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Copycat Restaurant Recipes To Make When You Want to Order In

August 26, 2020 by Virginia Boyles Leave a Comment

There’s nothing wrong with ordering delivery, and I have certainly done my fair share, especially in 2020. (Anyone else feel like their comfort food intake has gone up significantly this year?) However, I am also a grad student on a budget, and I can’t afford to eat out all the time. That’s why I love WWL recipes like the Better-Than-Takeout General Tso’s Tofu and Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Pad Thai. Just knowing that I can make a meal that’s as good as (if not better than) what I could order is sometimes enough to motivate me to close the DoorDash app and turn on the stove. 

If you’re craving something from a restaurant but don’t want to spend the money to order in, here are some copycat restaurant recipes that may help you satisfy your cravings while saving money. 

What's In This Post

  • Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
  • Copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Copycat Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
  • Copycat Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Sandwich
  • Copycat Sweetgreen Kale Caesar Salad
  • Copycat Jersey Mike’s Club Sub
  • Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl
  • Copycat Panera Mac & Cheese
  • Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich
  • Copycat McDonald’s Big Mac
  • Copycat Cheesecake Factory Avocado Egg Rolls
  • Copycat Starbucks Spinach-Feta Wraps 
  • Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

copycat restaurant recipes taco bell crunch wrap

This reminds me of the good old college days. While the drive thru is certainly more affordable than delivery, you can get way more bang for your buck by making these at home, and they’re far more customizable this way. This is a vegetarian version, but you could easily add ground beef or turkey if you prefer. 

Copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps

copycat restaurant recipes pf changs

If I am going to make something at home rather than get takeout, I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen. Luckily these lettuce wraps come together quicker than it would take to have it delivered and are super tasty. You might want to add a side of rice to make them a bit more filling.  

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

copycat restaurant recipes gnocchi

This soup is so comforting and simple to make at home. This is the perfect recipe for making a big batch, freezing in Souper Cubes, and reheating on one of those days when you need something to warm your insides. 

Copycat Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Sandwich

arbys roast beef sandwhich

My grandmother lives near Buffalo, so growing up, I ate a lot of beef on weck sandwiches. As a result, nothing is as comforting to me as roast beef. This recipe is so easy and quick to make that it would take more time to go through the drive thru! 

Copycat Sweetgreen Kale Caesar Salad

sweet green salad

When I was working in Dupont Circle in DC, I would buy this salad multiple times a week for lunch. But that was back when I was living rent-free at my parents’ house and could afford to spend $10 on a salad as often as I wanted. They don’t have Sweetgreen where I live in Colorado, so I will definitely be using this recipe to reminisce about those times. 

Copycat Jersey Mike’s Club Sub

copycat restaurant recipes jersey mikes

I love a tasty sub, but I don’t want to pay a delivery fee for something that would be so simple for me to make myself. This copycat recipe allows you to create the Club Sub at home for a lot cheaper than you would pay at the restaurant. 

Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl

chipotle bowl

Burrito bowls are perfect for lunch: filling, tasty, and totally customizable to your liking. (They’re actually delicious for breakfast too, now that I mention it). If you wanted to make this into a burrito, all you need is a large tortilla and some wrapping skills (watch this video to learn how to roll a burrito).  

Copycat Panera Mac & Cheese

panera mac and cheese

This is the actual, certifiable recipe used by Panera, so you know it’s good. You could even serve it in a bread bowl like they do at the restaurant! All you have to do is buy a sourdough loaf and make a hole for the mac and cheese. 

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich

copycat restaurant recipes chikfila chicken sandwhich

I avoid Chick-Fil-A because I don’t agree with the company’s values, but I admit I like their chicken. This copycat recipe lets me save money and spend more in line with my morals. As a bonus, here’s a recipe for Chick-Fil-A sauce as well. 

