Restaurant Chicken Copycat Recipes

 

If you are hoping to save some cash on your food expenses, cutting out dinners in restaurants is usually the first to go. I gathered some of the best copycat chicken recipes to share with you. From copycats of Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings, to Panera panini dupes, this list has something for everyone. You will want to try all of these dishes to get the flavor you crave, from your home kitchen. I hope you will leave a comment to tell me what copycat recipes you have been making at home.

Panera Chipotle Chicken Panini  by Sweet Tea and Thyme

This panini tastes just like the chipotle chicken option from Panera. This is so easy to make at home when you crave fast food, but don’t want to go out.

Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches by Sparkles to Sprinkles

Make this perfect sandwich any day of the week, including on a Sunday to get the flavor you want. This is a great dupe that everyone will enjoy.

Parmesan Chicken Romano by Season and Thyme

This Cheesecake factory copycat is so easy and extra flavorful! It uses parmesan cheese to coat tenders for 6 ingredient dish the whole family will love.

Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings by Sweet Silly Sara

Make this dish when you want comfort food, but don’t want to wait for a table at Cracker Barrel. This is cozy, delicious and not too complicated to make for wholesome, country style food.

Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits by Sweet Tea and Thyme

These honey butter chicken biscuits are perfect for any meal; breakfast, lunch or dinner! You are going to love the combination of chicken, sweet honey and flaky biscuits. 

Olive Garden Tuscan Chicken by Three Olives Branch

This Tuscan chicken tastes like it came from Olive Garden, but it so easy to make at home even on a week night.

Olive Garden Chicken Veronese by Season and Thyme

Save some money and still get the flavor of great pasta from Olive Garden, at home. This recipe is creamy, hearty and sure to be a favorite way to serve chicken for dinner.

Ensenada Chicken Platter by Season and Thyme

Make a Red Robin copycat for dinner at home. This is flavorful with juicy chicken and a southwest salad on the side. You are going to love this for a weeknight dinner with the family that stretches your budget while offering great flavors.

Chipotle Chicken Fresh Mex Bowls by xoxo Bella

These tex mex bowls have plenty of chicken, tasty veggies and crunchy chips to make a great meal. Enjoy these for lunch or dinner and are so easy to make.

Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken Breasts by The Feathered Nest

This stuffed chicken breast tastes just like the popular option from Ruth Chris! But, it is so budget friendly when you make it at home. It has plenty of cheese and a great blend of herbs.

Outback Alice Springs Chicken by Two Pink Peonies

Save some cash and still get the flavor of a great, cheesy meal from Outback with this recipe. Everyone loves Alice Springs chicken, and this recipe is so easy to duplicate at home.

CPK BBQ Chicken Salad by From Valerie’s Kitchen

This recipe makes a great dupe of the popular California Pizza Kitchen bbq chicken salad recipe. You are going to love this for lunch, or with pizza for a take out fake out meal.

Chicken and Rice by The Cagle Diaries

Get Cracker Barrel flavor any night of the week with this tasty and budget friendly dish. It has hearty mushrooms, chicken and rice with a creamy sauce that is irresistible.

Chicken Scampi by Amira’s Pantry

Save your cash and get the one of a kind flavor of Olive Garden chicken scampi at home. This recipe is fairly easy to recreate for a great weeknight meal.

Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken  by The Cooking Duo

Make this black pepper chicken for a fast and flavorful dish that has all of the flavor of Panda Express from your home kitchen. This is a great recipe for weeknight dinners.

Find more favorite recipes here:

Maple Brown Sugar Cookies

Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

Family Fun with Online Gaming: Making Leisure Time Exciting

 

Bringing a fresh spin to family leisure activities can turn ordinary nights into unforgettable experiences. Getting involved in online gaming opens up a vibrant avenue for families to engage in thrilling challenges and virtual adventures together. Whether you're piecing together intricate puzzles, strategizing in multiplayer battles, or delving into captivating virtual realms, online gaming presents many choices for family bonding. 

With games suitable for all ages, each family member will surely find something that captivates them. When selected with care, these digital adventures enhance connections, transforming screen time into meaningful moments of togetherness.

Exploring Online Casinos for Family-Friendly Games

While 'online casino' might traditionally evoke thoughts of adult gaming, many platforms offer family-friendly options perfect for every age bracket. Families can safely immerse themselves in online gaming by purposefully choosing games that focus on creativity and collaboration rather than gambling. 

