THE MOST TRUSTED COPYCAT RECIPES
THE MOST TRUSTED COPYCAT RECIPES
Carl's Jr. Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich copycat recipe by Todd Wilbur

Carl's Jr. Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Score: 5.00 (votes: 3)
Reviews: 3
  • $0.00
Qty:  

Carl's Jr.'s fried chicken breast sandwich includes lettuce and tomato, and is slathered with a Carl's tasty ranch dressing. We'll use elements of my Carl's Jr. Bacon Swiss Crispy Chicken Sandwich recipe to whip up this variation of the Carl's Jr. crispy chicken sandwiches. Use both of these sandwich recipes to serve up two different sandwiches with different tastes, with little extra effort.

Source: Even More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

Get This

Ranch Dressing
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch dill weed
  • Pinch garlic powder
  • Pinch ground black pepper
_main
  • 2 teaspoons hot water
  • 1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
  • 6 to 8 cups vegetable shortening
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 chicken breast fillets
  • 4 sesame seed hamburger buns
  • 4 iceberg lettuce leaves
  • 4 tomato slices
Do This

1. Preheat 6 to 8 cups of shortening in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F.  If you don't have a deep fryer, you can also pan fry using a large skillet, and just a couple cups of shortening.

2. To prepare the ranch dressing, combine all of the ingredients except the water and gelatin in small bowl. Mix the water with the gelatin in a small cup until all of the gelatin is dissolved. Add this gelatin solution to the other ingredients and stir. Cover and chill the dressing until it's needed.

3. Beat the egg and then combine with 1 cup of water in a small, shallow bowl. Stir.

4. Combine the flour, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in another shallow bowl.

5. Pound each of the breast fillets with a mallet until about 1/4-inch thick. Trim each breast fillet until it is round.

6. Working with one fillet at a time, first coat each fillet with the flour, then dredge it in the egg and water mixture. Coat the chicken once again in the flour and set it aside until all of the fillets have been coated.

7. Fry the chicken fillets for 8 to 12 minutes or until light brown and crispy.

8. As the chicken is frying, prepare each sandwich by grilling the face of the hamburger buns on a hot skillet over medium heat. Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the ranch dressing on the face of the top and bottom buns.

9. On the bottom bun, stack a leaf of lettuce and a tomato slice.

10. When the chicken is done frying, remove the fillets from the fryer and drain on paper towels or a rack for a couple minutes.

11. Stack one fillet on the bottom of the sandwich (on top of the tomato), then top it off with the top bun. Repeat the stacking process for each of the sandwiches.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

Get New Secret Recipes
Be the first to get Todd's latest hacked recipes, sent to your inbox every week. Just enter your email.
Reviews
Merari
Apr 16, 2013, 22:00
Have tried this once, about a month ago. My children, ages 5-17 LOVED it! I did not tell them where I got the recipe but the oldest ones said: "This tastes delicious! Just like the ones from the restaurant. Wow!" I think that about says it all. It's a keeper.
lorrainemorton@hotmail.com
Jul 28, 2005, 22:00
I copied this recipe a long time ago and lost it. This is a great recipe! I have purchased Todd's books. They are the best!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 12)
    Wendy's Spicy Chicken Fillet Sandwich

    When sales of this once limited-offering sandwich exceeded expectations, Wendy's made it a permanent menu item. With my Wendy's Spicy Chicken Fillet Sandwich copycat recipe below, you can re-create the spicy kick of the original with a secret blend of spices in the chicken's crispy coating. Follow the correct stacking order as listed, and you will make four copycat sandwiches at home for a fraction of the cost of the real thing.

    Check out more of my Wendy's copycat recipes like their famous chili here.

    Source: Even More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 3.86 (votes: 7)
    Big Boy Double-Decker Hamburger Classic

    Menu Description: "1/4 pound of 100% pure beef in two patties with American cheese, crisp lettuce and our special sauce on a sesame seed bun."

    Bob Wian's little ten-stool diner, Bob's Pantry, was in business only a short time in Glendale, California, before establishing a following of regular customers—among them the band members from Chuck Fosters Orchestra. One February night in 1937, the band came by after a gig as they often did to order a round of burgers. In a playful mood, bass player Stewie Strange sat down on a stool and uttered, "How about something different for a change, Bob?" Bob thought it might be funny to play along and serve up Stewie a burger he could barely get his mouth around. So Bob cut a bun into three slices, rather than the usual two, and stacked on two hamburger patties along with lettuce, cheese, and his special sauce. When Stewie tasted the huge sandwich and loved it, every band member wanted his own!

