Home Recipes Cooking Style Comfort Food
Julie MeyersUpdated: Feb. 21, 2024
Make quality meals at home with these tasty versions of takeout, fast food and restaurant staples. We have copycat ideas for soups, steaks, Italian dishes and more.
Cheesy Broccoli Soup in a Bread Bowl
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This creamy, cheesy broccoli soup tastes just like the one served at Panera Bread! My family requests it all the time. You can even make your own homemade bread bowls with the recipe on my blog, Yammie’s Noshery. —Rachel Preus, Marshall, Michigan
Bacon Cheddar Potato Skins
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Wondering how to make potato skins taste great? Both crisp and hearty, this restaurant-quality snack is one that my family requests often. —Trish Perrin, Keizer, Oregon
Sour Cream-Lemon Pie
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I first tasted this pie at a local restaurant and hunted around until I found a similar recipe—now it's my husband's favorite. —Martha Sorensen, Fallon, Nevada
Amazing Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
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I love Chinese takeout food, but I know that it’s very high in sodium and fat. So I got to work at home and created a healthier version. Now I have peace of mind knowing what ingredients are in this slow cooker orange chicken and that it’s better for my family. —Barbara J. Miller, Oakdale, Minnesota
Eggplant Rollatini
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Want to learn how to cook eggplant? Here's where to start. These authentic eggplant roll-ups may take some time to prepare, but the end result is restaurant-quality. Your family will request this recipe time and again. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
California Sushi Rolls
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These taste as good as any restaurant or store-bought California rolls. Plus, this is one of the easiest sushi recipes to make! For the best results, use sushi rice to ensure the right sticky consistency. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Broccoli Shrimp Alfredo
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After tasting fettuccine Alfredo at a restaurant, I came up with this shrimp Alfredo with broccoli version at home. Not only does my family love the creamy dish, but my husband prefers it to the one at the restaurant. —Rae Natoli, Kingston, New York
Chicken Tostada Cups
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Several years ago I tried a version of these cups at a restaurant in Santa Fe, and I wanted to make my own spin. They're perfect for gatherings where you can let everyone add their own favorite toppings. —Marla Clark, Moriarty, New Mexico
Pumpkin Pie Latte
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I can't wait for fall to arrive so my favorite coffee shops will bring back pumpkin lattes. The rest of the year, I have to make my own version. With the right amount of spice, it tastes just like the popular version found at gourmet coffee shops.—Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Crispy Beer-Battered Fish
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A local restaurant made a similar breading for shrimp po' boys, but we think this version's better. I serve the beer battered fish with a ranch dressing and hot sauce mixture as a dip. —Jenny Wenzel, Gulfport, Mississippi
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I let my young son pick out seed packets and he chose kale, which grew like crazy. This hearty soup helped make good use of it and rivals the Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana. —Michelle Babbie, Malone, New York
Garlic-Butter Steak
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Made in a skillet, this quick-and-easy garlic butter steak is restaurant-quality and sure to become a staple at your house, too! —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Greek Beef Pitas
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A local restaurant that's famous for pitas inspired me to make my own Greek-style sandwiches at home. Feel free to add olives if you'd like. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
Burnt Custard
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The recipe for this smooth-as-silk custard came from a local restaurant years ago. With its broiled topping it looks pretty in individual cups. —Heidi Main, Anchorage, Alaska
Mexican Homemade Salsa
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In the summertime, I love to make this easy, zippy homemade salsa recipe with fresh tomatoes from my garden. I even have a special pan for roasting the peppers. —Roger Stenman, Batavia, Illinois
Beef Stew Provencal
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When I was young, my favorite food to order in a restaurant was beef stew. My mother and I decided to create our own and experimented with different ingredients until we came up with this recipe. Everyone liked this slow cooker version so much that now it's a tradition every time the whole family is together. —Chelsey Larsen, Sparks, Nevada
Seasoned Tilapia Fillets
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If you need a healthy, keep-it-simple solution to dinner tonight, you just found it. This restaurant-quality tilapia fillet recipe relies on spices you're likely to have on hand to deliver big flavor. This is how to make tilapia. —Dana Alexander, Lebanon, Missouri
Authentic German Potato Salad
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This authentic German potato salad recipe came from Speck’s Restaurant, which was a famous eating establishment in St. Louis from the 1920s through the ‘50s. I ate lunch there almost every day and always ordered the potato salad. When the owner learned I was getting married, he gave me the recipe as a wedding gift! —Violette Klevorn, Washington, Missouri
Pat's King of Steaks Philly Cheesesteak
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This cheesesteak, an iconic sandwich in Philly, is a bestseller at Pat's King of Steaks restaurant. Patrons praise its thinly cut beef and crusty Italian rolls. —Frank Olivieri, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pasta Fagioli Soup
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My husband enjoys my version of this dish so much that he doesn’t order it at restaurants anymore. With fresh spinach, pasta and seasoned sausage, this fast-to-fix soup is a meal on its own. —Brenda Thomas, Springfield, Missouri
My Best-Ever Jambalaya
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I tried to mimic Jambalaya from my favorite restaurant and it turned out so well my daughter and husband now prefer my recipe and won't order it when we go to the restaurant! —Alexis Van Vulpen, St. Albert, Alberta
Cheesy Chili Fries
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My family is all about chili fries, but restaurant versions pile on the calories. For a healthier approach, bake the fries and serve them with green onions and avocado. —Beverly Nowling, Bristol, Florida
Golden Chicken Nuggets
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The ultimate bite-size treats, chicken nuggets get the star treatment when you make them at home. I usually serve these herb-breaded baked bites with a sweet-and-sour sauce for dipping. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
Cajun Sirloin with Mushroom Leek Sauce
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In 30 minutes you‘ll have a restaurant-quality steak with a bold Cajun flair. The best part? You can skip the drive, the wait and the bill! —Joshua Keefer, Delaware, Ohio
Originally Published: July 10, 2019