Category: Copycat Recipes

Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar

Although I don’t eat fast food any more (or at least, it’s been years since I have), that doesn’t mean I don’t get a hankerin’ for it every now and then. Here lately I’ve been jonesin’ for a beef-n-cheddar sandwich from Arby’s, with a side of curly fries. But I wanted something a bit different than the great sandwich I can get at the fast-food chain. I wanted some kick. Some spice. And oh boy, did I get it! Presenting my Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar. Ooey gooey cheese with just the right amount of kick. Thin-sliced roast beef. And my version of Arby’s sauce, also with a punch of heat!

Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar

Spicy Satisfaction

My cravin’ for a fiery Beef-n-Cheddar was satisfied (for now)! As much as I love the classic, without any heat, I gotta have some spice now and then. More often than not, really. Life’s too short for boring food!

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Also try my copycat of Arby’s roast beef sandwich! I’ve also made spiral fries from scratch, which came out fantastic!

Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar
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5 from 1 vote

Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar

Presenting my Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar. Ooey gooey cheese with just the right amount of kick. Thin-sliced roast beef. And my version of Arby’s sauce, also with a punch of heat!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword roast beef, sandwich, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 877kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Oh Sweet Basil

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar sandwich

  • 4 onion buns
  • 1 pound roast beef thinly-sliced

For the Fiery Arby’s sauce

For the Fiery cheese sauce (you’ll have plenty leftover. It’s great for dipping curly fries!)

Instructions

For the Fiery Beef-n-Cheddar sandwich

  • Warm the buns in the oven.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the roast beef, cover, and turn heat to low.
  • Slather the buns with the fiery Arby's sauce.
  • Top with the roast beef and fiery cheese sauce.

For the Fiery Arby’s sauce

  • Combine all ingredients.

For the Fiery cheese sauce

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the shallot, garlic, and jalapeños and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the shallot is softened
  • Add the chipotles and evaporated milk, stir.
  • Whisk in the corn starch until dissolved.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the cream cheese and mustard.
  • Stir until the cream cheese is melted.
  • Stir in the cheddar and reduce heat to low until cheese is melted.

Notes

Have your deli person slice the roast beef as thin as possible.

Nutrition

Calories: 877kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 58g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 217mg | Sodium: 3287mg | Potassium: 873mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 2075IU | Vitamin C: 74mg | Calcium: 1265mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Quick Fix Copycat McDonald’s Chicken Sandwich

I love cooking meals from scratch. But sometimes reality hits and I have to throw something together that doesn’t require a lot of preparation or ingredients. That’s where this quick fix copycat of McDonald’s chicken sandwich comes in. In less than 30 minutes I get to enjoy a rather tasty chicken sandwich. Heck it even has fresh toppings on it and a rather delicious(but incredibly simple) sauce. Hey, it’s not bad when you’re in a crunch, and I often find myself making little changes to mix things up a bit.

Quick Fix Copycat McDonald's Chicken Sandwich

Make It Spicy

Add a little kick to your quick fix copycat McDonald’s chicken sandwich by substituting Tyson’s spicy chicken patties, adding a slice of pepper jack cheese, and adding Sriracha instead of onion powder when making the sauce. You can make these somewhat chicken wing-like by adding Buffalo wing sauce to the buns.

We are not making 5 star sandwiches here, but that’s no reason for them not being tasty. Nothing fancy, just good.

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

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Also try my copycat of McDonald’s addicting French fries.

Quick Fix Copycat McDonald's Chicken Sandwich
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5 from 1 vote

Quick Fix Copycat McDonald’s Chicken Sandwich

I love cooking meals from scratch. But sometimes reality hits and I have to throw something together that doesn’t require a lot of preparation. That’s where this quick fix copycat of McDonald’s chicken sandwich comes in. In less than 30 minutes I get to enjoy a rather tasty chicken sandwich.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken sandwiches
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 331kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

For the McChicken sauce

Instructions

  • Heat the chicken per package instructions.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce by whisking together the ingredients.
  • Toast the buns if desired. Slather both bun halves with the sauce.
  • Add the heated chicken patties, lettuce and tomato (and onion if using) and serve.

