THE MOST TRUSTED COPYCAT RECIPES
THE MOST TRUSTED COPYCAT RECIPES
Wendy's Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita copycat recipe by Todd Wilbur

Wendy's Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita

Score: 5.00 (votes: 4)
Reviews: 4
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Early in 1997 Wendy's introduced its selection of cold "Fresh Stuffed" pita sandwiches—a nice change of pace from the typical fast food fare. Basically what you're getting is a small salad wrapped in a warm pita bread. You might be saying to yourself "That doesn't sound like much for 3 bucks!" Then I would say, "Perhaps, but what if you could make a clone yourself for a mere fraction of that?" You would say, "Cool, man! Lay it on me." And then I would say, "Here you go." 

And now, since Wendy's took these cool little sandwiches off their menu, you can use my Wendy's Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita recipe below and enjoy them at home.

You might also want to try my recipes for Wendy's classic Greek fresh stuffed pita sandwich.

Source: Even More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

Get This

Dressing
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/8 teaspoon dry, unflavored gelatin
  • 1/3 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely minced red bell pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • Pinch dried parsley
  • Pinch dried oregano
  • Pinch dried thyme
  • Pinch dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon grated Romano cheese
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons egg substitute
_main
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red cabbage, shredded
  • 1/4 cup carrot, shredded
  • 4 pita breads
  • 4 teaspoons shredded, fresh Parmesan cheese
Do This

1. Make the dressing by first dissolving the gelatin in the water. Heat the mixture in the microwave on high for two minutes or until it begins to boil rapidly. Add the vinegar, then whisk while adding the oil. Add bell pepper, salt, garlic powder, Worcestershire, black pepper, parsley, oregano, thyme and basil. Let the dressing cool for about 15 minutes before adding the cheeses and egg substitute. Whisk until slightly thicker, then chill. Overnight refrigeration makes the dressing thicker.

2. Preheat a barbecue or indoor grill to medium heat. Salt and pepper the chicken, then grill it for 5 minutes per side, or until done. Remove the chicken from the grill and dice it.

3. While the chicken cooks, prepare the salad by combining the romaine lettuce, red cabbage and shredded carrot in a large bowl and toss.

4. Prepare the sandwiches by first microwaving each pita for 20 seconds.

5. Fold each pita in half like a taco, then add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the romaine salad into the bread.

6. Add about 1/3 cup of diced chicken on top of the salad in the pita.

7. Pour about a tablespoon of dressing over each sandwich.

8. Sprinkle about a teaspoon of shredded fresh Parmesan on top of each one and serve.

Serves 4.

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Reviews
SomeKindaWonderful
Apr 16, 2007, 22:00
My husband loved these at Wendy's and was happy to see I found the clone recipe, and he realy enjoyed it.
futuremrsmenso
May 10, 2006, 22:00
I gave up fastfood for Lent a few years back and the only thing i was craving was one of these wendys stuffed pitas. Well a few days after easter i went to go satisfy my craqving and they had taken it off the menu!!! This recipe is the best!

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  • Score: 4.40 (votes: 5)
    Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken

    Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken and Biscuits has become the third-largest quick-service chicken chain in the world in the twenty-two years since its first store opened in New Orleans in 1972. (KFC has the number-one slot, followed by Church's Chicken). Since then, the chain has grown to 813 units, with many of them overseas in Germany, Japan, Jamaica, Honduras, Guam, and Korea.

    While making my Popeyes Fried Chicken recipe, I tested several spices and I found that the right blend of cayenne and white pepper bring the same heat as the original. Try my recipe below and see what you think. 

    You might also like to get your hands on my recipes for Popeyes Chicken Sandwich and Popeyes biscuits.

    Source: More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 2)
    KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) Buttermilk Biscuits

    In 1991 Kentucky Fried Chicken bigwigs decided to improve the image of America's third-largest fast-food chain. As a more health-conscious society began to affect sales of fried chicken, the company changed its name to KFC and introduced a lighter fare of skinless chicken.

    In the last forty years KFC has experienced extraordinary growth. Five years after first franchising the business, Colonel Harland Sanders had 400 outlets in the United States and Canada. Four years later there were more than 600 franchises, including one in England, the first overseas outlet. In 1964 John Y. Brown, Jr., a young Louisville lawyer, and Jack Massey, a Nashville financier, bought the Colonel's business for $2 million. Only seven years later, in 1971 Heublein, Inc., bought the KFC Corporation for $275 million. Then in 1986, for a whopping $840 million, PepsiCo added KFC to its conglomerate, which now includes Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. That means PepsiCo owns more fast food outlets than any other company including McDonald's.