    Just a few days later, a plump little six-year old named Richard Woodruff came into the diner and charmed Bob into letting him do odd jobs in exchange for a burger or two. He often wore baggie overalls and had an appetite that forced the affectionate nickname "Fat Boy". Bob thought it was the perfect name for his new burger, except the name was already being used as a trademark for another product. So the name of the new burger, along with Bob's booming chain of restaurants, was changed to "Big Boy." The company's tradename Big Boy character is from a cartoonists napkin sketch of "fat boy," little Richard Woodruff.

    The Big Boy hamburger was the first of the double-decker hamburgers. McDonald's Big Mac, the world's best-known burger that came more than 30 years later, was inspired by Bob Wian's original creation. See if you can get your mouth around it. 

    Check out my other Big Boy copycat recipes here

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 17)
    KFC Grilled Chicken

    It took chefs several years to develop what would eventually become KFC's most clucked about new product launch in the chain's 57-year history. With between 70 to 180 calories and four to nine grams of fat, depending on the piece, the new un-fried chicken is being called "KFC's second secret recipe," and "a defining moment in our brand's storied history" in a company press release. The secret recipe for the new grilled chicken is now stored on an encrypted computer flash drive next to the Colonel's handwritten original fried chicken recipe in an electronic safe at KFC company headquarters. Oprah Winfrey featured the chicken on her talk show and gave away so many coupons for free grilled chicken meals that some customers waited in lines for over an hour and half, and several stores ran out and had to offer rain checks. Company spokesperson Laurie Schalow told the Associated Press that KFC has never seen such a huge response to any promotion. "It's unprecedented in our more than 50 years," she said. "It beats anything we've ever done."

    When I heard about all the commotion over this new secret recipe, I immediately locked myself up in the underground lab with a 12-piece bucket of the new grilled chicken, plus a sample I obtained of the proprietary seasoning blend, and got right to work. After days of nibbling through what amounts to a small flock of hens, I'm happy to bring you this amazing cloned version of this fast food phenomenon so that you can now reproduce it in your own kitchen. 

    Find the smallest chicken you can for my KFC grilled chicken copycat recipe, since KFC uses young hens. Or better yet save some dough by finding a small whole chicken and cut it up yourself. The secret preparation process requires that you marinate (brine) your chicken for a couple of hours in a salt and MSG solution. This will make the chicken moist all the way through and give it great flavor. After the chicken has brined, it's brushed with liquid smoke-flavored oil that will not only make the seasoning stick to the chicken, but will also ensure that the chicken doesn't stick to the pan. The liquid smoke in the oil gives the chicken a smoky flavor as if it had been cooked on an open flame barbecue grill.

    The grilled chicken at KFC is probably cooked on ribbed metal plates in specially designed convection ovens to get those grill marks. I duplicated that process using an oven-safe grill pan, searing the chicken first on the stove top to add the grill marks, then cooking the chicken through in the oven. If you don't have a grill pan or a grill plate, you can just sear the chicken in any large oven safe sauté pan. If you have a convection function on your oven, you should definitely use it, but the recipe will still work in a standard oven with the temperature set just a little bit higher. After baking the chicken for 20 minutes on each side, you're ready to dive into your own 8-piece bucket of delicious indoor grilled chicken that's as tasty as the fried stuff, but without all the fat.

    Check out the video demonstration of this recipe.

    You might also like my copycat recipes for KFC's signature sauces and sides. Find all of my KFC copycat recipes here.

    Source: "Top Secret Recipes Step-by-Step" by Todd Wilbur

    Read more
  • Score: 4.62 (votes: 42)
    Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Wings and Sauces

    Menu Description: "Here they are in all their lip-smacking, award-winning glory: Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings spun in your favorite signature sauce."

    Since Buffalo, New York was too far away, Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery satisfied their overwhelming craving in 1981 by opening a spicy chicken wing restaurant close to home in Kent, Ohio. With signature sauces and a festive atmosphere, the chain has now evolved from a college campus sports bar with wings to a family restaurant with over 300 units. 