Copycat McDonald’s Big Mac

mcdonalds big mac

Who doesn’t love a good burger? What makes a Big Mac especially delicious is definitely the sauce. I made a Big Mac Salad last year with that sauce and I still think about it sometimes. Feel free to search Pinterest for the salad recipe, but fair warning: diet culture everywhere. You can simply throw the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and skip the bun if you choose. 

Copycat Cheesecake Factory Avocado Egg Rolls

cheesecake factory egg rolls

This is such a delicious appetizer. I haven’t been to a Cheesecake Factory in quite some time, but I occasionally crave these. I had no idea that they were so easy to make too! 

Copycat Starbucks Spinach-Feta Wraps 

When I saw this recipe come out on the WWL meal plan, I essentially became the heart eyes emoji. I have always loved this breakfast from Starbucks, but at this point, I am not leaving my house without eating breakfast because no one needs to see me hangry. These wraps are super affordable and perfect for meal prep. 

Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

Nothing will take me back to trolling the mall as a tween than the smell of Cinnabon. Now you can eat this tasty treat without stepping foot outside your home! This is a more time-intensive recipe, but if you plan ahead, you can prep it the night before and simply pop them in the oven when you’re ready to have them for brunch. 

 

If you still plan on ordering in tonight, no judgment here.

There’s nothing wrong with taking the night off from cooking. But if you’re trying to cook at home more, there are so many copycat restaurant recipes that can help you recreate your favorite meals your own way.

The WWL Meal Prep Program offers a variety of takeout-inspired recipes that you’re sure to love, like the BBQ Buffet Meal Prep and this Copycat Shake Shack Recipe. Try a 7-day free trial today!

 

Filed Under: Blog, Recipe Roundups Tagged With: asian inspired, recipe, recipe roundup, takeout inspired