Notes

Nutritional values do not include the chicken patties.

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2616IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Bubba Gump’s Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp (Copycat Recipe)

My wife and I have had the joy of eating at several Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurants. We always end up ordering something shrimp-y. Hey, ‘shrimp’ is in their name! When we can’t make it a restaurant and get the real deal we make copycat versions at home. Like this copycat recipe for Bubba Gump’s Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp. Crazy good coconut-crusted deep-fried shrimp with a fantastic Cajun marmalade sauce. Serve it as an appetizer or devour a batch for dinner. Either way, this is good shrimp!

Bubba Gump's Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp (Copycat Recipe)

Shrimp Cook Fast. Really Fast.

Keep an eye on your copycat Bubba Gump’s Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp while they fry. Shrimp cook very, very quickly. Coconut can burn very, very quickly. Once you see golden brown colors, flip them and don’t cook them much longer.

To help prevent the coconut from turning too brown too quickly I did use unsweetened coconut. The sugars in sweetened coconut will burn quicker. You won’t notice a difference in the taste of the shrimp, so go with unsweetened.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

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I highly recommend that you double the recipe for the sauce. It’s crazy good. I’d use it for any shrimp, any time, any where. Doesn’t have to be coconut shrimp, either.

Also try my Bubba Gump Tangy Honey Shrimp.

Copycat Bubba Gump's Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp
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5 from 1 vote

Bubba Gump’s Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp (Copycat Recipe)

When we can’t make it a restaurant and get the real deal we make copycat versions at home. Like this copycat Bubba Gump’s Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp. Crazy good coconut-crusted deep-fried shrimp with a fantastic Cajun marmalade sauce.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword coconut, copycat, deep-fried, shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 808kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the shrimp

For the sauce

Instructions

For the shrimp

  • Heat oil to 350 F. Meanwhile, rinse the shrimp and pat dry.
  • In a shallow bowl or pie plate whisk together the Bisquick and beer.
  • In another shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together the flour, seasoning salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Place the coconut in a third shallow bowl. 
  • Working in batches, dip the shrimp into the wet batter. Then roll in the flour mixture. Lastly, roll in the coconut, pressing down slightly so that the coconut adheres.
  • Fry the shrimp for 1 minute. Flip and fry another minute, until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

For the dipping sauce

  • Combine all ingredients. Note: I’m a dipping sauce lover, so I did end up doubling the amount of dipping sauce.

Notes

You’ll want to double the sauce recipe!

Nutrition

Calories: 808kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 287mg | Sodium: 1790mg | Potassium: 492mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 377IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 280mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. When it comes to making a sandwich, I don’t go by the serving size on the meat package. One slice? Two at most? That’s not a sandwich, that’s an hors d’oeuvre. Same goes for the spread. I made a batch of a copycat recipe of Subway chipotle southwest sauce. Did I dot it on the bread? Nope. Slathered. Thick. Piled high with my favorite toppings, it was a sandwich to remember.

Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

A Little Smokiness For The Win

This copycat recipe for Subway chipotle southwest sauce is fresh, with a hint of citrus and fresh cilantro, but also with a little kick thanks to one of my favorites, ground chipotle chile. I love the smoky heat that ground chipotle chiles bring to whatever I use it in. It’s not over-the-top spicy or smoky, it’s just right. It’s really what sets this sandwich apart from the others.

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Also try my copycat of the great bread at Subway.

Copycat Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

The chipotle southwest sauce is fresh, with a hint of citrus and fresh cilantro, but also with a little kick thanks to one of my favorites, ground chipotle chile. 
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword sandwich, sauce
Prep Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours
Servings 1 cup
Calories 785kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients.
  • Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to let the flavors ‘get happy’ before using.

Notes

Stir before using. Great on any sandwich or sub!