    While frying chicken wings is no real secret—simply drop them in hot shortening for about 10 minutes—the delicious spicy sauces are what make the wings special. There are 12 varieties of sauce available to coat your crispy chicken parts at the chain, and I'm presenting clones for the more traditional flavors. These sauces are very thick, almost like dressing or dip, so we'll use an emulsifying technique that will ensure a creamy final product where the oil won't separate from the other ingredients. 

    In my Buffalo Wild Wings copycat recipe below you'll find the cooking and coating technique for the wings, followed by copycat recipes for the most popular sauces: Spicy Garlic, Medium and Hot. The sauce recipes might look the same at first, but each has slight variations to make your sauce hotter or milder by adjusting the level of cayenne pepper. You can find Frank's pepper sauce by the other hot sauces in your market. If you can't find that brand, you can also use Crystal Louisiana hot sauce.

    Find my copycat recipes for Buffalo Wild Wings Asian Zing; Parmesan Garlic, and Caribbean Jerk sauces here.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • 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.

    Read more
  • 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.

    Read more
  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 1)
    KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) Cajun Honey Wings

    These "Limited-Time Only" wings from KFC may be gone now, but since this clone duplicates the sweet-and-spicy sauce on this amazing finger food, the great taste of this Dead Food lives on. In each store wings are coated with a KFC-style breading before they get fried up and tossed in delicious Cajun sauce. The sauce is da bomb on wings, but you can also put it to work on ribs or other chicken parts like breaded tenders or baked nuggets. This recipe calls for Emeril's Bayou Blast Cajun Seasoning, but it will also work with any other Cajun seasoning blend you find in your local market.

    How about some famous coleslaw or wedge potatoes? Check out my collection of KFC clone recipes here

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • 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.

    Read more
  • Score: 4.83 (votes: 6)
    Burger King Onion Rings

    Since McDonald's doesn't sell onion rings, these crunchy, golden hoops from the world's number two restaurant chain are the most popular onion rings in the world. There are more than 12,000 Burger Kings in 61 countries these days, and after French fries, onion rings are the second-most popular companion to the chain's signature Whopper sandwich. Check out how simple it is to clone a whopping four dozen onion rings from one onion, using this triple-breading process. When frying, trans fat-free vegetable shortening makes for the best Burger King Onion Rings recipe, but you can get by fine using vegetable oil if that's the way you want to go.. (For a great dipping sauce—similar to Outback's Bloomin' Onion sauce—check out my clone recipe for Burger King's Zesty Onion Ring Dipping Sauce.)

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Not rated yet
    Burger King Whopper Reduced-Fat

    Burger King's Whopper was an instant hit when it was first introduced in 1957 at a measly 37 cents each. And in more than 9,500 outlets dotting the globe, you can still have the burger "your way"—which comes to over 1,000 different combinations. But by using fat-free mayonnaise and super-lean ground beef, you can still have a sandwich with the taste of Burger King's most popular burger, but with almost 75 percent less in the fat column.

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving size–1 sandwich
    Total servings–1
    Calories per serving–430 (Original–640)
    Fat per serving–11g (Original–39g)

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Lite by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 4.75 (votes: 4)
    Even More Top Secret Recipes

    On Backorder until March 25th. 

    Exclusive signed copy. Ever wonder what makes McDonald's Special Sauce so special, or puts the supreme in a Taco Bell Burrito Supreme, or makes Newman's Own Creamy Caesar Dressing so darn good? 

    This cookbook includes all the step-by-step instructions for making your own professional quality clones. With a dash of spicy humor, a spoonful of food facts, and a hearty serving of culinary curiosity, Todd Wilbur serves up another batch of America's favorite recipes. Todd puts his sleuthing taste buds to work to bring us over 85 amazing new clones in Even More Top Secret Recipes.

    Armed with his recipes and blueprints, you can now duplicate your favorite brand-name food, from famous hamburgers to candy bars and snack cakes, right in your own kitchen without spending a lot of dough. Discover how to make your own versions of KFC Extra Crispy Chicken, Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mints, Kraft Stove Top Stuffing, McDonald's French Fries, Panda Express Mandarin Chicken, Wendy's Spicy Chicken Fillet Sandwich, Cadbury Creme Egg, Boston Market Meatloaf, Cinnabon CinnabonStix, Hot Dog On A Stick Hot Dog, Drake's Devil Dogs, Nestle Baby Ruth, and many, many more!