    At each KFC restaurant, workers blend real buttermilk with a dry blend to create the well-known KFC buttermilk biscuits recipe that have made a popular menu item since their introduction in 1982. Pair these buttermilk biscuits with my KFC mac and cheese recipe and the famous KFC Original Recipe Chicken to complete your meal.

    Source: Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 4)
    Chili's Crispy Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers

    Menu Description: "Tossed in our honey-chipotle sauce."

    After cloning the plain version of these breaded, cripsy chicken fingers in Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2, I received requests to knockoff this more flavorful sweet-and-spicy version. If you like big flavor and some heat, my Chili's Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers recipe is for you. The breading technique is the big secret: first use a wet batter and then toss the tenders in a dry breading. When the chicken tenders are fried to a golden brown they are gently tossed in the honey-chipotle sauce and served either as an appetizer, or with corn on the cob and French fries as an entrée.

    Find my recipe for Chili's Chicken Crispers here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 1)
    Panda Express Fried Rice

    A popular staple of any Chinese chain is fried rice, so it better be good, and the version served at Panda Express most certainly is. Here's my easy Panda Express Fried Rice recipe for when you need a stress-free, low-cost side for your entrées. But I do suggest that you cook the white rice several hours or even a day or two before you plan to make the finished dish. I found that the cooked rice called for in this recipe works best when it's cold. 

    As for a shortcut, bagged frozen peas and carrots will save you from the hassle of petite-dicing carrots since the carrots in those bags are the perfect size to produce an identical clone. And they're already cooked. 

    This recipe was our #3 most popular in 2021. Check out the other four most unlocked recipes for the year: Panda Express Chow Mein (#1), Qdoba 3-Cheese Queso (#2), Outback Baked Potato Soup (#4), Chipotle Carne Asada (#5).

    Check out this list of our most popular recipes of all-time.

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  • Score: 4.44 (votes: 9)
    Olive Garden Breadsticks

    Anyone who loves Olive Garden is probably also a big fan of the bottomless basket of warm, garlicky breadsticks served before each meal at the huge Italian casual chain. My guess is that the breadsticks are proofed, and then sent to each restaurant where they are baked until golden brown, brushed with butter and sprinkled with garlic salt. Getting the bread just right for a great Olive Garden breadstick hack was tricky—I tried several different amounts of yeast in all-purpose flour, but then settled on bread flour to give these breadsticks the same chewy bite as the originals. The two-stage rising process is also a crucial step in this much requested Olive Garden breadstick copycat recipe.

    Complete the bottomless experience with my Olive Garden Italian salad dressing recipe.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 10)
    Cheesecake Factory Thai Lettuce Wraps

    Menu Description: "Create your own Thai lettuce rolls! Satay chicken strips, carrots, bean sprouts, coconut curry noodles and lettuce leaves with three delicious spicy Thai sauces—peanut, sweet red chili and tamarind-cashew."

    Cheesecake Factory's #1 appetizer is finally fauxed, and I've got every secret component for an impressive knockoff here in one recipe: delicious duplicates of the three amazing dipping sauces, perfect sweet-and-sour cucumber slices, and an easy coconut curry marinade clone for the chicken that also doubles as a sauce for the noodles. 

    Get ready to blow everyone away when you unveil this build-it-yourself Cheesecake Factory Thai Lettuce wraps copycat recipe at the table. The final dish will serve twice as many people as the restaurant version, and you'll most likely have enough leftover sauces to serve it again if you want to get more chicken.

    Click here for more amazing Cheesecake Factory copycat recipes.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.67 (votes: 6)
    Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries

    Don Gordon and Dean Biersch's vision of a fun place for delicious food and great beer became a reality in Palo Alto, California in 1988. Now there are more than 40 Gordon Biersch locations in 17 states serving custom-brewed beer, and an extensive menu of entrées and appetizers including these easy-to-clone, flavorful French fries. No need to make these garlic fries from scratch. Use my Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries recipe below and grab a bag of frozen French fries at your local supermarket, and bake or fry a pound of them following the directions on the bag. When the fries are done, toss them with the secret garlic mixture and serve.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.75 (votes: 16)
    Applebee's Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl

    Menu Description: "Breaded boneless chicken breast is delicately spiced and covered in a spicy-sweet orange glaze. Served in a big bowl over almond rice pilaf and a flavorful mixture of mushrooms, broccoli, red pepper, sugar snap peas, and shredded carrots. Topped with toasted almonds and crispy noodles."

    In a dish like this, it's important to get the sauce tasting just right or the whole hack will be off. Simmering a secret blend of orange juice, brown sugar, marmalade, and few other ingredients will give you a sauce that's sweet, tangy, spicy and really, really freakin' good. Rather than going to the trouble of breading and frying the chicken from scratch, I've cut time off your prep by including frozen breaded chicken fingers that you simply bake in the oven when you're ready to assemble the dish. I used Claim Jumper brand chicken tenderloins for this recipe since one 20-ounce box was perfect for the two servings this recipe yields. However, these are mongo-huge restaurant-size portions, so you'll be able to divide this recipe up into four more modest servings if you like.