Nutrition

Calories: 785kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 84g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 50g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1302mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Popeyes Popcorn Chicken (Copycat Recipe)

It’s a treat when I get to fire up my deep fryer. And because I’m a sucker for being influenced by cheesy ads on TV for fast food joints, I had to make a copycat recipe of the popcorn chicken you can get at Popeyes. I couldn’t help myself. I was weak. Crunchy, spicy and addicting, I gobbled them up just like Annie (the lady on the Popeyes commercials) said I would.

Popeyes Popcorn Chicken (Copycat Recipe)

All You Need Is A Good Dipping Sauce

I figured I needed a few dipping sauces for my copycat recipe Popeyes popcorn chicken. I decided to pick up a few bottles of Sweet Baby Ray’s dipping sauces at the store. SBR makes great BBQ sauces (perfect as-is or as a base for your own creation), so I was pretty darn sure that their dipping sauces would be great too. And they were. Between the popcorn chicken and the dipping sauces and a few fries, it was a happy deep-frying kind of day!

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

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Also try my chipotle popcorn chicken bites. Chicken with a kick!

Copycat Popeyes Popcorn Chicken
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3.50 from 2 votes

Popeyes Popcorn Chicken (Copycat Recipe)

It’s a treat when I get to fire up my deep fryer. And because I’m a sucker for being influenced by cheesy ads on TV for fast food joints, I had to make a copycat of the popcorn chicken you can get at Popeyes.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken nuggets, copycat, popcorn chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 285kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Popeyes At Home

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cut chicken into small pieces.
  • Heat 3″ of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Combine flour, salt, white and cayenne pepper and paprika in a shallow bowl or pie plate.
  • Whisk together the eggs in a separate shallow bowl or pie plate.
  • Working in batches, dip chicken pieces into the egg.
  • Shake off excess and transfer to the flour mixture, coating well.
  • Shake off excess and place into the hot oil.
  • Fry 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack or paper towel-lines plate.
  • Serve with your favorite dipping sauces.

Notes

Serve along with some Popeye’s Delta Dipping sauce!

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 194mg | Sodium: 1847mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 463IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Quizno’s Italian Sub (Copycat Recipe)

I used to work just down the street from a Quizno’s. I went there often for lunch. Ok, very often. Three out of every five days often. I loved their toasted bread and great meats and toppings. Now I work from home and I prefer to make my own lunch, so I make a copycat recipe of the classic Quizno’s Italian sub, my favorite item on their menu. Plus, sadly, the Quizno’s here closed. I hope that wasn’t because I started working from home. I certainly gave them plenty of my business while they were open!

Quizno's Italian Sub (Copycat Recipe)

It’s The Dressing And Pesto

The sweet balsamic dressing and pesto are what really make this copycat recipe of Quizno’s Italian sub sandwich memorable. Even if you don’t follow the recipe for the toppings exactly, make the dressing and add the pesto. They add fantastic flavors that are sure to make this a staple in your house too.

Don’t skimp on the ingredients for your sub. They really will make-or-break your experience. Use less-than-good ingredients and you get a less-than-good sub, and you’ll think this was a bad copycat! Use good bread, quality meats and cheeses and fresh toppings and you’ll love this copycat!

I find pepperoncini peppers to be a must-have on a sub. And on a pizza for that matter. I prefer them over pickles. They’re crunchier and tangier and really wake up whatever you put them on.

The dressing is great on any sandwich, not just this copycat of Quizno’s classic. I make a lot of panini’s at home, using my Cuisinart Griddler. It’s super-simple and makes great sandwiches. The dressing for this sandwich would be great on my Griddler sandwiches, too.

Take It On The Road

These subs travel well. I like to make a few the night before we are heading out for a day of antiquing. I wrap them tightly in foil or deli paper and keep them in the fridge. The flavors of the dressing soak into the bread, meats and toppings making for delicious bite after delicious bite!

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Also check out my copycat of the Battalion Chief Sub from Firehouse Subs and Subway’s Italian BMT.