    Other books you may like: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked, Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3

    Contents
    Arby's Bronco Berry Sauce
    Auntie Anne's Pretzels
    Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Cake
    Boston Market Meatloaf
    Bull's-Eye Original BBQ Sauce
    Burger King Big King
    Burger King BK Broiler
    Burger King Breakfast Sandwich--Biscuit Sandwich
    Burger King Breakfast Sandwich--Croissan'wich
    Cadbury's Creme Egg
    Carl's Jr. Bacon Swiss Crispy Chicken Sandwich
    Carl's Jr. Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich
    Chef Paul Prudhomme's Poultry Magic
    Cinnabon Cinnabonstix
    Dolly Madison Zingers (Devil's Food)
    Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Drake's Devil Dogs
    Emeril's Original Essence
    Fatburger Original Burger
    French's Classic Yellow Mustard
    Girl  Scout Cookies Shortbread
    Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mints
    Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix
    Grandma's Cookies Oatmeal Raisin Big Cookie
    Grandma's Cookies Peanut Butter Big Cookie
    Great American Cookies Snickerdoodles
    Great American Cookies White Chunk Macadamia
    Heinz 57 Sauce
    Heinz Ketchup
    Hershey's Payday Candy Bar
    Honeybaked Ham Glaze
    Hot Dog On A Stick
    K.C. Masterpiece Original BBQ Sauce
    Kellogg's Cocoa Rice Krispies treats
    Kellogg's Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats
    Kenny Rogers Roasters Corn Muffins
    KFC BBQ Baked Beans
    KFC Extra Crispy Chicken
    KFC Honey BBQ Wings
    KFC Macaroni & Cheese
    KFC Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
    KFC Potato Salad
    Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese
    Kraft Shake  'N Bake
    Kraft Stove Top Stuffing
    Kraft Thousand Island Dressing
    Lawry's Seasoned Salt
    Lawry's Taco Spices & Seasoning
    Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies
    McDonald's Arch Deluxe
    McDonald's BigXtra
    McDonald's Biscuits
    McDonald's Breakfast Bagel Sandwich--Ham & Egg
    McDonald's Breakfast Bagel Sandwich--Steak & Egg
    McDonald's Breakfast Bagel Sandwich--Spanish Omelet
    McDonald's Breakfast Burrito
    McDonald's French Fries
    McDonald's Hot Mustard Sauce
    McDonald's Special Sauce
    McDonald's Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce
    McDonald's Yogurt Parfait
    Mrs. Dash Salt-Free Seasoning Blend
    Nabisco Cheese Nips
    Nabisco Nilla Wafers
    Nestle Baby Ruth Candy Bar
    Newman's Own Creamy Caesar Dressing
    Pace Picante Sauce
    Panda Express Mandarin Chicken
    Panda Express Orange Flavored Chicken
    Papa John's Dipping Sauces--Special Garlic Sauce
    Papa John's Dipping Sauces--Cheese Sauce
    Papa John's Dipping Sauces--Pizza Sauce
    Pepperidge Farm Ginger Man Cookies
    Progresso Italian-Style Bread Crumbs
    Sabrett Onions In Sauce
    Schilling Salad Supreme
    Sunshine Lemon Coolers
    Taco Bell Burrito Supreme
    Taco Bell Chicken Fajita Seasoning Mix
    Taco Bell Fire Border Sauce
    Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
    Taco Bell Soft Taco
    Taco Bell Taco Seasoning Mix
    Tommy's Original World-Famous Hamburgers
    Wendy's Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita
    Wendy's Classic Greek Fresh Stuffed Pita
    Wendy's Spicy Chicken Fillet Sandwich
    Wienerschnitzel Chili Sauce

    Read more
    • 10% off
  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 1)
    Top Secret Recipes Unlocked

    Out of stock. Available for purchase on Amazon.com.

    The original clone recipe king has done it again. For the last thirty years Todd Wilbur has been creating amazing culinary carbon copies of all your favorite brand-name foods using his special techniques.

