Many of us have our favorite drool-worthydishesthat we can’t wait to order on those rare occasions that we go out to eat. They’re so good that we wish we could have them more often. Well, with a bit ofingenuity, some patience, a dash of persistence—and the right recipe!—you can.
A quick heads up: the links to the recipes are highlighted in the posts if you want to try them yourselves, dear Pandas. Happy cooking!
This post may includeaffiliate links.
ThisCinnabon cinnamon rollsdupe is perfect, except for the frosting. I do one stick of butter softened, 8oz of cream cheese softened, and 3 cups of powdered sugar for the frosting.
Nobu has this miso cod that tastes amazing. It’s also really easy to recreate. Boil mirin and sake. Add miso. Marinate your cod with it over night. Broil for 6 ish minutes. Serve with rice.
My wife made copycat crumbl cookies. They were so good we agreed they were banned from the house and we wouldn’t dabble in the dark arts again.Snowman7784:Can’t speak for op butI found theseto be pretty close and easy!
If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably tried to cook or bake yourfave dishesat home already. In our experience, it can be far more chaotic than it looks at first glance. In the middle of everything, you realize that you don’t have one ingredient, you’ve almost run out of another, and you don’t even have the right equipment to do one of the most important steps.We have some hard-won but simple wisdom to share: make sure to read the recipe in advance. That way, you know what to expect and how long the cooking will take. You can buy everything you need in advance. Meanwhile, you can even do some of the prep work ahead of time. All of this is going to reduce the number of potential missteps you can make. Drastically!
If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably tried to cook or bake yourfave dishesat home already. In our experience, it can be far more chaotic than it looks at first glance. In the middle of everything, you realize that you don’t have one ingredient, you’ve almost run out of another, and you don’t even have the right equipment to do one of the most important steps.
We have some hard-won but simple wisdom to share: make sure to read the recipe in advance. That way, you know what to expect and how long the cooking will take. You can buy everything you need in advance. Meanwhile, you can even do some of the prep work ahead of time. All of this is going to reduce the number of potential missteps you can make. Drastically!
I can make an Egg McMuffin as good as McDonald’s used to make them. You need a small pan with lid and an egg ring:Ingredients:* 1 Egg* 1 slice Canadian Bacon* 1 slice American cheese* Kosher Salt* 1 English Muffin* Butter1. Set pan on stove over medium heat. Place egg ring in center and spray with cooking oil.2. Halve and toast muffin in a standard toaster.3. Once pan has warmed, crack an egg into the ring and reduce heat to medium low. Season egg with just a small pinch of salt. Add a splash of water to the outside of the ring and cover immediately.4. Cook egg for exactly 3 minutes. Meanwhile, muffin should be ready. Butter both halves while still hot.5. Place American cheese on one half. Place the slice of Canadian Bacon on next.6. When the egg has finished, remove ring and pour egg onto sandwich.7. Top with the other muffin half and love life!
Chik-fil-A sauce = 1 part mayonnaise, 1 part sweet barbecue sauce, and a tiny bit of Dijon mustard.
I don’t have a link for where I got this, because it was so long ago I copied it down somewhere. But I think this Texas Roadhouse Rice copycat is pretty similar to the resturant.Texas Roadhouse RiceIngredients:* ½ stick salted butter* 1 c uncooked white rice* 2 c chicken stock* ¼ c soy sauce* 1/3 fresh parsley* 1 t cayenne pepper* 1 T garlic powdered* 1 t minced garlic* 1 T paprika* 1 small yellow onion* Salt* PepperInstructions:1. Mince the onion and parsley. Set aside separately (Don’t combine).2. Using a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir often to keep it from burning.3. When the butter is melted, add in the rice. Cook for about 6 minutes while stirring often. Note that it should be browned evenly.4. Add in ¼ cup of the minced onions. You may add more or less, depending on your taste.5. Cook for 3 minutes while stirring often.6. Add in all of the remaining ingredients then bring them to a boil.7. Boil for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.8. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes until the rice is tender.Personally I cook the onions in the butter before adding the rice, but that’s just my preference.And sometimes I toss the sautéd rice/onions into my rice cooker add the rest of the ingredients on top, give it a good mix, then cook on the white rice setting. When I use my rice cooker, I scale the recipe up to 1.5 so that I use 1.5 cups of white rice because the lowest amount of “cups” my rice cooker has lines for is 2. Then I use the correct amount of everything except chicken broth. The chicken broth I just dump on top to reach the 2 line on the insert of my rice cooker. Is it the correct way to do it? Probably not, but it is handy when I’m shorthanded and trying to get dinner around.
Another thing to always keep front of mind is that we all make mistakes in the kitchen. Even veterans of a thousand lunches and top-tier celebrity chefs aren’t immune to cooking blunders. We could all stand to be more compassionate to ourselves when something doesn’t come out quite right.The secret is to get up from your failure, dust yourself off, and keep at it. Laugh it off if you can! Given enough mindful practice, you’ll only get better. But the key is not to blame yourself or to assume that you can’t do anything right. Some recipes might be too complicated for beginners. Or they’re badly written and lack clarity. It takes a bit of experience to figure out what ingredient combinations and cooking techniques work best together… and which ones don’t make much sense.
