Remember how we were cooped up at home for most of last year? Plenty of us took a break by picking up a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets. With fast-food chains turning exclusively to to-go orders for months in 2020, lines at the drive-thru had a few more cars than we were used to.
The photos below show you exactly how long people waited in line to get Chicken McGriddles. Don’t be surprised if you spot someone with a pre-order snack!
Who Had the Longest Drive-Thru Line?
Justin Sullivan/getty Images
McDonald’s is known for speed, but everyone craving a side of unreasonably delicious McDonald’s fries was definitely waiting awhile. If this gave you some cravings, our McDonald’s copycat recipes taste just like the real thing.
Bruce Bennett/getty Images
Starbucks is definitely the place for a caffeine pick-me-up, and people were determined to get their fix during the pandemic. Customization was hard at the drive-thru, though, so we’re definitely happy to step back into Starbucks so we can order off the Starbucks secret menu.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/getty Images
Speaking of secret menus, we’re definitely a fan of In-N-Out’s not-so-secret menu—and clearly, all these people are, too! It’s a relief to be able to get our favorite burger quickly after making copycat recipes all through quarantine.
Should I Still Use the Drive-Thru?
The CDC’s new guidelines have resulted in a lot of changes, including at our favorite eating joints. Starbucks has dropped its mask mandate, but only for people who are fully vaccinated, as have a number of other retailers, restaurants and cafes. If you’re not fully vaccinated yet, you can continue to stick to the drive-thru, get takeout or go in if you’re properly masked up. Here’s how to safely enjoy takeout right now.
If you’re not a fan of the current drive-thru lines either, there are plenty of other options! We recommend contactless delivery for a safe and speedy dinner through any of these food delivery services. No matter which option you choose, it’s important to practice patience and treat your servers with kindness. They’ve been working through a lot to keep us happy and full, and we couldn’t be more grateful!
Feeling Fast Food at Home? Copycat These Fast-Food Recipes!
Inspired by: McDonald's Burger, Fries and a Shake
Make a fast food feast at home with our recipes for
Burger Americana,
Skinny Fries and
Thick Strawberry Shakes. After just one bite you'll never go back to drive-thru fare.
Inspired by: KFC Original Recipe Fried ChickenThis crispy fried chicken recipe uses a batter instead of a flour coating. That helps the flour adhere to the chicken so it won’t fall off after cooking!
You'll love any of these copycat
Chinese takeout recipes.
Inspired by: Portillo's Chocolate CakeYears ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania
Inspired by: Wendy's ChiliThis hearty slow-cooker
chili recipe can cook for up to 10 hours on low in the slow cooker. It's so good to come home to its wonderful aroma after a long day away. —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana
Inspired by: SONIC Corn DogOne of the best parts of the many fairs and festivals in Indiana is the corn dogs! My family loves corn dogs, so I fix them fairly often at home. —Sally Denney, Warsaw, Indiana
Inspired by: Chick-Fil-A Chicken NuggetsI developed this recipe specifically to copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets. The first time I made them I knew I had a winner because the whole family fought over who got the last one! For a dipping sauce, combine equal parts barbecue sauce and Dijon mustard, then stir in honey to taste. —Jeni Pittard, Statham, Georgia
Inspired by: Popeyes BiscuitsYou can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.
Inspired by: Culver's ButterburgerIt’s no secret that Wisconsinites love their dairy—so much that they sometimes top their burgers with a generous pat of butter.
My recipe is a lot like the butter burgers you’ll find in popular restaurants all over the state. —Becky Carver, North Royalton, Ohio
Inspired by: McDonald's Shamrock ShakeSave a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that's fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
Inspired by: Burger King French FriesThese fries are always popular with my meat-and-potatoes bunch. The cheesy seasoning can easily double as a flavorful baked potato topper, too.—Maribeth Edwards, Follansbee, West Virginia
Inspired by: Chipotle BarbacoaMy husband adores this slow-cooker barbacoa simmered in lime juice, chipotle and cumin. He would eat it one a week if I would make it that often! We have it over rice with cilantro and a spritz of lime. —Aundrea McCormick, Denver, Colorado
Inspired by: Arby's Roast Beef SandwichMushrooms add a different touch to these comforting roast beef sandwiches. I like to pile the shredded beef high on Kaiser rolls.—Scott Powell, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Inspired by: Chick-Fil-A Waffle Potato FriesMake any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois
Inspired by: Wendy's Southwest Avocado Chicken SandwichI threw these ingredients together on a whim and the sandwich turned out so well, I surprised myself! If you're in a rush, microwave the bacon—just cover it with a paper towel to keep it from spattering too much. —Dana York, Kennewick, Washington
Inspired by: Burger King Rodeo KingThis fantastic barbecue bacon burger has it all: melted cheese, tangy barbecue sauce, crispy bacon and thick onion rings. A cheeseburger doesn't get much better than this!
Inspired by: McDonald's Chicken McNuggetsMy 3-year-old went through a chicken-nuggets-and-french-fries-only stage, so I made these golden nuggets for him. Even the grown-ups like them! —Amanda Livesay, Mobile, Alabama
Inspired by: Pizza Hut Cheese SticksWe love the breadsticks we get hot from the oven at our local pizza parlor. Now I can serve that same wonderful goodness at home. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
Inspired by: Burger King Chicken FriesKid-friendly and quick, these crunchy oven-baked chicken fries are coated with a mixture of crushed potato chips, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip them in ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or honey-mustard sauce.—Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Inspired by: Cinnabon Cinnamon RollDistinctive coffee flavor accents the filling of these ooey, gooey rolls. The glaze goes on while they are still warm—they won’t last long!.
—Sherri Cox, Lucasville, Ohio
Inspired by: McDonald's Egg McMuffinI turned classic breakfast sandwiches into something heartier that you could even enjoy for dinner. We pile toppings like salsa and avocado—mayo and ketchup, too—on the homemade biscuits. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Inspired by: Shake Shack Cheese FriesI came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Inspired by: Culver's Vanilla CustardI think my most memorable summertime dessert for get-togethers has always been homemade ice cream. This recipe is so rich and creamy and is the perfect splurge on a hot summer afternoon. —Martha Self, Montgomery, Texas
Inspired by: Dunkin' Glazed DonutThe light coffee flavor in these tasty sugar-glazed doughnuts makes them a perfect start to the morning...on Christmas Day or any day. You'll find that the recipe is a delectable way to use up leftover potatoes. —Pat Siebenaler, Random Lake, Wisconsin
Inspired by: Panda Express Chow MeinSome years ago, our daughter welcomed me home from a hospital stay with this Asian dish and a copy of the recipe. Now I freeze leftovers for fast future meals. —Kay Bade, Mitchell, South Dakota
Inspired by: SONIC Hand Made Onion RingsThese
onion rings cook to a crisp, golden brown. This is one of those foods you never tire of and a great side dish to so many meals. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota