These diabetic-friendly copycat recipes let you indulge guilt-free! You'll find delicious, dietitian-approved recipes for your favorite items from restaurants and takeout joints.
24 Easy Diabetic-Friendly Copycat Recipes
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Inspired by: Wendy’s Chili
This hearty slow cooker chili 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
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Inspired by: Chipotle Barbacoa
I love this beef barbacoa because the meat is fall-apart tender and the sauce is smoky, slightly spicy and so flavorful. It’s an amazing alternative to ground beef tacos or even pulled pork carnitas. For a low-carb option, skip the tortillas and pile high in a bowl with lettuce, cheese and other toppings. —Holly Sander, Lake Mary, Florida
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Inspired by: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets
Packed with flavor and quick to make, this chicken nuggets recipe is so easy, you’ll never grab a bag of frozen nuggets at the store again.
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Inspired by: PF Chang's House-Made Chicken Egg Rolls
These egg rolls are low in fat but the crispiness from baking will fool you into thinking they were fried! —Barbara Lierman, Lyons, Nebraska
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Inspired by: Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake
For this lovely golden cake, I use fat-free yogurt to trim the calories. It's a comforting dessert for days when it's warm enough to dine outside. —Lauren Gilmore, Pennington, New Jersey
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Inspired by: Maggiano's Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Just a few ingredients, including already-cleaned fresh or frozen crabmeat, make these easy crab cakes something you can throw together any day of the week.
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Inspired by: The Cheesecake Factory Cashew Chicken
This quick cashew chicken recipe is great as a weeknight timesaver that you won’t find yourself compromising on flavor. If you’ve never cooked with nuts before, prepare for a pleasant surprise. They really bring the best out of the chicken breast.Â
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Inspired By: Cracker Barrel Grilled Pork Chop
My mom gave me the recipe for these savory chops with a sweet and tangy marinade. The apple juice and Dijon mustard complement the pork nicely. With a vegetable and some rice or pasta, you have a meal. —Babette Watterson, Atglen, Pennsylvania. Looking for more? Try this copycat of Cracker Barrel’s meatloaf recipe.
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Inspired by: Kentucky Fried Chicken Original Recipe
Crispy, crunchy and perfectly tender, this oven fried chicken legs recipe is an easy, mess-free way to make delicious fried chicken every time.
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Inspired By: Olive Garden Lasagna Classico
I cooked up this fresh lasagna for vegetarian customers at a local grocery store, where I work part-time. It’s absolutely packed with veggies. —Sam Hunsaker, Lawrence, Kansas
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Inspired by: Panera Bread Lemon, Chicken and Orzo Soup
Years ago, I fell hard for a lemony Greek soup at Panera Bread. It was just a special back then, but I re-created it at home so we could eat it whenever a craving hit! —Kristin Cherry, Bothell, Washington
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Inspired by: The Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
You’ll fall in love with this sweet treat. Each silky slice is topped with juicy raspberries. Yes, you can have cheesecake without breaking the calorie budget. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Learn how to make the copycat of The Cheesecake Factory’s chocolate mousse cheesecake.
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Inspired by: California Pizza Kitchen Mexican Street Corn
My mother-in-law came up with this corn skillet dish one night for dinner. Everyone who tries it absolutely loves it! —Chandy Ward, Aumsville, Oregon
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Inspired by: Wendy’s Berry Burst Chicken Salad
Bright berries and creamy goat cheese make this one a winner! —Wendy Ball, Battle Creek, Michigan
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Inspired by: PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
This recipe is as tasty as the lettuce wraps found in national restaurants, but it's healthier! — Linda Rowley, Richardson, Texas
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Inspired by: Red Lobster New England Clam Chowder
I ran across this recipe in one of my antique cookbooks. It's a timeless classic I like to prepare for friends and family throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. —Betty Ann Morgan, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
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Inspired by: Pizza Hut Cheese Sticks
These grain-free, cheesy cauliflower breadsticks are made with vegetables instead of flour. Serve them with your favorite marinara sauce.—Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
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Inspired by: Chipotle Guacamole and Chips
I always judge a Tex-Mex restaurant by its guacamole. And although it's simple to prepare, it can go wrong oh, so easily. I've spent many years perfecting mine, to the point where I think it's better than most restaurants. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Inspired by: Denny’s Slow-Cooked Pot Roast
I love making this pot roast for a couple of reasons. First, it's delicious. Second, it's so easy! I can't describe the feeling of walking into my house after work and smelling this dish that's been simmering in the slow cooker all day. There's nothing better. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
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Inspired by: McAlister’s Deli Harvest Chicken Salad
When the weather sizzles, get your chill on with a cool chicken salad. Mine uses grapes, pecans and celery for that signature crunch. —Sarah Smiley, Bangor, Maine
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Inspired By: Olive Garden Tilapia Piccata
We aren’t big fish eaters, but a friend made this for us, and we couldn’t believe how wonderful it was! Now we eat it regularly. I love making it for guests because it’s simple, looks lovely and tastes restaurant-worthy. —Beth Cooper, Columbus, Ohio
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Inspired by: Chili’s Steak Fajitas
Zesty salsa and tender strips of meat make these air-fryer steak fajitas extra special. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Inspired by: McCormick & Schmick’s Seared Sea Scallops
You'll want to slip this recipe into the front of your last-minute guests file. Pasta and mixed greens nicely complement the tender, citrusy shellfish. —Margaret E. Lowenberg, Kingman, Arizona
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