Another thing to always keep front of mind is that we all make mistakes in the kitchen. Even veterans of a thousand lunches and top-tier celebrity chefs aren’t immune to cooking blunders. We could all stand to be more compassionate to ourselves when something doesn’t come out quite right.
The secret is to get up from your failure, dust yourself off, and keep at it. Laugh it off if you can! Given enough mindful practice, you’ll only get better. But the key is not to blame yourself or to assume that you can’t do anything right. Some recipes might be too complicated for beginners. Or they’re badly written and lack clarity. It takes a bit of experience to figure out what ingredient combinations and cooking techniques work best together… and which ones don’t make much sense.
Halal cart chicken. Had it in NYC and found the recipe, now it’s in regular rotation
Zuppa Toscanafrom Olive Garden. I don’t know where I found the recipe but the secret is KALE. Otherwise it’s a sausage potato soup. The kale gives it that subtle peppery zing. This is pretty much a match for it. My recipe is half size & from the usenet forums lol
No changes to the recipe, it’sPanda Express’s orange chicken
During a previous interview with Bored Panda, Jake Butler from the UK organizationSave the Studentpointed out that the best way tosave moneyon fast food and takeaways is not to buy them. “The good news is that you can easily recreate your favorites at home for a fraction of the price. It’s much healthier this way, too. Google is definitely your friend here, as you can find fakeaway recipes from a number of sites,” he told us.
For example, at one point, McDonald’spublished instructionsfor making their breakfast egg McMuffins at home.
Lofthouse Sugar CookiesandRed Lobster Cheddar Bay BiscuitsBoth of which I have on regular rotation in my house.
PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wrapsfrom Damn Delicious. This is a staple in our house.
“The ingredients for most of these recipes aren’t too pricey, and you can still hunt for bargains to make the dish cheaper. Buying in bulk is always a winner too when it comes to saving money, so it’s a great idea to get together with friends and maybe take it in turns to make your favorite fakeaways,” Butler said, adding that seasoning is incredibly important when cooking.“Salt and pepper won’t break the bank, but they can make or break a meal. Don’t forget that sugar can take a dish to the next level too.”
“The ingredients for most of these recipes aren’t too pricey, and you can still hunt for bargains to make the dish cheaper. Buying in bulk is always a winner too when it comes to saving money, so it’s a great idea to get together with friends and maybe take it in turns to make your favorite fakeaways,” Butler said, adding that seasoning is incredibly important when cooking.
“Salt and pepper won’t break the bank, but they can make or break a meal. Don’t forget that sugar can take a dish to the next level too.”
Panera breadcopycat broccoli cheddar. My whole family likes this better than the OG now!
The cucumber saladfrom Din Tai Fung. No other cucumber salad recipe holds a candle to this recipe.
Red Lobster Cheddar Bay BiscuitsBiscuits2 1/2 c. Bisquik4 Tbsp. COLD butter, cubed1 1/4 c. grated sharp cheddar3/4 c. COLD half & half1/4 tsp. garlic powderTopping2 Tbsp. butter, melted1/2 tsp. dried parsley1/2 tsp. garlic powder1/4 tsp. kosher salt1. Preheat oven to 400°.2. Combine the Bisquik and cold butter with a fork or pastry cutter until the butter is the size of small peas.3. Add in the cheddar, half & half, and garlic powder, mixing until just combined. (If the oven is not yet up to temp, refrigerate dough until oven is ready.)4. Using a 1/4 c. scoop, drop the dough onto an ungreased sheet pan, and bake for 15-17 minutes.5. When the biscuits are almost done baking, combine the topping ingredients.6. Brush topping on the biscuits as soon as they come out of the oven.
Which of your favorite dishes have you tried to recreate at home, Pandas? Were you happy with the end results? Have you found any ‘copycat’ recipes that work surprisingly well?
Torchy’s GuacamoleMay very well be the real mccoy given the author.
Breakfast sausage. I can’t remember where I found this recipe, most likely from a YouTube video, but here it is:1lb ground pork1tsp salt1/2tsp parsley1/2tsp sage1/4tsp black pepper1/4tsp thyme1/4tsp coriander seed1/8tsp red pepper1/4tsp msg (optional)We moved to Lithuania and I haven’t found coriander seed here yet, so I sub in cumin, neither can I find msg here so I don’t use it either. Now I haven’t had Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage in a while, but this recipe is just as good as what my memory of it is. We are going back to the States in a couple weeks, and I plan on trying this recipe and some Jimmy Dean back to back to see just how close they really are. Having said that, this recipe is legit. You can make a whole bunch of it and keep in a jar, and use 1tbsp and 1/8tsp for each pound of ground pork. Or use a bit extra to make the flavor a bit stronger.Edit: I know I can order coriander seed and msg online, but I don’t bother since I love the recipe as is.Edit2: I also grind the mix into a powder with my coffee grinder before mixing it into the meat.
