Save your money and make a healthier version of these popular dishes.
If you’re craving your favorite restaurant meal, don’t beat yourself up. It’s completely normal to want some of your standby favorites! The real challenge is being strong enough to skip the takeout and stick to your meal plan, instead. We’d like to make it easier for you by giving you what you want: 7 copycat recipes better than the original.
These recipes are cheaper, healthier, and they don’t require you to make the drive to your favorite restaurant. In addition, you won’t become derailed from your weight loss goals by a restaurant craving. Those all sound like wins to me!
All of these recipes are easy to make at home. Most of them can be made for your weeknight meal. So, get ready to learn how to make copycat recipes that are better than going out. They taste so much like the originals, you’ll probably even trick the family into thinking that you’re having a cheat day!
1. Copycat Sushi Volcano Roll
Sushi is one of the few restaurant dishes that isn’t full of fat and calories. It’s usually pretty good for you, but I’ll tell you that meal isn’t cheap. It’s really easy to rack up a bill…or leave hungry trying to avoid one. Once you start making sushi at home, you’ll realize it’s just as good and significantly less expensive. This sushi volcano roll is easy to make – you can either use shrimp, salmon, or bay scallops.
Try it here: Copycat Sushi Volcano Roll
2.Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls
Chipotle is absolutely my one, everlasting guilty pleasure. The only problem is I end up loading up on the cheese, avocado, and sour cream. I can’t say no when I get to that part of the line! It turns a potentially healthy meal into a calorie-laden one. These copycat burrito bowls sneak in a few extra vegetables (and nutrition) by using cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
Try it here: Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls
3. Vegan KFC Copycat Coleslaw
I have really fond memories of KFC growing up. Their chicken was crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. We always took a party pack to block parties, and no meal was complete without that creamy coleslaw. I try to avoid the fast food joints these days, but I do crave that coleslaw! This vegan copycat recipe is almost better than the original.
Try it here: Vegan KFC Copycat Coleslaw
4. Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad
There’s really nothing fancy about this Panera Bread salad…except that it’s completely delicious. Luckily, it’s also quick, easy, and inexpensive to make at home. I love the way the crunchy apples contrast the soft chicken, and then there’s those pecans. Glazed pecans should almost be illegal they’re so tasty! Toss it all together with funky blue cheese, spicy red onions, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Try it here: Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad
5. Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets
Okay I’m going to be very real here: I used to go to Chick-fil-A anytime I had the opportunity. Luckily for me, the closest Chick-fil-A happens to be over 50 miles away, and I always seem to visit that town on a Sunday, so I save myself from the calorie-bomb. Then, I started making this copycat recipe, and it’s way better than going out! It’s so much healthier, but it still captures everything I love about chicken nuggets.
Try it here: Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets
6. Homemade Copycat Big Mac Recipe
This is the ultimate copycat recipe. We’re taking something so completely iconic in the fast food world and turning it into a healthier, homemade version. How cool is that! The key is really in the special sauce and making sure you shred the lettuce. Whole leaves of lettuce just won’t do – it’s all about the way those little crunchy pieces of lettuce just melt into the sauce.
Try it here: Homemade Copycat Big Mac Recipe
7.Healthier Olive Garden Garlic Rosemary Chicken Recipe
Skip filling up on those endless breadsticks (and all of the calories that go along with them). This is a skinnier version of my Olive Garden favorite: garlic rosemary chicken. The chicken is nice and juicy, and the mushrooms absorb all of that garlicky goodness. This is one restaurant quality meal that’s also completely guilt-free.
Try it here: Healthier Olive Garden Garlic Rosemary Chicken Recipe
Enjoyed our list of copycat recipes better than the original? Discover more:
- 10 Healthy and Cheap Family Meals Under $10
- 10-Minute Vegetarian “Sushi” Bowl Recipe
- Quinoa Veggie Rolls
What do you think about these copycat recipes that are better than going out? Let us know in the comments!
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