Copycat Quizno's Italian Sub
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5 from 2 votes

Quizno’s Italian Sub (Copycat Recipe)

I used to work just down the street from a Quizno’s. I went there often for lunch. Ok, very often. I loved their toasted bread and great meats and toppings. Now I work from home and I prefer to make my own lunch, so I make a copycat of the classic Quizno’s Italian sub, my favorite item on their menu.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, Italian, sandwich, submarine
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 799kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the sandwiches

  • 6 sub rolls or 2 loaves French bread, each cut into 3 equal sizes
  • Sweet balsamic dressing see below
  • pesto I used store-bought
  • ⅓ pound salami sliced
  • ⅓ pound pepperoni sliced
  • ⅓ pound ham sliced
  • 12 slices Mozzarella cheese
  • dried oregano
  • 12 slices tomato
  • 12 slices onion
  • 6 leaves green leaf lettuce
  • 8 ounce black olives sliced, drained
  • pepperoncini

For the sweet balsamic dressing

Instructions

For the sandwiches

  • Preheat your oven to 300 F.
  • Split rolls horizontally and place onto baking sheet(s).
  • Brush one cut side of the bread with the dressing.
  • Spread about 1 tablespoon of the pesto onto the other side of the cut bread.
  • Add meats and cheese and sprinkle lightly with the oregano.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Add remaining ingredients and serve.

For the sweet balsamic dressing

  • Whisk all ingredients until well combined.

Notes

Make extra dressing, it’s great on any sandwich!

Nutrition

Calories: 799kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 2567mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2056IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 343mg | Iron: 12mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Buffalo Wild Wings Thai Curry Wings (Copycat Recipe)

The first time I tried the Thai Curry Wings at Buffalo Wild Wings I was blown away. It was in West Chester, Ohio, and I remember it like it was yesterday because I absolutely loved the combination of coconut, curry and just a bit of heat. I could’ve just licked the sauce off the wings, but then we were in a public place and that would’ve been awkward. Ever since I’ve been looking for a version of BW3’s sauce, and here it is. The perfect copycat recipe of the Buffalo Wild Wings Thai Curry wings. Now I can lick the sauce off the wings in the privacy of my own home! This is one crazy good sauce. Complex. Savory. Delicious. This one is always on my list of all-time favorites!

Visit my other site, For The Wing, for all things chicken-wing!

Buffalo Wild Wings Thai Curry Wings (Copycat Recipe)

Help!

I could not find Thai chile peppers in our supermarket, so I had to go to plan B. I picked up a few packages of dried cayenne peppers, reconstituted them, and chopped them up. It was a great save. These copycat recipe Buffalo Wild Wings Thai Curry wings came out fantastic.

I found the Shan chicken white karahi mix in the Pakistani section of our international supermarket. If you can’t find it nearby you can always order it online.

I store my homemade sauces in squeeze bottles. If refrigerated, I set them out thirty minutes to an hour before using so they come to room temperature. You don’t want to put cold sauce on hot food!
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Also try my copycats of BW3s spicy garlic, Mango Habanero and Parmesan garlic wings.

Copycat Buffalo Wild Wings Thai Curry Wings
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5 from 2 votes

Buffalo Wild Wings Thai Curry Wings (Copycat Recipe)

You might end up with leftover sauce. That’s a good thing.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword Asian wings
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 372kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Healthy Thai Recipes

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Wing Sauce

Instructions

For the sauce (start cooking when you start the wings)

  • Mince the peppers and then pound in a mortar and pestle or grind into a paste using the side of a knife blade. You want the peppers to form a paste.
  • Place the peppers and remaining ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Stir until the ingredients are combined.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer and continue simmering, stirring occasionally, while the wings are cooking. You want the sauce to thicken slightly.

Notes

NOTE: I could not find Thai peppers at our grocery store. You can substitute jalapenos or serranos for more heat. Preferably you want to use a red pepper. I bought dried cayenne peppers, which I then reconstituted in hot water for 1 hour. I then removed the seeds and minced the peppers into a paste.

Nutrition

Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 765mg | Potassium: 321mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 301IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper (Copycat Recipe)

I admit that back in my bachelor gotta-make-something-for-dinner-but-I-can’t-cook days I went through my share of boxes of Hamburger Helper. Easy to make and hearty, any flavor would do. That’s why I just had to make this copycat recipe of the classic cheeseburger Hamburger Helper mix. Just as easy as the stuff out of the box and darn tasty too! Now I can make this copycat without being a bachelor!

Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper (Copycat Recipe)

It Doesn’t Have To Be Kid-Friendly

You can easily modify this copycat recipe for Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper and make your own. Add jalapenos or a dash or two of cayenne pepper for a little kick. Swap Monterey Jack cheese for the cheddar. Use ground turkey instead of ground beef and add a pinch or two of dried sage. Your copycat cheeseburger Hamburger Helper doesn’t have to be exactly like the stuff out of the box, but it’s ok if it is!

Shredded

This recipe calls for shredded cheese. Now in my younger days, that meant grab a bag of the pre-shredded stuff at the store. I never really wondered (or probably cared) why it didn’t always melt right. I just knew that it was easy and tasted pretty good. Well now I know that that stuff has … stuff… in it that keeps it from sticking together. That’s why it doesn’t always melt well. So I shred my own. It takes just minutes. And I’ve found it tastes better and melts oh so ooey-gooey well!

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What’s Up, Mac?

I know it seems almost wrong, but you can also make this dish using something other than elbow pasta. I know. I’m with you. Seems borderline sacrilegious doesn’t it? But here’s the thing, there are pastas out there that are made for sauce and stuff to stick to them. Yeah. Elbow mac isn’t the best at that. My suggestion if you’re feeling creative and adventurous? Cavatappi. Give it a whirl! You’ll love it!

Also try my copycat of the not-so-cheesy classic Hamburger helper.

This recipe is based on a recipe from KitchMe.

Copycat Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
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4 from 5 votes

Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper (Copycat Recipe)

I admit that back in my bachelor gotta-make-something-for-dinner-but-I-can’t-cook days I went through my share of boxes of Hamburger Helper. Easy to make and hearty, any flavor would do. That’s why I just had to make this copycat version of the classic cheeseburger mix. Just as easy as the stuff out of the box and darn tasty too!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, Hamburger helper
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 688kcal
Author Inspired by KitchMe

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium high heat and cook until done. Drain off any excess fat.
  • Stir in the all but the cheese and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is tender.
  • Stir in the cheese until melted.
  • Remove from heat, uncover and let rest 5 minutes before serving topped with additional cheese.

Notes

It’s not copycat, but I also like to make this dish using pepper jack cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 688kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 889mg | Potassium: 631mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 558IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 376mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Applebee’s Classic Patty Melt (Copycat Recipe)

My wife requested that I make patty melts for dinner. So, I made patty melts for dinner. But not just my usual patty melts. No, it was time to bring out the big guns – a copycat recipe of Applebee’s Classic Patty Melt. This is what a patty melt should be. Griddled patties, sautéed onions, a delicious sauce and of course, cheese. And thick bread. You have to have thick bread or you’ll end up with sandwich sadness. No one wants to have their patty melt fall apart when they take a bite. Man, how many times have I ordered a sandwich in a restaurant only to have it fall apart after a few bites? That’s when I had to adopt my ‘never put it down’ policy. I don’t need that policy with these!

Applebee's Classic Patty Melt (Copycat Recipe)

The Sauce Sets This Sandwich Apart

The sauce for a copycat recipe of the Applebee’s classic patty melt is best with a clove of roasted garlic mixed in. I roasted an entire head of garlic ahead of time. I squeezed out one clove for this recipe and saved the rest for something else. It really makes this Applebee’s Classic Patty Melt better than the rest, so don’t skip the effort.

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Also check out my copycats of Steak’n Shakes Frisco Melt and Applebee’s Clubhouse grill.