    In Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Recipes Unlocked, his 9th cookbook, the Clone Ranger brings you over 100 new kitchen clones! Todd reveals key ingredients and the secret-yet-simple steps for duplicating famous foods from Starbucks, McDonald's, Panera Bread, Subway, Burger King, Mrs. Fields, Taco Bell, Orange Julius, Boston Market, Popeyes, Sonic Drive-In, KFC, and many more.

    Every recipe is created from scratch in Todd's top secret test kitchen, so you know you're getting the best original clone recipes on the planet!

    Limited Supply! Only available as part of a Hack Pack or Set of 10 of Todd Wilbur's best-selling cookbooks.

    Other books you may like: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3, and Top Secret Recipes Step-by-Step.

    Contents
    Arby's Horsey Sauce
    Baja Fresh Salsa Baja
    Bisquick Original All-Purpose Baking Mix
    Boston Market Butternut Squash
    Boston Market Garlic Dill New Potatoes
    Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole
    Budweiser Chelada
    Burger King Onion Rings
    Burger King Zesty Onion Ring Dipping Sauce
    Carl's Jr. The Six Dollar Burger
    Carnegie Deli Classic New York City Cheesecake
    Chex Mix Bold Party Blend
    Chick-fil-A Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce
    Chick-fil-A Carrot & Raisin Salad
    Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
    Chipotle Mexican Grill Barbacoa Burrito
    Cliff & Buster Coconut Macaroons
    Cocoa-Cole Blak
    Crunch 'N Munch Buttery Toffee Popcorn with Peanuts
    Dairy Queen MooLatte
    Del Taco Crispy Fish Taco
    Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Yellow Cake Mix
    Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Coolatta
    Einstein Bros. Bagels Santa Fe Egg Sandwich
    El Pollo Loco Avocado Salsa
    El Pollo Loco BBQ Baked Beans
    El Pollo Loco Creamy Cilantro Dressing
    Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Fritos Hot Bean Dip
    Hellman's/Best Foods Mayonnaise
    Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing
    Jack in the Box Pumpkin Pie Shake
    Jacquin's Peppermint Schnapps
    Jason's Deli Creamy Liqueur Fruit Dipping  Sauce
    Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sausage--Regular
    Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sausage--Maple
    Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sausage--Hot
    KFC Cajun Honey Wings
    KFC  Chicken Pot Pie
    Kozy Shack Rice Pudding
    Kraft Miracle Whip
    Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts
    Lawry's Red Pepper Seasoned Salt (made with Tabasco)
    Lipton Brisk Iced Tea
    Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus
    Lincoln Snacks Poppycock
    Maid-Rite Loose Meat Sandwich
    M&M/Mars Munch Bar
    Mauna Loa Kona Coffee Glazed Macadamias
    McDonald's Sweet Tea
    McDonald's Vanilla Iced Coffee
    McDonald's Cinnamon Melts
    McDonald's Fruit & Walnut Salad
    McDonald's Tangy Honey Mustard
    McDonald's Lobster Sandwich
    Mrs. Fields Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies
    Mrs. Fields Pumpkin Harvest Cookies
    No Pudge! Original Fat Free Fudge Brownie Mix
    Nuts 4 Nuts Candied Nuts
    Old Bay Seasoning
    Orange Julius Banana Julius
    Orange Julius Strawberry-Banana Classic Smoothie
    Pal's Sauceburger
    Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    Panera B read Cranberry Walnut Bagel
    Panera Bread French Onion Soup
    Panera Bread Spinach Artichoke Baked Egg Soufflé
    Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked Snickerdoodle Cookies
    Popeyes  Buttermilk Biscuits
    Popeyes Cajun Gravy
    Popeyes Cajun Sparkle
    Popeyes Red Beans and Rice --Improved
    Ragu Pasta Sauce--Meat
    Ragu Pasta Sauce--Tomato, Basil, and Italian Cheese
    Rondele Garlic & Herbs Cheese Spread
    Sabra Classic Hummus
    Skyline Chili
    Sonic Drive-In Peanut Butter Shake
    Sonic Drive-In Peanut Butter Fudge Shake
    Sonic Drive-In Strawberry Cheesecake Shake
    Sonic Drive-In Sonic Burger
    Sonic Drive-In Hickory Burger
    Sonic Drive-In Jalapeno Burger
    The Soup Nazi's Crab Bisque
    The Soup Nazi's Cream of Sweet Potato Soup
    The Soup Nazi's Indian Mulligatawny
    The Soup Nazi's Mexican Chicken Chili
    Spatini Spaghetti Sauce Mix
    Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
    Starbucks Frappuccino (Bottle Version)
    Starbucks Gingerbread Latte
    Starbucks Hot Chocolate
    Starbucks Mocha Coconut Frappuccino
    Starbucks Carrot Cake
    Starbucks Classic Coffee Cake
    Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar
    Starbucks Lemon Loaf
    Starbucks Maple Oat Nut Scone
    Starbucks Peppermint Brownie
    Starbucks Pumpkin Bread
    Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin
    Starbucks Pumpkin Scone
    Starbucks Vanilla Almond Biscotti
    Stouffer's Macaroni & Cheese
    Subway Bourbon Street Glaze
    Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce
    Subway Sweet Onion Sauce
    Taco Bell Baja Sauce
    Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla
    Taco Bell Mild Border Sauce
    Wendy's Garden Sensations Mandarin Chicken Salad
    Wendy's Wild Mountain Bacon Cheeseburger
    Weight Watchers Smart Ones Banana Muffins
    Yonah Schimmel Low-Fat New York City Knish

