Fast Food Recipes

Have you ever thought about making your favorite fast food at home?

Maybe you want to think outside the bun and try something from a chain that isn’t available in your area? Or, perhaps, you’re trying to eat fresh and want to make a version using high-quality ingredients?

Well, I’ve got some copycat fast food recipes that’ll make your whole family say “I’m lovin’ it!”. So, why not have it your way and make some finger-licking’ good meals?

From burgers to fries, to sandwiches and soups, you’ll really taste the difference in these homemade versions of chain classics!

#1 – Copycat Chick-fil-a Nuggets

A food basket filled with copycat Chik-fil-a nuggets, waffle fries, and honey mustard dipping sauce.

Your kids will never believe that these are homemade – they taste just like Chick-fil-a! The best part? You can feed your whole family for the price of about one kids meal.

#2 – Taco Bell Quesadilla

A slices of homemade Taco Bell quesadilla stacked on top of each other on a small white plate.

The quesadillas at Taco Bell are so delicious thanks to the creamy jalapeño sauce that they use. This recipe perfectly recreates it with common ingredients home cooks have easy access to.

#3 – Homemade Panda Express Orange Chicken

A white bowl filled with white rice that's topped with copycat Panda Express orange glazed chicken nuggets.

Everybody loves this sweet and spicy Panda Express orange chicken – it’s their most popular dish! Now you can make it any time your family is craving it.

#4 – Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili

A ladle filled with Wendy's chili. An Instant Pot is out of focus in the background.

Big batch Wendy’s chili faster than you can go through the drive-thru with this Instant Pot copycat version. It’s so easy! Just dump all the ingredients in, set it, and forget it.

#5 – Homemade McDonald’s Big Mac

A hand holds up a homemade big mac that has a bite taken out of it.

Now you can have two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun without ever having to leave your house! And if you’re wondering if the sauce is the same – it’s dead on.

#6 – Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich

A food basket filled with homemade spicy chicken sandwiches with spicy mayo and pickles.

It seems like just yesterday this sandwich dropped, wreaking havoc nationwide. The demand was unprecedented for a good reason – the crispy spicy chicken fillet, spicy mayo, and soft brioche bun come together to make one of fast food’s most indulgent and delicious sandwiches.

#7 – Homemade Animal Fries

A spatula holds up homemade animal fries covered in American cheese and grilled onions.

Who doesn’t love this legendary West Coast favorite? No matter how far you are from an In-N-Out, you can have these cheesy and onion covered french fries anytime – no secret menu knowledge required!

#8 – Subway Sweet Onion Sauce

Close up of a glass bottle filled with brown subway sweet onion sauce. You can see the poppyseeds suspended throughout the sauce.

I was absolutely beside myself when Subway discontinued their sweet onion sauce. But I didn’t waste much time fretting, instead, I made a homemade version that is just as tangy, sweet, and delicious as the original.

#9 – Panda Express Wok Seared Steak & Shrimp

A skillet filled with steak bites, shrimp, snap peas, and bell pepper.

Shrimp and steak combine with classic Asian spices to make this savory Panda Express stir fry. Everyone will be so impressed when you serve it…they’ll never believe how easy it was to make!

#10 – Homemade Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake

A metal pie server holds up a slice of copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake.

This homemade version of DQ’s ice cream cake has delicious layers of vanilla ice cream, fudge, and Oreo cookie crunchies that all get topped with whipped cream frosting. It’s even better than the real thing!

#11 – Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Roll Ups

Several tortilla roll ups oozing cheese on a cutting board.

You’ll love how easy it is to make this Taco Bell classic at home. Just two ingredients, a couple of minutes, and a microwave is all it takes to recreate every kid’s favorite menu item.

#12 – Homemade Sonic Ocean Water

A pint glass filled with blue ocean water and pebble ice.

You’re probably going to need something to help wash down all these savory fast food recipes and I can’t think of anything better than Sonic’s Ocean Water. You can make the infamous blue coconut flavored soda at home with just three ingredients.

#13 – Chipotle Sofritas

A bowl filled with rice, copycat chipotle sofritas, corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro.

Instead of overpaying for vegan sofritas at Chipotle, make your own at home! It’s a great budget-friendly way to hit your macros, because just one serving packs 17 grams of protein.

#14 – Zax Sauce

A french fry being dipped into homemade Zax sauce.

Learning how to make Zaxby’s signature sauce at home means you can put it on more than just wings and things platters. I love it on hamburgers, sandwiches, and salads.

#15 – Copycat Popeye’s Blackened Chicken Tenders

A cutting board filled with about a dozen copycat Popeyes blackened chicken strips garnished with green onion slices.

This simple Popeyes copycat recipe will save you time and money while helping you eat better. It’s perfect for meal prep – make a large batch in just 35 minutes and have delicious chicken tenders all week long!

#16 – Homemade Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits

A fried chicken fillet covered in honey on a buttermilk biscuit.

Fluffy buttermilk biscuits, golden brown fried chicken, and sweet honey butter meet in perfect harmony in this homestyle version of the Whataburger breakfast favorite. The South is calling to you with this recipe!

#17 – Starbucks Macchiato

A plastic cup filled with a caramel macchiato that has caramel sauce dripping down the sides.

Skip the Starbucks drive thru and you’ll be a homeowner in no time! Okay, maybe it’s not that simple, but you will save money! And once you learn how easy it is to dupe the caramel macchiato, you’ll wonder why it took you so long.

#18 – Panda Express Chow Mein

Chopsticks twirling a mound of copycat Panda Express chow mein noodles over a white bowl.

I’ve already covered how to make several of Panda Express’ main dishes, but what if you want a combo plate?!? Just prepare this super simple chow mein and you’ve got the perfect copycat side dish!

#19 – Copycat Taco Bell Cheese Sauce

A hand holds a single tortilla chip that's been dipped in nacho cheese sauce.

I swear Taco Bell never ever gives me enough cheese sauce. Once I learned to make my own with this recipe, my real life began – nacho cheese on everything!

#20 – Copycat Whistle Dog

A split hot dog on a bun with cheese, chopped bacon & onion, and relish.

A&W’s Whistle Dog was a Canadian favorite. Unfortunately, they discontinued it a few years ago, but with this recipe you can recreate the cheesy, bacon topped hot dog in your own kitchen.

#21 – Homemade McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets

A bowl filled with homemade McDonald's chicken nuggets. BBQ sauce and a soft drink are out of focus in the background.

Next time your kids are craving Mickey D’s, skip the drive thru and make this dupe of their nuggets. Now if I just knew how to copycat that BBQ sauce…

#22 – Homemade Panda Express Sweet & Sour Sauce

Chopped chicken and vegetables covered in copycat sweet & sour sauce and garnished with sliced green onion and sesame seeds.

Save yourself from boring, plain chicken by recreating everyone’s favorite Panda Express sauce. You can use it for anything that needs dipping, glazing, or topping…and it only takes 4 ingredients to make!

#23 – Copycat Chick-fil-a Tortilla Soup

A bowl of copycat Chik-fil-a tortilla soup in a ceramic bowl. Topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced jalapeno and avocado, sour cream, and tortilla strips.

Comforting, creamy, and so easy to make, this will be your new favorite soup. The best part? You can make it from start to finish in your Instant Pot in just 30 minutes. Freeze a big batch and enjoy it all year, even when the restaurant’s version is out of season.