These platforms often host games with substantial educational and entertainment value, a balanced choice for parents mindful of screen time. As you explore sites with high payout online casinos, you can uncover vibrant games that enhance family time, offering fresh ways to enjoy quality moments together.

The Benefits of Family Gaming Nights

Regular gaming nights can significantly boost familial bonds. Games that require teamwork enhance communication and problem-solving skills, creating a nurturing environment. These activities entertain and help cultivate patience, resilience, and empathy among family members.

Designating specific nights for gaming provides a structured opportunity for everyone to relax, strengthen family ties, and create cherished memories. Moreover, experiencing victories and overcoming challenges as a team fosters a sense of accomplishment and unity.

Choosing the Right Games for Your Family

Selecting the right games involves considering your family members' varied interests and age ranges. For younger children, opt for simple educational games that foster cognitive skills and creativity. 

As children grow, games involving strategy or multiplayer adventures become more engaging, offering chances to collaborate with family and friends. Parents should also explore enjoyable games, ensuring everyone's interests are represented. Curating a diverse selection that resonates with all participants ensures an inclusive gaming experience, enabling every family member to participate actively in the fun.

Setting Boundaries and Encouraging Healthy Gaming Habits

While online gaming can offer numerous advantages, it's crucial to establish boundaries to keep it positive. Setting time limits prevents excessive screen time and promotes a healthy balance with other activities. Encouraging regular breaks and promoting physical activities alongside gaming further support a healthy lifestyle. 

Engaging in open discussions about games and their effects ensures gaming remains a constructive part of family life. By setting these boundaries while safeguarding everyone's well-being, families can enjoy the benefits of online gaming.

Integrating Learning and Fun Through Gaming

Online gaming entertains and can serve as a potent educational tool. Many games, especially for younger audiences, incorporate educational elements promoting learning in maths, language, and science. This blend of fun and learning can spark children's interest in various subjects, making education an enjoyable experience. 

Families exploring these games together can discuss concepts and strategies, fostering an environment of curiosity and shared learning. Parents can transform playtime into enriching learning opportunities by choosing games that align with educational goals.

How CBD Products Can Help You With Midday Slumps

 

Most people experience a noticeable dip in energy during the afternoon. Around 2 or 3 PM, focus starts to fade, motivation slows down, and even simple tasks can feel more demanding than usual.

While caffeine and sugary snacks are often used to push through, they don’t work for everyone. Moreover, they can lead to restlessness or an energy crash later on. That’s why many are exploring CBD as a more balanced option to support mental clarity and calm during the day.

Here’s how the right Cannabidiol product might help you handle those midday slumps more smoothly.

Why Midday Slumps Happen?

Midday slumps can happen for a few reasons, and they’re more than just “feeling lazy.” Blood sugar levels tend to dip a few hours after lunch as your body finishes processing the meal, which can leave you feeling sluggish or unfocused.

Your internal clock, or circadian rhythm, also naturally slows down in the early afternoon. On top of that, hours of screen time and mental strain can cause fatigue to build up quickly.

All of these factors combined can lead to lower energy, irritability, and trouble concentrating. The good news? There are ways to support your body and mind through it, and CBD may be one of them.

Choose the Right Type of CBD for a Midday Boost

Not all Cannabidiol products make you feel the same. For instance, Indica is known for its calming and body-heavy effects, which can leave you feeling slow or sleepy. Now, that’s definitely something you probably want to avoid in the middle of a busy day. In contrast, Sativa products are more energizing and often preferred for their mood-lifting and focus-supporting benefits.

Edible formats, like gummies, are a practical choice for daytime use because they’re easy to take, don’t require any setup, and offer longer-lasting effects. That’s why products like Sativa Delta-9 Gummies are commonly used during the afternoon. They’re designed to provide mental clarity and balance without making you feel sluggish or overstimulated, and they fit easily into most daily routines.

Sativa-based products also contain terpenes like limonene and pinene, which are associated with alertness and a more uplifted mental state. This makes them a smart choice when you’re looking to beat the afternoon slowdown.

Microdosing is a Game-Changer

Taking smaller doses of CBD (especially in the afternoon) can help you stay in control of how you feel. You’re not looking to zone out; you want a subtle shift in your energy and mindset.