    Make more of your favorite dishes from Applebee's. 

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.74 (votes: 19)
    Chili's Chicken Crispers and Honey Mustard Dressing

    Menu Description: "Strips of hand-battered chicken fried to perfection. Served w/sweet corn on the cob, honey-mustard dressing and homestyle fries."

    When biting into Chili's delicious trademarked Chicken Crispers, I detect the distinct flavor of MSG, or monosodium glutamate. Although there is no English word for it, the Japanese call this flavor "umami", and it delivers a taste sensation that is different from bitter, salty, sweet, or sour flavors. This "fifth flavor" is created naturally by glutamic acid, an amino acid, and it can be found in mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, fish and dairy products. But rather than adding something like Accent flavor enhancer—which is pure MSG—to this recipe, I thought of another approach. 

    For my Chili's Chicken Crispers recipe, I decided to bring canned chicken broth into the mix. Most chicken broths, including Swanson brand, contain autolyzed yeast extract. These yeast enzymes release flavor-enhancing compounds that work just like MSG, amplifying flavors in much the same way. Plus, the chicken broth is made with other goodies such as carrot, onion, and celery that will contribute to a tasty, crunchy coating. As for the frying, Chili's has recently switched to a shortening that contains no trans fat. So, if you want the best clone of Chili's Chicken Crispers, use shortening, but find the kind that has no trans fat. Crisco now makes a version, and so does Smart Balance. Shortening produces a superior clone and it will release less "fry smell" into your house. You can also use vegetable or canola oil.I've also included the recipe for Chili's Honey Mustard Dressing that's easy to make with just 5 ingredients.

    Try my Chili's Crispy Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers recipe here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.97 (votes: 36)
    Outback Steakhouse Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

    Outback makes their sauces and salad dressings from scratch every day following master formulas in a corporate cookbook. Now you've got a secret recipe of your own that will duplicate the taste of their hugely popular house honey mustard recipe. You'll need just three basic ingredients and only about two minutes of free time to make my Outback honey mustard dressing recipe.

    Try more recipes for your favorite dishes from Outback here

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.79 (votes: 39)
    Olive Garden Hot Artichoke-Spinach Dip

    Menu Description: "A creamy hot dip of artichokes, spinach and Parmesan with pasta chips."

    Just about every aspect of the Olive Garden restaurants was developed from consumer research conducted in a corporate think tank by the General Mills Corporation. Restaurant-goers were questioned about preferences, such as the type of food to be served, the appearance and atmosphere of the restaurant, even the color of the candleholders on each table. The large tables and the comfy chairs on rollers that you see at the Olive Garden restaurants came out of those vigorous research sessions.

    I'm not sure if this dish came from those sessions, but according to servers at the Olive Garden, the Hot Artichoke-Spinach Dip is one of the most requested appetizers on the menu. The restaurant serves the dip with chips made from fried pasta, but you can serve your homemade Olive Garden hot artichoke dip with just about any type of crackers, chips, or toasted Italian bread, like bruschetta.

    Try my Olive Garden Hot Artichoke Dip recipe below, and find more of your favorite Olive Garden recipes here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.67 (votes: 6)
    White Castle Burgers

    Nicknamed "Sliders" and "Gut Bombers," these famous tiny burgers were one of the earliest fast-food creations. It all started in 1921 when E.W. Ingram borrowed $700 to open a hamburger stand in Wichita, Kansas. Ingram chose the name White Castle because "white" signified purity and cleanliness, while "castle" represented strength. permanence, and stability. White Castle lived up to its name, maintaining that permanence and stability by growing steadily over the years to a total of 380 restaurants.

    Ingram's inspiration was the development of steam-grilling, a unique process that helped the burgers retain moisture. The secret is grilling the meat over a small pile of onions that give off steam as they cook. Five holes in each mini-burger help to ensure that the meat is completely cooked without having to flip the patties. Today customers can buy these burgers "by the sack" at the outlets, or pick them up in the freezer section of most grocery stores, but hey, it's fun to use my White Castle burger copycat recipe to make them at home. 

    Now, how about some fries and a milkshake to complete the meal?

    Source: More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.89 (votes: 45)
    Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

    For two years after the first Olive Garden restaurant opened in 1982, operators were still tweaking the restaurant's physical appearance and the food that was served. Even the tomato sauce was changed as many as 25 times. It's that sort of dedication that creates fabulous dishes like this popular soup. It blends the flavors of potatoes, kale, and Italian sausage in a slightly spicy chicken and cream broth. 

