23 Budget-Friendly Restaurant Copycat Recipes

Inspired by: Cheesecake Factory Shrimp Scampi

Use your favorite dry, crisp white wine to make this copycat Cheesecake Factory shrimp scampi recipe. Plate it just like the restaurant by arranging the shrimp around a mound of angel hair pasta.

Estimated menu price: $19.95
Estimated price per serving: $2.01 to $3.00

Inspired by: Panera’s Bacon Turkey Bravo® Sandwich

My family thinks this sandwich is pure heaven thanks to the cranberry-pecan mayo. It's so good that they ask me to make it all year long. —Judy Wilson, Sun City West, Arizona

Estimated menu price: $8.29
Estimated price per serving: $2.01 to $3.00

Inspired by: California Pizza Kitchen’s Original BBQ Chicken Pizza

So fast and so easy with refrigerated pizza crust, these saucy, smoky pizzas make quick fans with their rustic, hot-off-the-grill flavor. They're perfect for impromptu cookouts and summer dinners on the patio. —Alicia Trevithick, Temecula, California

Estimated menu price: $14.99
Estimated price per serving: $1.01 to $1.50

Inspired by: Qdoba’s Tortilla Soup

Put a little spice in your menu with my favorite Anaheim pepper recipe. The peppers, jalapenos and cayenne heat up this full-flavored tortilla soup. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

Estimated menu price: $3.30
Estimated price per serving: $1.51 to $2.00

Check out these copycat Chinese takeout recipes for dinner tonight.

Inspired by: IHOP’s Pumpkin Pancakes

Estimated menu price: $8.99
Estimated price per serving: $0.26 to $0.50

Inspired by: Noodles & Company’s Wisconsin Mac & Cheese

I like to serve this mac & cheese with a salad and crusty bread. It's a satisfying meal that feels upscale, but will fit just about any budget. And because the Gorgonzola is so mild in this dish, even the kiddos will go for it. —Charlotte Giltner, Mesa, Arizona

Estimated menu price: $6.25
Estimated price per serving: $0.76 to $1.00

Inspired by: BRAVO Cucina Italiana’s Spaghettini + Meatballs

It was such a joy to come home and find my mom making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. This recipe has always been dear to my heart. —Debbie Heggie, Laramie, Wyoming

Estimated menu price: $15.99
Estimated price per serving: $1.01 to $1.50

Don’t forget to take a look at our collection of the best copycat recipes of 2022.

Inspired by: P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps

This is one of my go-to meals when I want a fun dinner. I love the spicy Asian flavors against the cool lettuce and the added crunch of peanuts and water chestnuts. —Brittany Allyn, Nashville, Tennessee

Estimated menu price: $9.95
Estimated price per serving: $2.01 to $3.00

Inspired by: Honeybaked Ham

Your Easter celebration will be so simple to orchestrate with this sweet, smoky ham recipe at your fingertips. It feeds a crowd and the baked ham glaze tastes fantastic. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Estimated menu price: $64
Estimated price per serving: $2.01 to $3.00

Inspired by: Chipotle’s Side of Guacamole

Nothing is better than freshly made guacamole when you're eating something spicy. It is easy to whip together in a matter of minutes and quickly tames anything that's too hot. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Estimated menu price: $2.05
Estimated price per serving: $0.26 to $0.50

Inspired by: Red Robin’s Bacon Cheeseburger

Where can you get a juicy burger that is so superior to drive-thru fare? Right in your backyard with this delicious bacon cheeseburger recipe. —Jackie Burns, Silverdale, Washington

Estimated menu price: $10.99
Estimated price per serving: $1.01 to $1.50

Inspired by: The Cheesecake Factory’s Oreo® Dream Extreme Cheesecake

I used to think cheesecake sounded intimidating, but since I started making them I can’t stop! This simple but special cookie-topped version will make your family feel fussed over. —Rose Yoder, Middlebury, Indiana

Estimated menu price: $8.50 per slice
Estimated price per serving: $0.76 to $1.00