This is where microdosing becomes useful. It involves taking just enough to feel the effects without going overboard. Many people find that even a small amount can ease stress, improve focus, and reset their headspace- especially during high-pressure or mentally draining days.

Gummies, in particular, are easy to dose. Whether you take half or a whole one, you can start small, observe how you feel, and adjust only if needed.

CBD vs the 3 PM Coffee: A Common Dilemma

Caffeine is the go-to solution for most people facing a mid-afternoon energy crash. It works quickly and gives you a fast mental boost, but it can also have drawbacks. For some, it leads to jitteriness, restlessness, or a hard crash just a few hours later.

Sativa-based products work differently. Instead of spiking your energy, they interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to help you stay mentally balanced and emotionally steady. Many people prefer this more gradual support, especially when they want to stay productive without overstimulation.

Unlike caffeine, which can interfere with sleep if taken too late in the day, Sativa-leaning CBD products are often milder and less likely to disrupt your evening routine—making them a subtler, yet effective, midday option.

Pair It With Something That Refreshes You

Cannabidiol works best when it's part of a moment, not just a supplement. If you're taking a gummy in the afternoon, pair it with something that refreshes your mind.

For office workers or those with a packed schedule, it might seem hard to take a full break, but even a few minutes of mental reset can work wonders. Whether you're working from home or the office, you can:

• Take a 10-minute walk outside, even if it's just around the block
  
  

• Do some light stretching away from your desk
  
  

• Journal or jot down thoughts for clarity
  
  

• Put on a favorite song to change your mood
  
  

• Reframe your to-do list to reset priorities
  
  

It’s not about stopping entirely; it’s about giving your brain a quick reset to work more clearly. These brief pauses enhance the effects without raising the dose.

Conclusion

Midday slumps can be challenging, but with the right support, you can maintain focus and balance. CBD serves as a natural alternative to traditional energy boosters, helping you stay sharp without jitters or crashes. By selecting the right product and taking refreshing breaks, you can sustain your energy and clarity throughout the day.

Best Uses of Blue Cheese

 Blue cheese, with its creamy texture and tangy, pungent taste, is a beloved ingredient in many culinary traditions. Its distinctive flavor profile can add depth and complexity to a wide range of dishes. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting to explore new ingredients, blue cheese offers endless possibilities for creating delicious and memorable meals.

Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Dip

Photo credit: Sabrina Currie.

Mix up a batch of this easy caramelized onion and blue cheese dip to enjoy with your chips. This tastes so much better than any carton of dip from the store, and is made with simple ingredients to elevate the flavor of your next salty snack.

Get the recipe: Caramelized onion and blue cheese dip

Buffalo Chicken Fries 

Photo credit: The Food Hussy.

This is such a tasty dish to make at home. With buffalo chicken chunks, crispy fries and chunks of celery and blue cheese, every bite offers a medley of bold flavors. Make this as a snack, appetizer or maybe even as football party food.

Get the recipe: Buffalo chicken fries

Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls

Photo credit: This Silly Girl's Kitchen.

Make some egg rolls that are stuffed with tangy buffalo chicken. Add cheddar and blue cheese to the mix and fry them until they are golden brown for a snack that tastes so good when dipped in a bowl of ranch.

Get the recipe: Buffalo chicken egg rolls

Bacon Blue Cheese Burgers

Photo credit: Simply Designing.

Fire up the grill and make a burger that rivals the trendiest burger joint with this recipe. Smoky bacon and tangy blue cheese make these patties pop with great flavor in every juicy bite!

Get the recipe: Bacon blue cheese burgers

Blue Cheese Yogurt Dressing

Photo credit: Healthy Foodie Girl.

Make this homemade dressing with simple ingredients like blue cheese, yogurt, garlic and onion powder for the best topping for salads! You might even want to use this dressing as a chip dip. It has so much flavor no one can resist it.

Get the recipe: Blue cheese yogurt dressing

Bacon Blue Cheese Asparagus 

Photo credit: Life As a Strawberry.

Dress up asparagus with bacon and blue cheese for a side dish that delivers great flavor in every bite. The buttery, smoky, tangy flavors blend perfectly together for a side that pairs well with a variety of meals.

Get the recipe: Bacon blue cheese asparagus

Blue Cheese and Bacon Hot Dogs

Photo credit:  A Seasoned Greeting.

These hot dogs are topped with bacon and blue cheese for a tasty update to a cheap dinner. Serve with fries for comfort food with a grown up taste, that is done quick.

Get the recipe: Blue cheese and bacon hot dogs

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

Photo credit: Three Olives Branch.

This easy blue cheese stuffed olive recipe makes for the ultimate party food. You can stuff them in just a few moments and have a bite sized snack that delivers big, zesty, bold flavors. Everyone will love them!

Get the recipe: Blue cheese stuffed olives

Other favorite recipes:

3 Ingredient Biscuits

Instant Pot Pork Tacos

Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

Cold Brew Concentrate

Jello Shot Recipes

First Time Using a Cordless Drill? 5 Beginner Tips

 

Photo by Ksenia Chernaya from Pexels

You’re sitting at home and thinking about what needs to be done. Rather than hire a professional, you might choose to go about it yourself. But where do you begin? If you are new to home renovations, one of the first things you’ll want to get acquainted with is using a power drill. A cordless one is often easier because there’s no risk of tripping on a cord, and it conveniently goes with you. Here are five tips for beginners to make your project easier:

1. Get the Right Drill

Assuming you don’t already have one, as you’re new to home renovations, you’ll want to get the best one for your needs. If it’s a simple project, a light-duty 12V drill will likely do, while a more heavy-duty one (20V) would be appropriate for thick wood or concrete.

Chuck size also matters. Again, consider if it’s a heavy-duty project or not. A 3/8-inch chuck for household use is generally adequate.

Battery type is also an important consideration. Going with a cordless option for the power drill makes it easy to move as you work, and you can feel good about it being a more sustainable choice. Select a longer-lasting battery type to hel you get more usage out of it.

2. Using the Drill: Speed and Torque 

Now that you have the drill, you have to know how to properly and safely use it. That involves knowing what drill speed and torque are. There are different speeds, from 0-500 RPM for driving screws, while holes drill at faster speeds (over 1000 RPM).

Torque, or the turning force, is another consideration. You’ll generally want lower torque for materials that are soft. That’ll help you avoid mistakes or ruining them and having to start over. Thicker wood would typically require a higher turning force.

You’ll want to make sure, too, that you don’t over-tighten screws. That could cause them to become overstripped and lose their purpose. For that reason, pay attention to its clutch.

3. What about Drill Bits?

The accessories are important here, so invest in quality bits and select the right ones for your needs. Twist bits are among the most common ones. They are useful for a range of materials, including plastic and wood.

If you want to make a larger hole in wood, spade bits could be the way to go. Masonry bits, as the name suggests, are for concrete and stone, which likely will not be something you are doing as a beginner.

Make sure you insert the bit correctly for the safest drill operation. First, twist the chuck counterclockwise. Next, insert it into the chuck and tighten it with your hand. If there is a keyless chuck, secure it.

4. Correctly Holding the Drill

Did you know there is a proper say to use it for the most control? A good grip helps you be more precise with the cordless power drill. If you’re right-handed, hold the handle with your right hand and the back with your left hand. Vice versa if you’re left-handed.

Make sure the drill bit is perpendicular to the surface you’re drilling into so you get a straight hole. As for how much pressure to use, apply steady force without being too much.

5. Be Safe when Using Your New Drill

Safety is essential, whether you’re at home or elsewhere. To reduce risks, follow safety guidelines every time you use the power tool. For example, wear goggles to protect your eyes and use gloves. Clamping materials in place also lowers hazards, so injuries are less likely to occur.

Conclusion: First-Timer’s Guide to the Cordless Drill

The first time you use it, the drill can feel overwhelming. But it will get easier with time and soon become second nature. Follow safety guidelines during the use of the quality cordless power drill you selected. Getting the most out of it and doing home renovations starts now! Be proud of the work you can do and how handy you have become.

To help your power tool last longer, maintain it properly. That involves cleaning it after use, keeping it dry, and regularly looking it over for damage or wear. When it needs repair, be sure to do so for both safety and best functionality. 

With more use, you will become more efficient and likely more precise with the DIY work you do. Gradually move on to more complex projects as your confidence grows. In time, you might even show someone else how to properly use a drill!