15 Copycats That Deserve Their Own Lookalike Competitions
From the original Timothée Chalamet contest in NY to the recent Jeremy Allen White competition in Chicago, it's clear—the season for lookalike contests is inexplicably upon us...and we CAN'T peel our eyes away. We're also uh, kind of miffed? That we weren't invited? Our copycat recipes are some of the best lookalikes around. From our copycat Big Mac (the mac sauce is on point) to our copycat Olive Garden fettuccine Alfredo, with lots of desserts, sides, and drinks (PSA: if you make it at home you can drink a Shamrock Shake literally whenever you want) in between, we've got every menu item you could ever want, and you don't even have to leave the house for them. (Unless, of course, there's a lookalike contest in your town for the celeb you look like. Then you gotta go compete for the gold mystery gift card.) Below are our top 15 favorites, but let us know what copycat recipe YOU want to see us tackle (and WIN) in the comments below.
Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo
Olive Garden is one of the most popular Italian American restaurants in the country, and other than the salad, soup, and breadsticks, we figure that that popularity is in large part driven by one dish and one dish alone: fettuccine Alfredo. We can see why!
Get the Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo recipe.
Copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake
The original Shamrock Shake, a mint-flavored soft-serve vanilla milkshake first introduced in 1970, is only available at McDonald's for a limited time each year. Our copycat recipe makes this specialty drink available anytime you've got a craving for it, unlimited time only. Another perk? Being able to add booze.
Get the Copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake recipe.
McDonald's Filet-O-Fish
Invented in 1962, the Filet-O-Fish was the first non-burger sandwich to be added to the McDonald’s menu. It was developed because of falling hamburger sales on meat-abstaining Fridays leading up to Easter. Fast forward to today, it’s one of the core items on the menu. TMYK!
Get the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish recipe.
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake
Though TCF has dozens of flavors, there is still something to be said for their classic, plain cheesecake topped with glazed strawberries and whipped cream. We're not the only ones who think so—the original with strawberries is far and away their most popular flavor.
Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake recipe.
Copycat Big Mac
This is our stab at making a copycat version of the classic at home: “[we're] lovin’ it,” and we know you will too! The best part? Don’t love pickles? Want a different kind of cheese? Prefer lettuce wraps to a bun? With a copycat, you can “have it your way” (including using whichever fast food jingles you want 😉!).
Get the Copycat Big Mac recipe.
Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
When we want a tried-and-true perfect meal, we always go back to the Chipotle chicken burrito bowl. It’s classic, reliable, and, best of all, completely customizable depending on our mood. We’ve included recipes here for all our favorite burrito bowl toppings, but feel free to swap them in and out for yours!
Get the Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe.
Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink
From creative twists on Frappuccinos to mashups of beloved beverages, there’s a whole world of Starbucks drinks you can’t find on the store’s menu. Many of them get hype on social media, but no off-menu item went as viral as the Pink Drink. Now you can make it at home!
Get the Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink recipe.
Burger King Chicken Fries
Burger King may have their secret formula to crispy chicken finger perfection, but we think our version is worthy of stardom too. We used chicken breasts cut into thin strips and seasoned with salt and sugar. They're then coated in bread crumbs and herbs, then fried. Mmm.
Get the Burger King Chicken Fries recipe.
McDonald's McGriddle
In this McDonald's copycat, an oven-baked omelet, crispy bacon, and good ol' American cheese are sandwiched between tender maple-spotted pancakes. It sounds a little complicated, but we've made it foolproof so you can re-create the McGriddle every weekend. While you're at it, try our copycat Big Mac too!
Get the McDonald's McGriddle recipe.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
While you might think meatloaf is meatloaf, lots of Americans really love the version sold at Cracker Barrel restaurants. Made with ground beef, crushed Ritz crackers, a sweet–tangy ketchup glaze, and more, this Cracker Barrel copycat version is well worth making. Here’s how to make their recipe at home, no road trip required.
Get the Cracker Barrel Meatloaf recipe.
Panda Express Orange Chicken
Ready in under an hour with all of the same sweet and savory flavors you love, staying in for weeknight dinner has never been easier. Serve over rice (and maybe with some crab rangoons if you're feeling extra fancy) for a stay-at-home meal to impress even the biggest Panda lover in your life.
Get the Panda Express Orange Chicken recipe.
Chocolate Crumb Cake Crumbl Cookie Copycat
Imagine biting into a warm, soft cookie that perfectly balances rich chocolate and the subtle warmth of cinnamon that a crumb cake is known for. This isn’t just any cookie—it’s a decadent experience, capturing the essence of Crumbl’s famous chocolate crumb cake cookie.
Chocolate Crumb Cake Crumbl Cookie Copycat
Copycat Honey Baked Ham
Honey Baked ham is grand, deliciously smoky, and has a signature caramelized crust all over. It's also pricey, and you have to order it in advance. If you didn't have time to order a ham, want to save some money, or just try a homemade version of this classic centerpiece, this copycat recipe is for you.
Get the Copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe.
Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
The chicken sandwich is a seemingly simple Southern-fried chicken breast on a warm brioche bun, with spicy mayo and pickles, but there's more than meets the eye: check out our non-traditional tricks that made our version of Popeye’s spicy chicken sandwich edge out above the rest.
Get the Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich recipe.
Copycat Carbone Spicy Rigatoni
Every dish at Carbone, the nouveau red sauce joint in lower Manhattan, is a mind-bendingly delicious, updated take on an Italian-American classic, though none may be more famous than their Spicy Rigatoni, which features their version of a booze-spiked vodka sauce. This is our take on it!
Get the Copycat Carbone Spicy Rigatoni recipe.
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