Finding something you really love at one of your favorite restaurants — awesome. Only being able to get it at that restaurant — not always so awesome, especially if the restaurant is in another city, state, or even country! But just because you can't always get back to a particular restaurant for that something special doesn't mean you can't get your fix when you need it. Simply spend a little time in the kitchen and figure out how to make it yourself. Or, better yet, find recipes from other people who have already done the work for you.
These 20 fabulous copycat restaurant recipes are just as good as the originals, are available to you any time you want, and range from super fancy to super simple. Basically, you'll be happy with these recipes no matter your mood.
1. Chili's Tex-Mex Margarita Chicken Salad
This Chili's copycat salad is chock full of deliciousness.
Make Tex-Mex Margarita Chicken Salad Yourself from Diethood
2. Bonefish Grill's Bang Bang Shrimp
This bang bang shrimp recipe is a knock-off from Bonefish Grill in North Carolina. The shrimp is beyond delicious and this version is baked instead of fried.
Make Baked Bang Bang Shrimp Yourself from Running to the Kitchen
3. Darbar's Indian Butter Chicken
This recipe is based on a butter chicken dish from Darbar, an Indian restaurant in Palo Alto, Calif. The sauce is so good you might just want to drink it. And the tender, yogurt-marinated chicken is to die for.
Make Indian Butter Chicken Yourself from This Week for Dinner
4. Starbucks Lemon Loaf
Who doesn't love the lemon loaf from Starbucks? Now you can bake it in your own kitchen!
Make Starbucks Lemon Loaf Yourself from Life Tastes Good Just Like It Should
5. Chuy's Creamy Tomatillo Jalapeno Ranch Dip
Chuy's, the popular tex-mex chain in the southeastern U.S., is famous for this dip. Once you start making it yourself you will be famous for it, too.
Make Creamy Tomatillo Jalapeno Ranch Dip Yourself from Flavor Mosaic
6. Tyler Florence's Christmas Dinner Short Ribs with Pear and Celery Salad
It doesn't need to be Christmas to make this amazing recipe. A knock-off of a dish that used to be served at Tyler Florence's Wayfare Tavern, this recipe by food blogger Sandy came about when she decided to recreate the magic at home. She even called the restaurant and the sous chef helped her get it just right, so this recipe is the real deal.
Make Christmas Dinner Short Ribs Yourself from Everyday Southwest
7. Lightened Up Zupas Garden Chowder Soup
This recipe lightens up a favorite chowder at a popular salad and sandwich restaurant in the western U.S. called Café Zupas. Another benefit of cooking restaurant food at home — you can make it healthier!
Make Lightened Up Zupas Garden Chowder Soup Yourself from Pass the Fresh
8. Panera Mac and Cheese
You know you want to order the kids' meal at Panera just to get that creamy mac & cheese. Forget ordering off the kids' menu and just make it at home!
Make Panera Mac and Cheese Yourself from Rachel Cooks
9. Red Hook Lobster Pound's Lobster Roll
According to food blogger Sheri, Red Hook Lobster Pound makes the best lobster roll anywhere. And she figured out how to make it at home. And now you love Sheri.
Make Lobster Rolls Yourself from Donuts, Dresses and Dirt
10. Outback's Honey Wheat Bread
The soft, sweet goodness of the honey wheat bread at Outback Steakhouse is just plain irresistible. Imagine the smell of this bread baking in your kitchen!
Make Honey Wheat Bread Yourself from I Heart Eating
11. Krispy Kreme Donuts
What? Homemade Krispy Kreme? YES!
Make Krispy Kreme Donuts Yourself from Cupcake Project
12. Olive Garden Salad Dressing
The best part of the Olive Garden is most definitely, surprisingly the salad. Now that you have the dressing you can just stay home and eat salad to your heart's content!
Make Olive Garden Salad Dressing Yourself from Dessert Now Dinner Later
13. Texas Roadhouse Rolls
These restaurant-worthy rolls are shockingly easy to make.
Make Texas Roadhouse Rolls yourself from Dessert Now Dinner Later
14. Panera Jalapeño Cilantro Hummus
Another Panera favorite is the jalapeño cilantro hummus, which would be good spread on a sandwich or served as a simple dip.
Make Panera Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus Yourself from Renee's Kitchen Adventures
15. Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade
Save your pennies and make this delicious, refreshing tea at home.
Make Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade Yourself from Persnickety Plates
16. Range's Skillet Cornbread
This skillet cornbread is a copycat recipe from Top Chef Bryan Voltaggio's restaurant Range in Washington, D.C. Plus, it's served with bacon jam. Sold.
Make Skillet Cornbread Yourself from Savory Simple
17. CPK California Club Pizza
This CPK knock-off pizza is even better than a club sandwich. For reals.
Make California Club Pizza Yourself from Spoonful of Flavor
18. Café Rio Sweet Pulled Pork
Café Rio, a Mexican food chain in the western U.S., serves pork barbacoa, which is probably their most popular menu item, and with good reason. This recipe means everyone can enjoy the spicy sweetness at home.
Make Café Rio Sweet Pulled Pork Yourself from Yummy Healthy Easy
19. Tony Roma's Chocolate Martinis
This version of a chocolate martini from Tony Roma's is nice and rich.
Make Chocolate Martinis Yourself from The Kitchen is My Playground
20. McGriddle Breakfast Sandwich
Not only can you make a healthy McGriddle at home, it's paleo, too!
Make McGriddle Breakfast Sandwiches Yourself from Lexi's Clean Kitchen
Jane Maynard is a food blogger at This Week for Dinner and Babble, a writer and designer, and a lover of all things chocolate.
Follow Jane on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