    Try my Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana copycat recipe below, and find more of my Olive Garden clone recipes here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.50 (votes: 6)
    Marie Callender's Lemon Cream Cheese Pie

    Menu Description: "Our melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese pie with a tangy lemon topping."

    Here's a great double-layered pie with lemon topping covering a creamy cheesecake filling. It's two great pies in one dessert. This creation has been a huge seller for Marie Callender's, and I've heard nothing but raves from anyone who's tried it. Make the crust from scratch like the pros using my Marie Callender's lemon cream cheese pie copycat recipe here, or take the easy route with a pre-made graham cracker crust found in the baking aisle. Either way, it's pie heaven. 

    Banana Cream more your speed? Check out more of my Marie Callender's pie recipes here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.25 (votes: 4)
    Popeyes Cajun Gravy

    Ah, chicken gizzard. It took me more than eighteen years to find a recipe that requires chicken gizzard -- not that I was looking for one. But I've seen the ingredients list on the box that comes from the supplier for the Cajun gravy from Popeyes, and if we're gonna do this one right I think there's got to be some gizzard in there. The gizzard is a small organ found in the lower stomach of a chicken, and your butcher should be able to get one for you. After you sauté and chop the gizzard, it is simmered with the other ingredients until you have a thick, authentic Southern gravy that goes great over the Popeyes Buttermilk Biscuits clone, or onto whatever begs to be swimming in pure flavor. Get ready for some of the best gravy that's ever come off your stovetop.

    Try my Popeyes Cajun gravy recipe below, and complete your meal with my recipe for Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.

    Source: "Top Secret Recipes Unlocked" by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 3.60 (votes: 5)
    Popeyes Buttermilk Biscuits

    In 2007 America's number one Cajun-style restaurant celebrated its 35th birthday with 1,583 stores worldwide. But Popeyes didn't start out with the name that most people associate with a certain spinach-eating cartoon character. When Al Copeland opened his first Southern-fried chicken stand in New Orleans in 1972, it was called Chicken On The Run. The name was later changed to Popeyes after Gene Hackman's character in the movie The French Connection. In addition to great spicy fried chicken, Popeyes serves up wonderful Southern-style buttermilk biscuits that we can now easily duplicate to serve with a variety of home cooked meals. The secret is to cut cold butter into the mix with a pastry knife so that the biscuits turn out flaky and tender just like the originals.

    Source: "Top Secret Recipes Unlocked" by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 3.75 (votes: 4)
    Burger King Zesty Onion Ring Sauce

    If you're a big fan of onion rings from Burger King, you probably already know about the spicy dipping sauce offered from the world's number two burger chain (it's not always on the menu, and you usually have to request it). The creamy, mayo-based sauce seems to be inspired by the dipping sauce served with Outback's signature Bloomin Onion appetizer, since both sauces contain similar ingredients, among them horseradish and cayenne pepper. If you're giving my Burger King Onion Rings recipe a try, whip up some of my copycat Burger King Zesty Onion Ring sauce and go for a dip. It's just as good with low-fat mayonnaise if you're into that. And the stuff works real well as a spread for burgers and sandwiches, or for dipping artichokes.

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 7)
    Mrs. Fields Pumpkin Harvest Cookies

    You're not in the mood for pumpkin pie, but you want to bake something with pumpkin in it for the holidays. Give my Mrs. Fields Pumpkin Harvest Cookies recipe below a shot. You'll use pure canned pumpkin, plus there are pecans in there and chunks of white chocolate that can be chopped up from bars. Pull the cookies out when they're still soft in the middle and just slightly browned around the edges, and you'll produce 2 dozen perfectly baked pumpkin-pumped happy pucks.

    Update 10/12/17: A more accurate measurement for the flour in this recipe is 14 ounces by weight. If you don't have a scale, add another 2 tablespoons to the 2 1/2 cups of flour called for in the recipe. Also, you may get better results if you bake the cookies at 325 degrees for 16 minutes, or until they are just beginning to turn light brown around the bottom edges.

    Check out my other Mrs. Fields copycat recipes here

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.86 (votes: 50)
    Chili's Southwestern Egg Rolls

    Menu Description: "Smoked chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeño Jack cheese, red peppers and spinach wrapped inside a crispy flour tortilla. We serve it with our avocado-ranch dipping sauce."

    Chili's was the first chain to popularize the Southwestern-style egg roll, but as with any successful menu item, clones have been popping up on other major chains' appetizer menus over the past several years. Even though it's more like a small chimichanga than an egg roll, this appetizer is a fabulous creation with monster flavor. A flour tortilla is stuffed with a spicy blend of corn, green onions, black beans, spinach, jalapeño peppers, Monterey Jack cheese and spices; then it's deep-fried. Slice the fried rolls diagonally, dunk the wedges into a creamy avocado ranch sauce, and you've done your taste buds a solid. 

