10 Easy Copycat Recipes with a Healthier Twist

Sometimes you want a restaurant favorite, but you don’t want to leave the house. Or you want a version that’s made with better-for-you ingredients. This list of easy Copycat Recipes — featuring Starbucks copycat recipes, Chipotle copycat recipes and more — gives you the best of both worlds, with a healthier spin on favorites that you can enjoy from home.

Welcome to Hungry Blonde Round Ups! This where I round up some of my simplest, most popular, and most delicious recipes — all in one place (:

Why I Love Making Easy Copycat Recipes

If you know me, then you know that I believe in an everything in moderation approach to your diet. Generally, that means not cutting anything out completely, and always giving yourself the freedom to choose what feels right for you. Sometimes, what you want is a regular-old McDonald’s Egg McMuffin straight from the drive-thru. Whereas other times, you might want that, but you might also want to control the ingredients you’re consuming. And that is why I love Copycat Recipes. By making these recipes, you get all the flavor of the originals, but with a healthier twist. Plus, you never have to leave the comfort of your home to enjoy them. Win-win.

1: Copycat McDonald’s Egg McMuffin

This recipe for Copycat McDonald’s Egg McMuffin & Hash Brown Breakfast might be even tastier than the real thing… and it’s made with better-for-you ingredients. Who knew this classic was so easy to make at home? Plus, this is a breakfast that can be done and on the table in minutes. In fact, it’ll take you less time than that trip to the drive-thru (;

2: Copycat Shake Shack Cheeseburger Bowl

If you love Shake Shack’s Shackburger, then you’re absolutely going to want to make this homemade Copycat Shake Shack Cheeseburger Bowl. It’s an easy recipe to prepare the ingredients ahead of time and have on hand for nourishing lunches all week. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked.

3: Copycat Little Debbie Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies

When it comes to store bought desserts, I was a Little Debbie kinda gal all the way. As I got older, though, I realized these treats weren’t the *best* for me. I do still love to have them from time to time, but I truly think that my Gluten-Free Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies might rival the original — don’t tell Little Debbie! They’re so incredibly decadent and delicious with chewy oatmeal cookies sandwiched with a fluffy, creamy marshmallow filling. 

4: Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl

Sometimes you want Chipotle, but you also don’t want to leave your house… or even get out of your pajamas. Well, that’s where this Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl comes in. It’s easy-to-make, great for meal prep, and gives you all that Chipotle flavor, without ever having to leave your house. Flavorful marinated chicken and all of your favorite burrito bowl ingredients…this is going to be your new favorite lunch. 

5: Spicy Rigatoni a la Carbone

If you’ve ever lived in New York City, then you know that Carbone is a restaurant in a league of its own. It’s on just about every top restaurants list, and simply being able to get a reservation there is like winning the lottery. That’s why I decided to create this copycat recipe for their Spicy Rigatoni — and it make it both vegan and gluten-free! Now, even though this edition is a little *healthier* it’s still creamy and oh-so-delicious.

6: Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

There’s nothing like Starbucks during the holiday season… there are treats galore! One of my favorites is their Cranberry Bliss Bar. So, I thought: Why not try to recreate them?! I can assure you this recipe for Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars is going to be a new favorite addition to your holiday baking. It tastes just like the original, but without any funky ingredients, and it’s gluten-free!

7: Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch

I always knew that Taco Bell’s Cheesy Gordita Crunch‘s was insanely delicious, but who knew they were also fun to make?! In this case, my copycat recipe is also more nutritious because it’s all wrapped up in Outer Aisle cauliflower sandwich thins (= 1 serving of vegetable per thin). The flavors and textures in these tacos are the ultimate party in your mouth.

8: Chocolate Covered Coconut Bars AKA Copycat Mound Bars

So, every once in a while, those recipes come along that you know are going to be a lifelong keeper. I like to think it’s a combination of a recipe being 1) easy to make 2) delicious 3) made with few, real ingredients 4) most importantly, a crowd-pleaser. As far as I’m concerned, these Chocolate Coconut Bars – AKA healthier Copycat Mounds – are exactly that.

9: Copycat Lofthouse Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

You know those packaged frosted sugar cookies they’ve sold at grocery stores since the beginning of time? Of course you do, because they always place right them where you enter. Well, those addicting little things are Lofthouse cookies. When I was a kid I could *not* get enough of these. Then, one day I saw them in the grocery store (again) and thought: It’s time for a glow up. So, now we have Healthier Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies that rival Lofthouse (shhh!).

10: Honey Walnut Cream Cheese: A Panera Copycat

It is a truth universally known that a bagel is nothing without cream cheese. In fact, cream cheese is the *thing* that can make or break your bagel… so, you want it to be a good one, you know. Now, Panera has certainly cracked the cream cheese code, but I wanted to bring that home. And that’s why I made this Honey Walnut Cream Cheese. It doesn’t get simpler (or more delicious!) than this.

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As always, if you make any of these Copycat Recipes or any of my other recipes, then I’d love to know how they turned out. Please leave a review, and be sure to tag me on Instagram @Hungry.Blonde! xoxo GG

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