Copycat Applebee's Classic Patty Melt
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5 from 1 vote

Applebee’s Classic Patty Melt (Copycat Recipe)

This is what a patty melt should be. Griddled patties, sautéed onions, a delicious sauce and of course, cheese. And thick bread. You have to have thick bread or you’ll end up with sandwich sadness.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword burgers, copycat
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 5722kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fire up a grill or heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Season the burger with salt, pepper and garlic powder and cook until done.
  • Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the onion. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and sauté until softened.
  • Combine the mayo, garlic and mustard and slather on one side of each slice of bread.
  • Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the bread slices, mayonnaise mix side up, and swirl around to coat in the butter.
  • Add one slice of Swiss to two of the bread slices, and one slice of cheddar to the other.
  • Assemble sandwich by placing cooked patties on top of the two bread slices with Swiss, add the onions and then the top bread slices.

Notes

If you can’t find thick-cut Italian bread you can substitute Texas toast.

Nutrition

Calories: 5722kcal | Carbohydrates: 488g | Protein: 93g | Fat: 379g | Saturated Fat: 201g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 3860mg | Potassium: 2245mg | Fiber: 33g | Sugar: 289g | Vitamin A: 1169IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 559mg | Iron: 20mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Church’s Fried Chicken Using the Vortex (Copycat Recipe)

I could make (and eat) fried chicken using my Vortex BBQ all day long. It has never let me down. It has never been anything but easy. This copycat recipe of Church’s fried chicken using the Vortex was no exception. Incredibly crunchy skin. Unbelievably moist and flavorful meat. And as easy as coating it, grilling it, eating it. Done.

You won’t believe this chicken isn’t hot out of a deep-fryer when you take that first bite. You get that same taste and crunch sensation. With a little added smokiness. It’s really like fried chicken elevated. And making fried chicken this way is so crazy easy. Without all that oil. The deep-fryer. Or the cleanup. It’s an all-around winning situation!

Church's Fried Chicken Using the Vortex (Copycat Recipe)

Easy. And Fantastic.

There are no tricks or special handshakes that you need to know to get fried chicken right using the Vortex. And although a lot of sites say to rotate the lid every 15 minutes while cooking, I’ve not found that it makes a difference. I don’t over-crowd my grill and I make sure I have a super-hot fire. If you’ve found that rotating the lid is a requirement, let me know but so far, I’ve not had anything but success just keeping the lid right where it is. I also do not flip my chicken while it is cooking. Doing so will result in ‘batter loss’, a bad thing. Just keep it right where it is. This copycat recipe for Church’s fried chicken using the Vortex is easy, and there’s no reason to make it complicated!

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Also try my insanely-awesome proper pub fried chicken, another fantastic recipe for deliciously crispy tasty chicken cooked using the Vortex. You can also use off-the-shelf fried chicken coating to make spectacular chicken on the Vortex. Check out my Kentucky Kernel chicken too!

Copycat Church's Fried Chicken Using the Vortex
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3.67 from 3 votes

Church’s Fried Chicken Using the Vortex (Copycat Recipe)

This copycat of Church’s fried chicken was no exception. Incredibly crunchy skin. Unbelievably moist and flavorful meat. And as easy as coating it, grilling it, eating it. Done.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fried chicken, Vortex
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings
Calories 373kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Just A Pinch

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 pieces chicken I prefer bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

For the dry mixture

For the wet mixture

  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup cold water

For a crispier coating

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill with the Vortex BBQ. Let the coals get good and hot.
  • Combine all of the dry mixture ingredients in a pie plate.
  • In another pie plate, whisk together the eggs and water.
  • Working in batches, dip the chicken into the wet mixture, then into the dry mixture.
  • One more time, dip the chicken into the wet mixture and then the dry mixture.
  • Transfer chicken to your grill grate around the Vortex and cook until done, about 45 minutes.
  • Lightly brush the chicken with oil the last 5 minutes of cooking to get a crispier skin.

Notes

You can use any cuts of chicken that you prefer, but I have found that bone-in, skin-on thighs produce the best results time after time!

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 2963mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 202IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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