    I suggest you make your homemade Chili's Southwestern egg rolls several hours before you plan to serve them, so they can freeze before frying (it's a great dish to make a day ahead of a party or event). This freezing step will help the outside fry to a golden brown, but the egg rolls will stay folded, and oil won't seep in. Assembling the egg rolls takes a little time, so if you like these, I suggest making a double batch. Since you'll be freezing them, you'll have extra on hand in the freezer ready to cook with just a little additional effort.

    Try my Chili's Southwestern Egg Rolls copycat recipe below, and find more of my Chili's copycat recipes here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 1)
    Top Secret Recipes - Sodas, Smoothies, Spirits and Shakes

    Exclusive signed copy. Todd Wilbur shares his best kept secrets for making knockoffs of your favorite drinks—right in your own kitchen and without spending a lot of money.

    You can re-create the delicious taste of America's most popular brand-name soft drinks, beverages, dessert drinks, mixers, and liqueurs by following Todd's easy, step-by-step instructions. If it comes in a glass, cup, bottle, or mug, it's here for you to clone at home.

    Discover how to make your own versions of: Nestea, Cinnabon Icescape, Jamba Juice Smoothies, Orange Julius, Red Robin Jamaican Shake, Bailey's Irish Cream, Sonic Drive In Cream Pie Shakes, Dairy Queen Blizzard. Plus dozens of specialty drinks from T.G.I Friday's, Chili's, Hard Rock Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, Applebee's, House of Blues, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Claim Jumper, and many more from your favorite restaurant chains. Over 200 popular recipes in all!

    Other books you may like: Even More Top Secret Recipes and Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3.

    Sodas
    A&W Cream Soda
    A&W Root Beer
    Coca-Cola
    Orange Slice
    7UP
    Sonic Drive-In Cherry Limeade
    Sonic Drive-In Strawberry Limeade
    Sonic Drive-In Ocean Water
    Squirt
    T.G.I. Friday's November Sea Breeze Fling
    T.G.I. Friday's Strawberry Surprise Fling

    Smoothies
    Applebee's Bananaberry Freeze
    Baskin-Robbins Peach Smoothie
    Baskin-Robbins Strawberry Smoothie
    Baskin-Robbins Strawberry Banana Smoothie
    Baskin-Robbins Wild Berry Banana Smoothie
    Jamba Juice Banana Berry
    Jamba Juice Citrus Squeeze
    Jamba Juice Cranberry Craze
    Jamba Juice Orange-A-Peel
    Jamba Juice Peach Pleasure
    Jamba Juice Strawberries  Wild
    Orange Julius Pineapple Julius
    Orange Julius Strawberry Julius
    Red Robin Chillin Mango Smoothie
    Red Robin Groovy Smoothies
    Starbucks Tazoberry Tea
    Starbucks Tazoberry Tea & Cream
    T.G.I. Friday's Tropical Oasis Smoothie

    Shakes
    Arby's Jamocha Shake
    Baskin-Robbins B.R. Blast--Cappuccino
    Baskin-Robbins B.R. Blast--Mocha
    Cinnabon Icescapes--Strawberry
    Cinnabon Icescapes--Orange
    Cinnabon Icescapes--Mochalatta Chill
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Baby Ruth
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Banana Pudding
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Banana Split
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Berry Banana
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Chocolate Chip
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Hawaiian
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Whopp'n' Wild
    Dairy Queen Blizzard--Yukon Cruncher
    Jack in the Box Oreo Cookie Shake
    McDonald's McFlurry--Butterfinger
    McDonald's McFlurry--M&M's
    McDonald's McFlurry--Oreo Cookie
    McDonald's McFlurry--Reese's
    McDonald's Shakes--Chocolate
    McDonald's Shakes--Strawberry
    McDonald's Shakes--Vanilla
    McDonald's Shamrock Shake
    Sonic Drive-In Cream Pie Shakes--Banana
    Sonic Drive-In Cream Pie Shakes--Chocolate
    Sonic Drive-In Cream Pie Shakes--Coconut
    Sonic Drive-In Cream Pie Shakes--Strawberry
    Starbucks Frozen Frappuccino--Coffee
    Starbucks Frozen Frappuccino--Caramel
    Starbucks Frozen Frappuccino--Mocha Coconut
    Wendy's Frosty

