22 McDonald’s Copycat Recipes So You Can Skip the Drive-Through
Updated: Jul. 29, 2021From McDonald's tartar sauce recipe to cheeseburgers, French fries and so much more, you'll be able to turn fast-food into a fresh, homemade meal.
McDonald’s cheeseburger
A crispy coating mix is the secret ingredient that dresses up these burgers you bake in the oven instead of grill or fry. I like to use a sweet and spicy steak sauce for the best flavor. —Mike Goldman, Arden Hills, Minnesota
Do you know what the only U.S. state capital without a McDonald’s is?
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
McDonald’s french fries
An even tastier way to eat fries! The addition of Parmesan and garlic makes this side dish simply irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Don’t miss why McDonald’s fries are so addictive.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Shamrock shake
Save a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that’s fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
This is the real reason the McDonald’s logo is yellow and red.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Chicken McNuggets
My 3-year-old is going through a stage where he’ll eat only chicken nuggets and French fries. I like to make these golden nuggets for him so I know what he’s eating. They’re so good, we like them, too! —Amanda Livesay, Mobile, Alabama (You’ll want to check out the fastest drive-thru chain in America.)
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Quarter pounder with cheese
Go on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high. Peanut butter and bacon make them Southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes, a Northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit
I turned classic breakfast sandwiches into something heartier you could have for dinner, too. We pile toppings like salsa, avocado—even mayo and ketchup—onto my homemade biscuits. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Honey mustard sauce
This fast, easy mustard with rice vinegar and honey has more flavor than any other honey-mustard dressing I have ever tried. —Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas
These 9 countries have actually banned McDonald’s.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Pico guacamole with artisan grilled chicken sandwich
Because I thought of it myself and it’s such a great sandwich—everyone I’ve shared the recipe with just loves it and they make it over and over again. You can use any type of bread or roll for this sandwich—we like the ciabatta but have used other breads and rolls—whatever I might have handy. You can also pan fry the chicken if you can’t get to a grill.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
McCafe strawberry shake
Cool off with a thick and rich treat that will remind you of a malt shoppe! —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This is the most expensive McDonald’s in the world, by the way.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Hotcakes
I found this fluffy pancake recipe among our old family favorites, and adapted it to make a small amount. It’s quick and easy to prepare, but we still consider it a special treat. —Eugene Presley, Council, Virginia
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Chicken selects
These strips are designed for kids, but tasty enough for company. The tender strips are moist and juicy and would also be great on a salad. —Becky Oliver, Fairplay, Colorado
Don’t miss the scandalous theory behind the golden arches.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Tangy barbeque sauce
I’ve never cared that much for store-bought barbecue sauce. I just like to make things myself from scratch including this spicy, deep red-brown sauce. You’ll find it clings well when you slather it on grilled meat. —Helena Georgette Mann, Sacramento, California
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Cinnamon melts
A slow cooker turns day-old cinnamon rolls into a comforting, old-fashioned dessert. It tastes wonderful topped with lemon or vanilla sauce or whipped cream. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
McRib
Perfect for a weekday dinner or cozy weekend meal, this recipe makes fall-off-the-bone tender meat with delicious flavor. —Margaret Luchsinger, Jupiter, Florida
This is the surprising reason one McDonald’s uses turquoise arches.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Southwest grilled chicken salad
This knockout shredded pork makes a healthy, delicious and hearty salad with black beans, corn, cotija cheese and plenty of fresh greens. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Fruit and maple oatmeal
I tasted muesli on a trip to Switzerland, and when I came home, I made it my way. Keep things interesting (and avoid the mid-morning munchies) by adding different fruits and nuts every day. —Maddie Kirk, Springfield, Pennsylvania
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Filet-o-fish
The seasoned breading of this hearty sandwich turns mild-flavored cod or halibut into a taste sensation, and the creamy sauce just keeps it going! —Mildred Caruso, Brighton, Tennessee
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Tartar sauce
Here’s a traditional sauce worth making from scratch. It makes the meal feel very special, and guests are always impressed. You might never buy the bottled stuff ever again. —Roger Slivon, Genesee Depot, Wisconsin
This is why McDonald’s coke tastes better than anywhere else.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Sausage burrito
This is a great kid-friendly recipe that takes only 20 minutes to prepare and cook.—Sharon Haswell, Cheshire, Massachusetts
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Sweet BBQ bacon burger
Every family has a burger of choice, and this is ours. It’s stacked tall with bacon and crunchy onion rings. —Paula Homer, Nampa, Idaho
Don’t miss these things McDonald’s employees won’t tell you.
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Fruit and yogurt parfait
The best time for this dessert is mid-summer, when the blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten up the patriotic colors.—Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Fish McBites
My husband and I love fresh, fried fish, but we’re both trying to cut back on fats. I made up this recipe and it was a huge hit. He tells me that he likes it as much as deep-fried fish, and that’s saying a lot! —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Get the Taste of Home recipe here.
Next, check out these mind-blowing facts about McDonald’s.
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