These Copycat Recipes Perfectly Re-Create Some of the Most Popular Restaurant Appetizers
When you can't decide if you'd rather order in or cook for yourself, restaurant copycat appetizers offer the perfect solution. You can have Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin' Onion, The Cheesecake Factory's fried mac and cheese, the delectable queso from Chili's, and more of your favorite appetizers from the comfort of your own home. And the best part is you don't have to wait for a table! Read ahead to discover all the recipes you'll want when you feel like treating yourself without the restaurant prices. Staying in never sounded so good!
— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
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The Cheesecake Factory's Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
The only thing better than mac and cheese? Fried mac and cheese.
Get the recipe: fried mac and cheese balls
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Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin' Onion
Possibly the king of all appetizers is Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin' Onion. This recipe allows you to have the epic dish as an appetizer without even leaving your house.
Get the recipe: Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin' Onion
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TGI Fridays' Mozzarella Sticks
Nothing frozen can compare to homemade mozzarella sticks because these are perfectly crispy, gooey, and savory.
Get the recipe: TGI Fridays' mozzarella sticks
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Panera Bread's Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
If you're more of a tomato soup fan than a broccoli-cheddar one, you're sure to love some of Panera's other top-notch soups, like this creamy tomato basil soup with roasted garlic and asiago cheese.
Get the recipe: Panera Bread's creamy tomato basil soup
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The Cheesecake Factory's Buffalo Blasts
Like buffalo chicken on crack, these bite-size buffalo blasts are fried to golden-brown perfection and loaded with plenty of shredded chicken and cheese.
Get the recipe: The Cheesecake Factory's Buffalo Blasts
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Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits
The key to making your own Cheddar Bay Biscuits is to not skimp on the butter, garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, and parsley.
Get the recipe: Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits
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Buffalo Wild Wings' Honey-Barbecue Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings has dozens of sauces to dip wings in, but its Honey BBQ is an all-time fan favorite. This sauce's tangy and sweet taste is hard to beat on top of wings. Seriously, it's finger-licking good.
Get the recipe: Buffalo Wild Wings-Inspired honey-barbecue wings
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Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Dumplings Soup
Inspired by Panera's classic broccoli cheddar soup, this recipe takes it to the next level and combines it with chicken and dumplings.
Get the recipe: broccoli cheddar chicken and dumplings soup
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Olive Garden's Toasted Ravioli
Crunchy, cheesy, toasted ravioli is one of the best things on the menu, and this copycat makes it easy by using store-bought ravioli.
Get the recipe: Olive Garden's toasted ravioli
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P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps
If you want a simple (and semi-healthy) recipe to make at home, P.F. Chang's chicken lettuce wraps is it. The chicken's sauce is what makes the whole thing, and before you ask what it tastes like, we suggest trying it for yourself.
Get the recipe: P.F. Chang's chicken lettuce wraps
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The Cheesecake Factory's Avocado Egg Rolls
The real star of these avocado egg rolls — besides the crunchy exterior — is the cilantro dipping sauce made with sour cream, jalapeños, garlic, lime, and fresh cilantro.
Get the recipe: The Cheesecake Factory's avocado egg rolls
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Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana
With bacon, spicy Italian sausage, garlic, potatoes, and cream, this rich soup is the definition of comfort food.
Get the recipe: zuppa Toscana
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TGI Fridays' Loaded Potato Skins
Potato skins are the one appetizer guaranteed to be eaten by everyone at a dinner party.
Get the recipe: TGI Fridays' loaded potato skins
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Panera Bread's Fuji Apple Chicken Salad
Crisp apples, fresh chicken, crunchy pecans, and savory gorgonzola come together for a quick and easy salad that will actually have you coming back for more bites.
Get the recipe: Panera Bread's Fuji apple chicken salad
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Chili's Chile Con Queso
There's nothing quite like the cheesy, beefy queso from Chili's, but with the right mixture of spices like cumin, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne, you can re-create the iconic appetizer at home.
Get the recipe: chile con queso
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Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.'s Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp
These beer-battered shrimp with shredded coconut and orange sauce for dipping would make Bubba Gump proud.
Get the recipe: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.'s Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp
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Olive Garden's Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This creamy soup has pillowy gnocchi, shredded chicken, and herbs like rosemary and thyme to brighten it up.
Get the recipe: creamy chicken gnocchi soup
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Outback Steakhouse's Loaded Bloomin' Onion
Outback took its classic Bloomin' Onion up a notch by topping it with fries, cheese, and bacon.
Get the recipe: Outback's Loaded Bloomin' Onion
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Panera Bread's BBQ Chicken Salad
This bright salad is loaded with tomatoes, black beans, corn, tortilla strips, and cilantro, and it's finished off with a BBQ-ranch hybrid dressing.
Get the recipe: Panera's BBQ chicken salad
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Chipotle's Guacamole
All you need to re-create Chipotle's fresh guacamole are ripe avocados, cilantro, red onions, jalapeños, and tomatoes.
Get the recipe: Chipotle's guacamole
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Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar Soup
No trip to Panera Bread is complete without the iconic broccoli cheddar soup, which is hands down one of the richest, cheesiest, most satisfying soups you'll ever have.
Get the recipe: Panera Bread's broccoli cheddar soup
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Chili's Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings
One of the best sauces for Chili's wings is the honey chipotle sauce, which you can re-create with this recipe for honey-barbecue wings. Honey, liquid smoke, chili powder, and more spices join forces for a sweet and sticky wing that's irresistible.
Get the recipe: honey-barbecue chicken wings
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Olive Garden's Minestrone Soup
Minestrone soup is hands down one of the best things from Olive Garden, and this copycat version does not disappoint.
Get the recipe: Olive Garden's minestrone soup
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Chili's Southwestern Egg Rolls
No trip to Chili's is complete without the famous Southwestern egg rolls.
Get the recipe: Chili's Southwestern egg rolls
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Sonic's Extreme Tater Tots
Like chili cheese fries but with tater tots instead, this is a seriously epic snack inspired by one of the best items from Sonic.
Get the recipe: Sonic's Extreme Tater Tots
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The Cheesecake Factory's Bang Bang Shrimp
A must-order appetizer at The Cheesecake Factory is the Bang Bang Shrimp. Don't forget to pair it with a homemade sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Get the recipe: The Cheesecake Factory's Bang Bang Shrimp
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Olive Garden's Pasta Fagioli Soup
Pasta fagioli soup is like a mashup of pasta with tomato sauce, minestrone soup, and Italian sausage soup. It has the best of both the pasta and soup worlds.
Get the recipe: pasta fagioli soup
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McDonald's French Fries
McDonald's fries are a good idea any time, especially as an appetizer.
Get the recipe: McDonald's french fries
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Olive Garden's Salad
Bottomless salad is all yours if you make a big batch of this copycat salad with olives, tomatoes, pepperoncini, and more of the good stuff.
Get the recipe: Olive Garden's salad
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