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Workweek Lunch | Talia Koren
Savory 🌯 or sweet 🥞 breakfasts: which are yo Savory 🌯 or sweet 🥞 breakfasts: which are you more in the mood for lately? Tell me with your fave breakfast emoji in the comments!
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🌯Favorite savory breakfasts in WWL:
-all our breakfast burritos
-frittatas
-breakfast sandwiches
-savory overnight oats
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🥞Favorite sweet breakfasts in WWL
-muffins
-scones
-pancakes and waffles
-sweet overnight oats
-all the granola
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We have loads of easy breakfast recipes in the WWL Program! The soyrizo/chorizo burritos are coming soon 🙌🏼
Meal prep motivation... that has NOTHING to do wit Meal prep motivation... that has NOTHING to do with weight loss 🙌🏼 what’s motivating you these days? If you’re not feeling motivated but genuinely want to prepare food for the week, what’s stopping you?
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Keep swiping for real life motivation from the amazing folks in this community!!
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Stay tuned on stories for my #sundaymealprep process!
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Recipes here: banh mi bowls, sheet pan sausage meal prep, chicken piccata and muffins. Recipes are in the WWL Program for members only! Learn more about our weekly meal plan membership in my bio link - get started with a free trial if you’re on the fence!! You can cancel anytime if it’s not for you.
Figuring out the best portion size for meal prep i Figuring out the best portion size for meal prep is a process! But it’s something only you can decide for yourself through experimentation.
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And even when you know generally how much you like to eat in one sitting, you’ll still get it wrong sometimes and make too much/too little food. That’s ok!!
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The containers in the top row of this photo are the “standard” sizes of meal prep containers you’ll find online or in grocery stores. You can find links in story highlights!
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Just note that even though a container holds 3 cups of food doesn’t mean there’s actually 3 cups of food in there! I never fill mine to the very top. That’s just a practicality thing.
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Also 3 cups of a salad is different than 3 cups of chili. It’s not just about the container size, but the balance of what’s IN them too. And I don’t mean balance as in “healthy” vs not... I mean balance of macronutrients like protein, carbs, fat, veg etc.
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For our recipes: most of our members say the portion sizes are on the bigger side, but that only means they get more servings out of it! We never tell anyone how much to eat.
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We always get questions around pancakes, muffins, breads etc. it’s hard because YOU are the one deciding to eat 1 muffin in one sitting or 4. Or all of them. We don’t care. Same with pancakes - it depends on how big YOU make them and how many you want to eat. Same with wraps. How big are your wraps? If they’re small, would you make 2 wraps in a “meal” or 1? It’s really up to you.
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Sometimes I prep too much and don’t finish meals. Sometimes it’s too little and I eat more after the meal. My best advice: go into meal prep knowing your body needs different amounts of food every day. At least you’re prepared because you DO need to eat every day!
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I hope this helps clear up some questions around portion size, which is often sooo connected to dieting and restriction.  But it’s really up to YOU to determine.
Coming next week to WWL: soyrizo/chorizo breakfast Coming next week to WWL: soyrizo/chorizo breakfast burritos! 🌯It kinda rhymes. And it tastes so good!
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👍🏼I’m storing mine in @stasherbag (gallon size) in the fridge and reheating them in the microwave and broiler (yes if you have an air fryer or toaster oven go for it, I don’t have one!)
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👈🏼Swipe to see a burrito rolling tutorial in here too!
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😍We love prepping breakfasts in the WWL Program. Learn more in my bio link about our weekly meal plans, grocery lists, meal planning tools and easy recipes for omnivores and plant-based eaters!
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Oh and yeah I did the trendy quesadilla hack with the leftovers for my lunch today 💯💯
Yes, it’s definitely easier said than done but t Yes, it’s definitely easier said than done but this is basically it. 👇🏼
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It seems counterintuitive but the answer to binge eating isn’t more restriction.
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Restriction is generally what fuels binge eating a good amount of time, although not always. This post is meant to address binge eating as a result of restriction, not Binge Eating Disorder. Just to make that clear!
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And I’m sending compassion and virtual hugs to anyone who is currently dealing with binge eating in any form.
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I used to try so hard to avoid chocolate, peanut m&ms (my fave), bread, pasta, cereal and sweets in general by not having them in the house. But guess what I used to think about ALL THE TIME? All the foods I restricted. And when I had an opportunity to eat them, I ate A LOT of them because I thought it was my last chance. Which led to more guilt and more restriction followed by, you guessed it! More binge eating. It’s such a rollercoaster.
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I started making peace with these foods by buying them for the house one at a time until I felt more in control around them. Until I forgot they were even there. Restriction gives food power over us. Permission does the opposite.
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Now I hardly ever binge eat thanks to incorporating all the foods I like into my daily/weekly eating routine AND eating regularly throughout the day, which is why I don’t get ravenous at night. It took time but I feel a lot better.
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Where are you in your journey when it comes to this? What are steps you’re taking/you’ve taken to help make peace with your binge foods?
It feels like a year went by since we put out last It feels like a year went by since we put out last Wednesday’s new meal plan. 😅
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It’s been a crazy and stressful time to be alive yeah? If this week you noticed a change in your appetite caused by stress - that’s NORMAL. Do your best to roll with it and practice self compassion. And maybe cooking can be a good distraction while also giving you an chance to take care of your future self.
