your heart’s content without any upcharges.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Panera Tomato Basil Soup

Creamy tomato basil soup garnished with grated parmesan and fresh basil in a white bowl with a gold spoon.
Panera Tomato Basil Soup. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This roasted tomato basil soup is your homemade answer to Panera’s creamy tomato soup, with a flavor so comforting, you might just forget about the original. The secret? Roasting the garlic and a handful of fresh basil.
Get the Recipe: Panera Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

A sandwich with avocado, chicken and cheese on a plate.
Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Panera’s chipotle chicken avocado melt has nothing on this homemade version that’s stacked with flavor. It’s a sandwich so good, it’ll make you want to write love songs about it. Discover the joy of crafting this classic at home, where the only line you’ll encounter is the one for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

Olive Garden Chicken Piccata

Easy chicken piccata in a cast iron skillet on a linen.
Olive Garden Chicken Piccata. Photo Credit: Little House Big Alaska.

This chicken piccata recipe will upgrade your dinner repertoire with its simple elegance and rave-worthy flavor. It’s the kind of meal that makes it seem like you’ve been cooking all day, but in reality, you’ve just been chilling until 35 minutes before dinner. Welcome to fine dining, no reservation required.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Piccata

Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken

Stuffed chicken on a white plate.
Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Tonight’s the night to bring the luxury of Ruth Chris into your dining room with this stuffed chicken recipe that’s quick, easy, and oh-so-satisfying. Sit down, take a bite, and enjoy restaurant-style comfort food without the hefty price tag.
Get the Recipe: Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken

Noodles & Co. Penne Rosa

Finished plates of parmesan crusted chicken with penne rosa and glasses of rosé wine.
Noodles & Co. Penne Rosa. Photo credit: Feast + West.

This Noodles & Company penne rosa copycat is the date night dish that’s about to make weeknights feel a little more special. The creamy rosa sauce is a dream, and when you add that crispy parmesan-crusted chicken, it’s even better.
Get the Recipe: Noodles & Co. Penne Rosa

Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Pasta e Fagioli Soup in 2 bowls with spoons.
Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

This pasta e fagioli soup is about to become your new go-to for a warm and delicious soup. It’s hearty, it’s beefy, it’s bean-y, and it’s all yours, bursting with flavor and ready to conquer your cravings.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Outback Alice Springs Chicken

A picture of Alice Springs chicken on white plate.
Outback Alice Springs Chicken. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Unleash the flavors of the Outback with this Alice Springs chicken that’s ready to knock your socks off. You’ve got juicy chicken, a tangy mustard sauce, mushrooms, bacon, and a whole lot of cheese—what more do you need?
Get the Recipe: Alice Springs Chicken

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