    Other Sips
    Arizona Green Tea w/Ginseng and Honey
    Arizona Iced Tea w/Ginseng
    Cinnabon Strawberry Lemonade
    General Foods International Coffees--Cafe Vienna
    General Foods International Coffees--French Vanilla Cafe
    General Foods International Coffees--Hazelnut Belgian Cafe
    General Foods International Coffees--Suisse Mocha
    General Foods International Coffees--Viennese Chocolate Cafe
    Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red
    Hot Dog On A Stick Muscle Beach Lemonade
    Minute Maid All Natural Lemonade
    Nestea Natural Lemon Flavored Iced Tea
    Red Robin Freckled lemonade
    Red Robin Strawberry Ecstasy
    7-Eleven Cherry Slurpee
    Snapple Iced Tea--Cranberry Iced Tea
    Snapple Iced Tea--Diet Lemon Iced Tea
    Snapple Iced Tea--Lemon Iced Tea
    Snapple Iced Tea--Orange Iced Tea
    Snapple Iced Tea--Peach Iced Tea
    Snapple Iced Tea--Raspberry Iced Tea
    Sunny Delight
    Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Drink
    Yoo-Hoo Mix-ups--Chocolate-Banana
    Yoo-Hoo Mix-ups--Chocolate-Mint
    Yoo-Hoo Mix-ups--Chocolate-Strawberry

    Spirits: Schnapps & Liqueurs
    Bailey's Original Irish Cream
    Dekuyper Thrilla Vanilla French Vanilla Liqueur
    Disaronno Amaretto
    Grand Marnier Liqueur
    Hiram Walker Annisette Liqueur
    Hiram Walker Creme De Banana Liqueur
    Hiram Walker Creme De Cacao Liqueur
    Hiram Walker Creme De Menthe Liqueur
    Hiram Walker Creme De Strawberry Liqueur
    Hiram Walker Razz Attack Raspberry Schnapps
    Hiram Walker Root Beer Schnapps
    Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
    Marie Brizard Watermelon Liqueur
    Midori Melon Liqueur

    Spirits: Cocktails
    Applebee's Bananaberry Split
    Applebee's Blue Skies
    Applebee's Perfect Margarita
    Applebee's Summer Squeeze
    Bahama Breeze Bahama Mama
    Bahama Breeze Caribbean Magic
    Bahama Breeze Malimbo Breeze
    Bahama Breeze Verry Berry Good
    Bennigan's Emerald Isle Iced Tea
    Bennigan's Irish Coffee
    Bennigan's O'Malley's Orange Cooler
    Bennigan's Raspberry Road Iced Tea
    Cheesecake Factory Caribbean Cooler
    Cheesecake Factory Key Lime Martini
    Cheesecake Factory J.W. Pink Lemonade
    Cheesecake Factory Twilight Zone
    Cheesecake Factory Tropical Martini
    Chevys 100% Blue Agave Margarita
    Chevys House Rocks Margarita
    Chevys Lava Lamp Margarita
    Chevys The Sunburn Margarita
    Chevys Ultimate Orange Margarita
    Chevys Watermelon Fresh Fruit Margarita (On the Rocks)
    Chili's Calypso Cooler
    Chili's Chambord 1800 Margarita
    Chili's Jamaican Paradise
    Chili's Mandrin Blush
    Chili's Margarita Presidente
    Chili's Tropical Sunburn
    Chili's Twisted Lemonade
    Claim Jumper Absolutely Electric Lemonade
    Claim Jumper Bermuda Sunset
    Claim Jumper Hawaiian Punch
    Claim Jumper Mai Tai
    Claim Jumper Otter Pop
    Claim Jumper Root Beer Float
    Claim Jumper Shark On The Beach
    Claim Jumper Tropical Storm
    Hard Rock Cafe The Hard Rock Hurricane
    Hard Rock Cafe Lynchburg Lo--Rider
    Hard Rock Cafe Shooters--Lemon Drop
    Hard Rock Cafe Shooters--Purple Shooter
    House of Blues Eve's Revenge Martini
    House of Blues HOB Blue Martini
    House of Blues HOB Cruiser
    House of Blues Mo' Betta Blues
    Joe's Crab Shack Joe Makin' Me Java
    Joe's Crab Shack Joe's Ya Ya
    Joe's Crab Shack Red Snapper
    Joe's Crab Shack Secret Passion Punch
    Joe's Crab Shack Shark Tooth
    Joe's Crab Shack Swamp Moss
    Olive Garden Chocolate Almond Amore
    Olive Garden Italian Margarita
    Olive Garden Strawberry Siciliano
    Olive Garden Venetian Sunset
    Outback Steakhouse Coral Reef  'Rita
    Outback Steakhouse Don't Koala Me, I'll Koala You Cooler
    Outback Steakhouse Great Barrier Punch
    Outback Steakhouse Melbourne Cooler
    Outback Steakhouse Wallaby Darned
    P.F. Chang's Buddha's Dream
    P.F. Chang's Heat Wave
    P.F. Chang's Nutty Uncle Chang's Favorite
    P.F. Chang's The Poolside
    Planet Hollywood The Comet
    Planet Hollywood Cool Running
    Planet Hollywood Meet Jack Black
    Planet Hollywood Shooters--Blue Hawaii
    Planet Hollywood Shooters--Bubble Gum
    Planet Hollywood Shooters--Grape Crush
    Planet Hollywood Shooters--Peanut Butter & Jelly
    Planet Hollywood Sweet Death Becomes Her
    Planet Hollywoo0d Terminator
    Red Lobster Bahama Mama
    Red Lobster Butter-Tini Funtini
    Red Lobster The Hawaiian Funtini
    Red Lobster Red Passion Colada
    Red Robin Absolut Lemonade
    Red Robin Jamaican Shake
    Red Robin Sand In Your Shorts
    Red Robin T.N.T
    T.G.I. Friday's Banana Split Blender Blaster
    T.G.I. Friday's Electric Lemonade
    T.G.I. Friday's Hawaiian Volcano
    T.G.I. Friday's June Bug
    T.G.I. Friday's Lights of Havana
    T.G.I. Friday's Strawberry Shortcake Blender Blaster
    Z'Tejas Z' Big Stick Margarita
    Z'Tejas Famous Chambord Raspberry Margarita

