25 Restaurant Copycat Recipes That are Better Than the Real Thing

This creamy, cheesy broccoli soup tastes just like the one served at Panera Bread! My family requests it all the time. You can even make your own homemade bread bowls with the recipe on my blog, Yammie’s Noshery. —Rachel Preus, Marshall, Michigan

These wonderful, buttery biscuits complement any dinner. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota

These tangy Asian-inspired nuggets go a long way. We eat them over noodles or rice, in sandwiches, even on top of lettuce and cabbage. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Years ago, I fell hard for a lemony Greek soup at Panera Bread. It was just a special back then, and I re-created it at home so we could eat it whenever a craving hit! —Kristin Cherry, Bothell, Washington

Slow cooker pork with green chilies always makes my hungry family happy. Getting creative with the leftovers is part of the fun. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma

Save a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that’s fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California

Wondering how to make potato skins taste great? I top my restaurant-worthy loaded potato skins with cheese, bacon and a dollop of sour cream. Have them at lunch, snack time or cocktail hour. —Trish Perrin, Keizer, Oregon

If you’ve wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana

Indulge in a coffeehouse-quality drink with this caramel mocha recipe. With whipped cream and a butterscotch drizzle, this treat will perk up even the sleepiest person at the table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

I’ve spent years trying to come up with the perfect pizza crust and sauce, and they’re paired up in this recipe. I fix this crispy, savory pizza for my family often, and it really satisfies my husband and sons. —Susan Lindahl, Alford, Florida

This chunky soup is good to the last spoonful. It’s my go-to recipe because it’s so hearty and we all always want more. —Penny Novy, Buffalo Grove, Illinois

My husband adores this beef roast 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

I was planning to grill burgers, and then it dawned on me: How about a Big Mac salad? The original recipe doesn’t call for a tomato, but it’s awesome here. —Pam Jefferies, Cantrall, Illinois

Contributor Gigi Miller, from Stoughton, Wisconsin, provided a fabulous recipe for sweet and saucy chicken thighs that she serves with rice. We took it a step further, and used the chicken and sauce to make this restaurant-inspired Thai pizza. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

These coconut-fried shrimp are downright addicting. If you ask me, the bigger the shrimp, the better. That way you can pick up even more of that sweet pina colada sauce. —Debbi Barate, Seward, Pennsylvania

I tasted a similar soup at Olive Garden and wanted to try and make it myself. Here’s the delicious result! It’s wonderful on a cool evening. —Jaclynn Robinson, Shingletown, California

This tasty, wholesome coffee cake is loaded with fresh berries. It’s perfect for those with a sweet tooth. —Heather O’Neill, Troy, Ohio

Here’s a healthy version of a restaurant classic that you can easily make at home. Our recipe has 300 fewer calories and half the fat and sodium of typical eggplant Parmesan. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Even though they have many other delicious dishes on the menu, I always find myself ordering Chicken Enchilada Soup from Chili’s. Here’s the skinny version I make at home. —Traci Campbell, Saginaw, Texas

These creamy garlic mashed potatoes are so good, you can serve them plain—no butter or gravy is needed. This is one of our favorite red potato recipes. —Valerie Mitchell, Olathe, Kansas

We love the breadsticks at our local pizza joint. Now I can get that same gooey-from-the-oven treat, but I never have to leave the house. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine

I love both red velvet cake and cheesecake. So why not combine them into one stunning red velvet cheesecake recipe? It’s best when served chilled, right out of the fridge. —Melissa Gaines, Knoxville, Tennessee

I love to treat overnight guests to this creamy orange frappe. Just blitz a few basic ingredients in your blender and enjoy. —Joyce Mummau, Mount Airy, Maryland

Go on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high. Peanut butter and bacon make them Southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes, a Northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York

Ever since I tried the maple blondie at Applebee’s, I’ve been determined to figure out the recipe. I tried several variations until I came up with this one, and it’s become one of our family favorites. —Pat Parker, Chester, South Carolina