Bring the iconic, crave-worthy flavors of your favorite chain restaurants straight to your own dining room with these simple, foolproof copycat appetizers. Prepping these signature dishes at home not only cuts down on the cost of dining out, but also lets you customize every bite to your taste—add extra heat, skip the spice, or swap ingredients to fit dietary preferences. Whether you’re craving classic bites from P.F. Chang’s, Applebee’s, Olive Garden, or other popular spots, we’ve rounded up the best tested-and-loved homemade versions just for you.
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Chef John's Chicken Lettuce Wraps
By Chef John Mitzewich
“When my mom and I get together, we almost always hit P.F. Chang’s at least once, and we always kick off our meal with their famous chicken lettuce wraps,” says recipe creator Chef John Mitzewich. “Most of their dishes are solid, but these wraps are hands-down my all-time favorite.”
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02 of 13
Blooming Onion
“ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! We didn’t have enough oil to fry a whole full-sized blooming onion, so we turned this recipe into crispy onion straws instead. I can’t even put into words how amazing it turned out. This holds its own against any restaurant version out there—we’ll never host a game day get-together without it now! Thank you so much for sharing!”
— Allrecipes community member Brenda Crow
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03 of 13
Chicken Wonton Tacos
“These chicken wonton tacos taste just like the popular version served at Applebee’s,” says recipe creator OdaMae. “I’m obsessed with the Applebee’s original, so I decided to test out a homemade copycat. Light, flavorful, they work perfectly as an appetizer or a quick, easy weeknight main dish. Kids go crazy for them! It’s such a great, creative way to use ground chicken too.”
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04 of 13
Chrissy's Tangy Seafood Dip
“I’m obsessed with the San Remo seafood dip from Olive Garden, so I created this homemade copycat version to match its iconic flavor. It’s always the first dish to disappear at every family get-together!”
— Recipe creator Chrissy DeCosmo Fesler
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05 of 13
Fabulous Spinach and Artichoke Dip
“If you can’t get enough of Applebee’s famous spinach and artichoke dip, this is the copycat recipe you’ve been looking for. Serve with tortilla chips or crusty bread and enjoy!”
— Recipe creator canderson09
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06 of 13
Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp
“I doubled this recipe for a crowd and it was gone in 10 minutes flat! The sweet, tangy sauce pairs perfectly with the light, crispy shrimp. I didn’t have Sriracha on hand so I swapped in regular hot sauce, and it still turned out incredible!”
— Allrecipes community member Jessyka
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07 of 13
Copycat Chuy's Creamy Jalapeño Ranch Dip
“If you’ve ever eaten at Chuy’s, you know their iconic Creamy Jalapeño Ranch Dip is the real star of the menu,” says recipe developer Marianne Williams. “The best part? You don’t have to wait for your next trip out to enjoy it. With just a handful of simple ingredients and a blender, you can whip up this creamy, tangy, perfectly spicy copycat version right in your own kitchen.”
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08 of 13
Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
“These breadsticks taste identical to the classic warm, garlicky Olive Garden version, and you only need 3 basic ingredients to make them.”
— Allrecipes Culinary Producer Nicole McLaughlin
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09 of 13
Copycat Chili's Queso Dip
“I used Wolf brand chili to make this, and the whole family thought it was absolutely delicious. This is going to be my go-to queso recipe for game nights and get-togethers from now on.”
— Allrecipes community member Juliette
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10 of 13
Super-Delicious Zuppa Toscana
“This soup is so incredibly tasty. I’ve made it dozens of times since I found this recipe. My whole family is obsessed, and it tastes just like Olive Garden’s version—if I do say so myself, mine is even better lol.”
— Allrecipes community member Bridgette
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11 of 13
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread
“This copycat Cheesecake Factory brown bread is wonderfully moist, with an even crumb and a subtle perfect sweetness,” says recipe developer Sarah Brekke. “Cocoa and molasses give it that signature light brown hue and depth of flavor. It tastes absolutely amazing spread with a little softened salted butter.”
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12 of 13
Egg Drop Soup (Better Than Restaurant Quality!)
“Egg drop soup has always been one of my favorite dishes. After ordering it at tons of different Chinese restaurants over the years, I decided to create the ultimate homemade version. Sesame oil is the secret ingredient that makes it pop! I hope you love it as much as I do.”
— Recipe creator Darren
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13 of 13
Restaurant-Style Buffalo Chicken Wings
“Try this hot wing recipe for Buffalo chicken wings that tastes just like the version from the popular national chain. If you’ve ever loved their wings, you’re going to be obsessed with this homemade copycat.”
— Recipe creator Kelly
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