    Spirits: Mixers
    Beau Rivage Bloody Mary Mix
    Mara Simple Syrup
    Mr. & Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix
    Mr. & Mrs. T Sweet & Sour Mix
    Restaurant-Style Mai Tai Mix
    Restaurant-Style Pina Colada Mix
    Restaurant-Style Sweet & Sour Mix

     

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 2)
    Chi-Chi's Sweet Corn Cake Reduced-Fat

    A deserted Kroger grocery store in Richfield, Minnesota, was the site for the first Chi-Chi's in 1976. That was the year restaurateur Marno McDermott got together with ex-Green Bay Packer football player Max McGee to open the first of what would soon become a growing chain of Mexican food restaurants. Today, with around 100 restaurants found mostly in the Midwestern and Eastern states, Chi-Chi's has become famous for its large portions of food, and for the expression, "don't touch the plate, it's very hot!" 

    Alongside many of the entrees served at the restaurant is this sweet side dish. It's sort of like a combination of custard and cornbread, with corn and cornmeal in it. But the original is loaded with butter. That means if you eat just a very small scoop of the tasty corn cake you'll be putting away around a dozen grams of fat. By using light butter or margarine and substituting milk for the heavy cream, we knock those fat grams down to about half of the real thing served in the restaurant. Yet the flavor and texture is just as good.

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving size–1 scoop
    Total servings–8
    Calories per serving–125 (Original–185)
    Fat per serving–6.5g (Original–13g)

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Lite by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.94 (votes: 35)
    Auntie Anne's Pretzels

    The first Auntie Anne's pretzel store opened in 1988 in the heart of pretzel country—a Pennsylvanian Amish farmers' market. Over 500 stores later, Auntie Anne's is one of the most requested secret clone recipes around, especially on the internet. 

    Many of the copycat Auntie Anne's soft pretzel recipes passed around the Web require bread flour, and some use honey as a sweetener. But by studying the Auntie Anne's home pretzel-making kit in my secret underground laboratory, I've created a better Auntie Anne's copycat recipe with a superior way to re-create the delicious mall treats at home. For the best quality dough, you just need all-purpose flour. And powdered sugar works great to perfectly sweeten the dough. Now you just have to decide if you want to make the more traditional salted pretzels, or the sweet cinnamon sugar-coated kind. Decisions, decisions.

    Find more of my copycat recipes for famous muffins, bagels, and rolls here

    Source: Even More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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    Wendy's Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita Reduced-Fat

    Publicity stunt alert. For one day in 1997, St. Petersburg, Florida, became "St. Pitas-burg" to celebrate the introduction of Wendy's Fresh Stuffed Pita sandwiches. Over 40,000 balloons formed a giant pita sandwich at a local Wendy's restaurant, while local residents and Wendy's staff learned the "art of eating a pita" from pita eating experts.

    The Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita was one of those pitas introduced on that glorious day. See if you can figure how to eat this clone version, made with much less fat, all on your own.

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving size–1 sandwich
    Total servings–4
    Calories per serving–283 (Original–490)
    Fat per serving–5g (Original–18g)

    Source: Low-Fat Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.90 (votes: 10)
    Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin

    This delicious fall offering arrives frozen to each Starbucks store and is thawed out just before opening in the morning. The pumpkin cream cheese muffins were especially popular in the fall of 2008. According to my local Starbucks manager, a memo fired off to all stores warned of a shortage in the product and that inventory in most states would be depleted before the holidays arrived. That was enough information to get me quickly working on a seriously great Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffin recipe, and here you go. 