Inspired by: Olive Garden’s Lasagna Classico

Our family loves this recipe along with a green salad and garlic bread. It's so handy to have an extra pan in the freezer when unexpected guests drop in or you need to take a main course to a charity event. —Geri Davis, Prescott, Arizona

Estimated menu price: $14.29
Estimated price per serving: $1.51 to $2.00

Inspired by: California Pizza Kitchen’s Tomato Basil Bisque

Just before the first frost of the season, we gather up all of the tomatoes from my mom’s garden to create this flavor-packed soup. Although it sounds like a lot of garlic, when it’s roasted, the garlic becomes mellow and almost sweet. We serve this soup with toasted bread spread with pesto.—Kaitlyn Lerdahl, Madison, Wisconsin

Estimated menu price: $6.99
Estimated price per serving: $1.01 to $1.50

Inspired by: SONIC’s Chili Cheese Coney Dog

Long live childhood favorites! I created this recipe for the 125th anniversary of a small town in Minnesota. The medium spice level means that people of all ages love the flavors. —Barb Templin, Norwood, Minnesota

Estimated menu price: $1.99
Estimated price per serving: $1.01 to $1.50

Inspired by: Maggiano’s Little Italy’s Tomato Bruschetta

This appetizer or side dish makes a crispy complement to any Italian entree. I just started with my grandmother's bruschetta recipe and added fresh tomatoes! It's one of the yummiest bruschetta recipes I've found. —Jean Franzoni, Rutland, Vermont

Estimated menu price: $1.95 per piece
Estimated price per serving: $0.26 to $0.50

Inspired by: Hard Rock Cafe’s Grilled Norwegian Salmon

It takes only four ingredients and a few moments to make this delightful main dish. —Tara Ernspiker, Falling Waters, West Virginia

Estimated menu price: $20
Estimated price per serving: $3.01 to $4.00

Inspired by: McDonald’s McRib

Perfect for a weekday dinner or cozy weekend meal, this recipe makes fall-off-the-bone tender meat with delicious flavor. —Margaret Luchsinger, Jupiter, Florida

Estimated menu price: $3.19
Estimated price per serving: $1.51 to $2.00

Inspired by: Qdoba’s Vegetarian Burrito

No one will miss the meat when you dish up these satisfying burritos bursting with a fresh-tasting filling. They’re fast to fix and won’t put a dent in your wallet. —Sharon W. Bickett, Chester, South Carolina

Estimated menu price: $7.50
Estimated price per serving: $0.76 to $1.00

Inspired by: Bonefish Grill’s Maryland-Style Crab Cakes

Our region is known for good seafood, and crab cakes are a traditional favorite. I learned to make them from a chef in a restaurant where they were a bestseller. The crabmeat's sweet and mild flavor is sparked by the blend of other ingredients. —Debbie Terenzini, Lusby, Maryland

Estimated menu price: $13.70
Estimated price per serving: $3.01 to $4.00

Inspired by: Dunkin’ Donuts Powdered Munchkins

Enjoy breakfast the New Orleans way with these warm, crispy bites. Topped with powdered sugar, they are a delight! —Lois Rutherford, Elkton, Florida

Estimated menu price: $6.29 for 25 pieces
Estimated price per serving: Less than $0.25

Inspired by: P.F. Chang’s Shrimp Pad Thai

You can make this yummy Thai classic in no time. Find fish sauce and chili garlic sauce in the Asian foods aisle of your grocery store. —Elise Ray, Shawnee, Kansas

Estimated menu price: $15.95
Estimated price per serving: $2.01 to $3.00

Inspired by: California Pizza Kitchen’s Hawaiian Pizza

A prebaked pizza crust and refrigerated barbecued pork make this tasty supper idea super fast and super easy. Cut into bite-sized pieces, and it can double as a great last-minute appetizer, too! —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California

Estimated menu price: $13.99
Estimated price per serving: $2.01 to $3.00