    Read more
    • 10% off
  • Not rated yet
    Carl's Jr. Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich Reduced-Fat

    The 1980s were the beginning of tough times for one of the worlds largest burger chains. Carl Karcher had built the little hot-dog cart he purchased for $311 in 1941 into a successful West Coast hamburger chain 600 units strong; but his luck was about to change. Carl took his company public, then opened several Carl's Jr. restaurants in Texas. The bottom line for the Texas stores fell way below expectations, and the stock began to skid. In 1988 Carl was charged with insider trading for selling stock just before its price fell, and he paid almost $1 million in fines. When poor Southern California real estate investments left him million of dollars in debt, Carl was desperate to find a way out of the hole. He proposed to the board of directors that Carl's Jr. should sell Mexican food. The board voted to fire Carl instead, and the man with the vision was ousted from the very company he had founded.

    For this reduced-fat clone of an excellent chicken sandwich, well make the ranch dressing from scratch with fat-free ingredients. Then well use a special Top Secret Recipes baking technique of the fat we can't avoid when frying.

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving size–1 sandwich
    Total Servings–4
    Calories–580 (Original–620)
    Fat–11g (Original–29g)

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

    Read more
  • Not rated yet
    Sonic Drive-In Jalapeno Burger Reduced-Fat

    One day in 1958, when Top Hat restaurants were operating in several Oklahoma cities, lawyers informed founder Troy Smith that Top Hatwas already a copyrighted name and that he would have to make some hasty changes. The chain's partners searched for a name that summed up the company motto: "Service at the Speed of Sound." They agreed that the name Sonic had a nice ring to it.

    Sonic is now the country's fifth-largest hamburger chain and boasts some amazing statistics. For example, if you were to take all of the hamburger patties Sonic served last year and stack them up, they would be as tall as 2,576 Empire State Buildings stacked one on top of the other. 

    If you like your burgers with a spicy kick and dig mustard, try this reduced-fat clone for one of Sonic's tastiest creations.

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving size–1 sandwich
    Total servings–1
    Calories per serving–400 (Original–380)
    Fat per serving–10.5g (Original–16g)

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

    Read more
  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 2)
    McDonald's Mac Snack Wrap

    If you like Big Macs you'll love this snack wrap that tastes exactly like the world's most famous hamburger. The same basic ingredients found in a Big Mac are wrapped into a medium flour tortilla for a surprisingly tasty quick eat that's easy to copy at home. Inside each of these wraps is half of the hamburger patty that's used on the chain's Quarter Pounder, so by cooking up a quarter-pound of ground beef that's been formed into a patty you'll be able to whip up two cloned McDonald's Mac Snack Wraps in a snap. Say that three times fast.

    Read more
  • Score: 4.78 (votes: 18)
    Chipotle Barbacoa Burrito (Cilantro-Lime Rice / Pinto Beans)

    Menu Description: "Spicy, shredded beef, braised with our own chipotle adobo, cumin, cloves, garlic and oregano."
     