    First, sweeten some cream cheese and get it back in the fridge to firm up. It's much easier to work into the top of the muffins when it's cold. The pumpkin seeds that are sprinkled on top of each muffin get candied in a large skillet with brown sugar and cinnamon. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper muffin cups, add the muffin batter and some cream cheese, top with the candied pumpkins seeds, and then bake. Soon you'll have a dozen fresh clones of the amazing muffins, and you'll always be prepared for the next pumpkin cream cheese muffin shortage.

    See if I cloned more of your favorites from Starbucks here.

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 4.95 (votes: 38)
    Starbucks Pumpkin Scone

    During the holiday months, you'd better get over to Starbucks bright and early if you want to sink your teeth into a delicious pumpkin scone. These orange triangles of happiness are made with real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices, and they quickly vanish from the pastry case when fall rolls around. Each scone is generously coated with a plain glaze, and then spiced icing is drizzled over the top. To get the crumbly texture, cut cold butter into the dry ingredients, either with a pastry knife or by pulsing it in a food processor until all the butter chunks have been worked in. 

    My Starbucks Pumpkin Scone copycat recipe calls for 1/2 can of pumpkin purée. Use the leftover purée to make Starbucks pumpkin bread or a pumpkin spice latte.

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 8)
    Cheesecake Factory Avocado Eggrolls

    Menu Description:  "Chunks of Fresh Avocado, Sun-Dried Tomato, Red Onion and Cilantro Deep Fried in a Crisp Chinese Wrapper."

    In 1995, Forbes Magazine named The Cheesecake Factory in its list of the 200 best small companies in America. At more than 90 stores now, The Cheesecake Factory plans to continue growing at a rate of about 11 new restaurants per year, and still does not franchise.

    The avocado egg rolls are one of the most popular appetizers on the menu at the Cheesecake Factory, and it's not hard to see why. The combination of avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, and the cilantro-tamarind sauce makes this one of the tastiest appetizers I've had at any restaurant chain. 

    The trickiest part of my Cheesecake Factory avocado egg rolls recipe might be finding the tamarind pulp at your market. It's a brown, sticky pulp that looks like puréed prunes, and can be found in the spice section or near the ethnic foods—or try a Middle Eastern market. The pulp sometimes contains the large seeds of the fruit, so be sure to remove them before measuring. If you can't find the tamarind paste, you can get by substituting smashed raisins or prunes.

    Find more of my famous appetizer copycat recipes here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 2)
    Red Lobster New England Clam Chowder

    Some recipes require going through the tedious (and more expensive) task of steaming fresh clams and dicing up all the good parts. For my Red Lobster New England Clam Chowder copycat recipe, you can use the more affordable and convenient canned clams found in any supermarket without sacrificing flavor. Just remember to not toss out the clam juice in the cans when you open them, since you'll need that flavorful liquid in the first step.

    Make a batch of my Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits to go with your chowder, and find more of my Red Lobster recipes copycat here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 8)
    P.F. Chang's Chang's Spicy Chicken (General Chu's)

    Menu Description: "Lightly-dusted, stir-fried in a sweet Szechwan sauce." (Our version of General Chu's.)

    The delicious sweet-and-spicy secret sauce is what makes this dish one of P. F. Chang's top picks. Once the sauce is finished, all you have to do is sauté your chicken and combine. You'll want to cook up some white or brown rice, like at the restaurant. If you can't find straight chili sauce for my P.F. Chang's spicy chicken recipe, the more common chili sauce with garlic in it will work just as well.

    Check out my other P.F. Chang's clone recipes here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 10)
    Olive Garden Stuffed Mushrooms

    Menu Description: "Parmesan, Romano and mozzarella cheese, clams and herb breadcrumbs baked in mushroom caps."

    Breadcrumbs, clams and three types of cheese are baked into white mushroom caps in this clone of a top pick from Olive Garden's appetizer menu. For my Olive Garden Stuffed Mushrooms recipe below, just mix all the stuffing ingredients together in a bowl, fill the mushroom caps, sprinkle on some minced red bell pepper, cover the mushrooms with a blanket of mozzarella cheese slices, and bake. After 15 minutes, you'll have a great appetizer or hors d'oeuvre for 4 to 6 people—that's twice the serving size of the dish from the restaurant.

    Did you love this copycat Olive Garden stuffed mushroom recipe? Check out more of my clone recipes here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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I'm Todd Wilbur, Chronic Food Hacker

For over 30 years I've been deconstructing America's most iconic brand-name foods to make the best original copycat recipes for you to use at home. Welcome to my lab.

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