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👈🏼Swipe through to see what we have featured this week in the WWL Program for members!
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👍🏼All of these recipes are either new or freshly updated! Lots to try, and if these don’t inspire you, we have HUNDREDS of meal prep recipes to choose from. You can create your own meal plans in our program! Yay flexibility!
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👇🏼We have:
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🍯Honey Dijon Salmon Greens & Orzo Bowls
(Vegan alt: Everything Tofu)
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🥦Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
(Vegan alt: Chickpea balls)
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🥕Sheet Pan Veggie Soup (vegan)
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🍓Berry Parfaits with Homemade Granola
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🧇Nut Butter & Jelly Waffles!
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❓Which are you excited to try? Share below!
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🙌🏼And if you want to dive in with this plan and our recipes, planning tools and private community, sign up for the WWL Program in my bio link! Can’t wait to see you inside and help you have a little less stress in your life.
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Photos and recipes by me and @pinkleme, our assistant recipe developer, meal plan production by @alyssalash28
This weekend’s prep was super fun and fairly eas This weekend’s prep was super fun and fairly easy! I still had plenty of time this weekend to enjoy the farmer’s market, watch movies with my partner, finish an audiobook and do some deep cleaning.
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👈🏼Swipe left to see the cost breakdown of what I spent on groceries this week. We consistently spend the most on produce each week thanks to having a stocked pantry!
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👇🏼MEALS
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BTW most of these might not end up in the WWL Program - more on that later! But I hope they give you some good inspiration.
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🥑Mission-Inspired Burrito Bowls with avocado, crema and pico de gallo on the side! I made the tastiest carne asada for this recipe in my cast-iron.
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🥦🧀Broccoli cheddar soup!
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🌯Roasted sweet potato and chickpea wraps with avocado, kale and radishes. These are meant to be eaten cold or room temp,
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🫐Homemade Granola Parfaits! These are coming to WWL tomorrow for members - learn more in my bio link. Yes, the granola did get soft but I didn’t mind!
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🍿Snacks: celery, homemade hummus, grapes and homemade popcorn.
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📆All of these meals will be eaten by Thursday! We reheat them in the microwave as needed.
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🤷🏻‍♀️I don’t know the calories because I don’t count!
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😍Feels so good to be back into a regular work/prep routine after the holidays and I’m super motivated by our personal financial goals for 2021 to keep going.
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❓Got questions about this prep? Drop them below!
When I stopped dieting (restricting food to be the When I stopped dieting (restricting food to be the smallest version of me) my world opened up.
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✨It was like all of the sudden I had the time and mental energy to focus on other things like side hustling, dating, planning my move to Colorado, exploring NYC with my friends more and reading more. Oh and learning how to cook with regular butter and flour. 👩🏻‍🍳That’s what I remember about that season of my life. I can’t believe how much time I used to spend in the gym, counting calories and generally avoiding social situations where there would be food  that was outside of my control. And the stress!! All that stress and guilt probably did more harm than what I was eating.
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✨Over the weekend I received more DMs than usual about my food choices and how I “balance” certain things I eat. The truth is I don’t think about it that much anymore. It’s taken years to get here but I can trust my body and thanks to cooking, it’s not a challenge for me to incorporate a variety of health-promoting AND flavorful ingredients.
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✨It’s hard to be fully present when our minds are cluttered with thoughts around food based in guilt and fear (thanks to diet culture). Health is important. But is the focus on it holding us back from actually just living?? We all end up in the same place - I know that’s morbid but it’s true.
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✨Something to think about: does the way you think about food serve you or hold you back? No judgement no matter where you are in your journey.
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✨And if you find the diet mentality helps you or is positive, I’m not here trying to change your mind. My aim is to help folks who may be ready to explore new ways to think about food outside of what’s “good” or “bad.”
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✨This mentality switch doesn’t happen overnight! But I hope this post helps you become more aware of how you think about food. Always come from a place of curiosity when it comes to your relationship with food, not judgement.
Here are mine, what are yours? 👇🏼👇🏼 . Here are mine, what are yours? 👇🏼👇🏼
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🙏🏼I hope if you’re stuck on what to make for the week, this can give you some inspiration.
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🙌🏼These are all easy, versatile and the types of meals I make when I need a break from recipe development - which sometimes requires me (and my assistant developer) to eat food we aren’t necessarily in the mood for. It’s part of the job!
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Stay tuned in stories to watch my meal prep session go down today!! Looking forward to this week already... hoping it’s better than the first week of 2021 🙏🏼
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RECIPES for these meals can be found in the WWL Program for members (except for the freezer preps - they’re not ready yet). Learn more about our weekly flexible meal plans, recipes and grocery lists in my bio link! You can jump in on a free trial before you commit.
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