I love Olive Garden’sChicken Scampiso this one is my favorite.
Fairground smoked turkey legs. The secret is to brine them with a little prague powder to develop the ham like flavor. .
I’m a sucker for the Cheesecake Factory farfalle pasta. It’s only about five million calories, give or take. This is areally good recipeI’ve tried
A local restaurant served a mushroom soup that my wife loved. I managed to come close enough to keep her happy.😀3 medium leeks3 medium onions1/2 lb. white mushrooms1/2 lb. crimini mushrooms1/2 lb. maitake mushrooms1/2 lb. oyster mushrooms1/2 lb. beech mushrooms1/4 lb. porcini mushrooms1 tbsp powdered dried mushrooms ( I buy a mix of dried mushrooms process in a blender. Massive umami)6 small potatoes4 cloves garlic3 scallions2 quarts chicken stock1/2 lemon½ tsp Tellicheri pepper, 1 tsp. marjoram, 1 tsp bouquet garniRoughly chop the mushrooms and sauté in butter with half the pepper until liquid has evaporated and they start to brown. Set the mushrooms aside.Chop the onions, leeks and garlic and sauté in butter with remaining pepper and marjoram until translucent. Peel and chop the potatoes and add to the pot. Add the chicken stock and bouquet garni and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Remove the bouquet garni and add the lemon juice and the mushrooms. Puree with the blender and sieve the mixture for smooth results, or leave for more texture. Just before serving, slice the scallions and add to the pot.Add a cup of cream just before serving if you like really heavy soupServe with fresh croutons.
See Also on Bored Panda
TheseLevain copycatchocolate walnut cookies
Not sure if it is totally identical, but this crunchwrap recipe (Taco Bell) always hits the spot:Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme. I use the leftover tostadas for chilaquiles.
Nailed homemadeAnimal Style Friesfrom In-N-Out Absolutely nailed the sauce. A mix of sweet and savory and the right amount of Pickles in there for the tang. Also the Fries themselves were better than those In-N-Out ones (c’mon, you all know they’re not great!).
Olive Gardenminestrone soupSeriously delicious and tastes just like OGs version. I make it frequently.
This tastes exactly likeKFC coleslaw
These Starbucks Cranberry Bliss BarsThey are the first hit on google but damn they are identical, maybe even better. I’ve made them a bunch of times. They are very dangerous lol.
Olive GardensFive Cheese Ziti
Manitoba honey dill saucewhich is great for fried chicken and tendersThat andManitoba day boys
ThisChick fil a mac and cheeserecipe is pretty on point.
Continue reading with Bored Panda PremiumUnlimited contentAd-free browsingDark modeSubscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited contentAd-free browsingDark mode
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
ChiChi’s Cancun Enchiladas. These were my favorite birthday dinner for a couple years growing up- and I love them- imitation crab and all.Fun Fact: as of 2014 there was still a ChiChi’s In Brussels of all places 😂 I was so excited I snapped a pic bc I knew no one would believe me!
Zippy’s chili
Bi-Rite Creamery’sSalted Caramel Ice Cream
Thisbourbon chickenis just like the mall food court. Crazy good
P.F. Chang’sSpicy Chicken
Stella Parks’cookies and crème Blizzardis spot on.
Starbuck’sBlueberry bars
TheChipotle sofritas!!
Not the same, but better. Zuppa Toscana1 lb spicy ground pork (Kroger brand works best).3 slices of bacon.1 medium onion (white or yellow)3-4 potatoes unpeeled, sliced half moon shaped.2-3 garlic cloves minced.3 cups chicken broth3.5 cups water1 cup heavy whipping cream.3 cups Kale sliced.Brown ground pork in pan. In the same pan, fry up the bacon, chop it up, and place in pot. Chop up onion and cook in the same pan you cooked the meat, about 5 mins until tender. Add it to the pot along with the garlic. Add stock, water, and potatoes boil for 25 to 30 minutes. Add Kale and the whipping cream boil for 15 minutes. Serve with bread sticks.
I was surprised at Serious Eat’sFaux Chick-fil-a sandwichesThey were delicious! (It’s a Kenji recipe.) While these aren’t specifically named a Chick-fil-a imitation, they’re very similar to an older post of Kenji’s & clearly make reference to the chain! I hate frying but, these are worth it.
Modal closeAdd Your Answer!Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Modal close
Add Your Answer!Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Not your original work?Add source
Modal closeModal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Modal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
Upload
UploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
Error occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.
TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermark
InstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermark
FacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
ChangeSourceTitle
You May Like“Never Went Back”: 30 Ingredients That Were Game-Changing In People’s CookingJustinas Keturka30 Of The Best Acts Of Delicious Compliance (New Pics)Greta JaruševičiūtėNetizens Share Their 35 Most Hated Foods That Everyone Else Seems To Simply AdoreDenis Krotovas
Justinas Keturka
Greta Jaruševičiūtė
Denis Krotovas
Food