    The original Mexican dish barbacoa was traditionally prepared by cooking almost any kind of meat goat, fish, chicken, or cow cheek meat, to name just a few, in a pit covered with leaves over low heat for many hours, until tender. When the dish made its way into the United States via Texas the word transformed into "barbecue" and the preparation changed to incorporate above-ground techniques such as smoking and grilling.

    The good news is that we can re-create the beef barbacoa that Chipotle has made popular on its ginormous burritos without digging any holes in our backyard or tracking down a local source for fresh cow faces. After braising about 30 pounds of chuck roasts, I finally discovered that the secret to making perfect barbacoa is a taste-alike adobo sauce that fills your roast with flavor as it slowly cooks to a fork-tender delicacy on your stovetop over 5 to 6 hours.

    Part of the secret for great adobo sauce is toasting whole cumin seeds and cloves and then grinding them in a coffee grinder (measure the spices after grinding them). Since the braising process takes so long, start early in the day and get ready for a big dinner, because I've also included clones here for Chipotle's pico de gallo, pinto beans, and delicious cilantro-lime rice to make your burritos complete. You can add your choice of cheese, plus guacamole and sour cream for a super-deluxe clone version. 

    Try my Chipotle Barbacoa copycat recipe below, and check out my clone recipe for Qdoba Grilled Adobo Chicken.

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Unlocked by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 4.75 (votes: 4)
    Islands Island French Fries

    Menu Description: "Our famous fries are fresh cut daily from whole potatoes with the skins left on."

    Not only can I show you the best way to make french fries at home in my copycat recipe for Island's top-selling version, but I'm also supplying you with a super simple way to make the same type of salt blend that Islands uses to make those fries so dang addicting. 

    As with any good french fry recipe, you'll need to slice your potatoes into strips that are all equal thickness. For my Islands French Fries recipe below, you'll need a mandoline, or similar slicing device, that makes 1/4-inch slices. Once you've got your potatoes cut, you must rinse and soak them in water to expel the excess starch. The frying comes in two stages: A quick blanching stage, and the final frying to put a crispy coating on the suckers. Islands uses a combination of peanut and vegetable oils in their fryers, so you simply combine the two in your home fryer. The whole process is not that tough once you get going, and certainly worth the effort if hungry mouths are waiting for the perfect homemade french fries. However, if you want to simplify the process because your hungry mouths aren't of the patient sort, you could certainly buy frozen french fries, cook 'em up following the instructions on the bag, and then sprinkle on this garlic/onion salt blend for a quick-and-easy kitchen clone.

    Click here to see if I hacked more of your favorite items from Islands.

    Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 4.28 (votes: 18)
    Taco Bell Burrito Supreme

    To copy the Taco Bell Burrito Supreme at home, you first must assemble the meaty foundation of many of the chain's top-selling products: the spiced ground beef. Toss it and seven other tasty ingredients into a large flour tortilla and fold using the same technique as taught to new recruits to the chain. Add your favorite hot sauce for a bit of heat, or clone Taco Bell Mild, Hot, Fire Border, Diablo, Baja, or Lava sauce with my recipes here.

    You might also want to try my improved Taco Bell beef recipe here.

    Source: Even More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 4.80 (votes: 5)
    Heinz Heinz 57

    In the late 1800s Henry John Heinz established the slogan "57 Varieties," which you can still find printed on Heinz products even though the company now boasts over 5700 varieties in 200 countries. Today Heinz is the world's largest tomato producer, but interestingly the first product for the company that was launched in 1869 had nothing to do with tomatoes—it was grated horseradish. It wasn't until 1876 that ketchup was added to the growing company's product line.

    Tomato is also an important ingredient in Heinz 57 steak sauce. But you'll find some interesting ingredients in there as well, such as raisin purée, malt vinegar, apple juice concentrate, and mustard. And don't worry if your version doesn't come out as brown as the original. Heinz uses a little caramel coloring in its product to give it that distinctive tint. It's just for looks though, so I've left that ingredient out of my Heinz 57 recipe. The turmeric and yellow mustard will help tint this version a little bit like the color of the real deal.

    Try my homemade versions of Heinz Ketchup, Mayochup, and Heinz premium chili sauce

    Source: Even More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • 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.

    Read more
  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 3)
    Fatburger Original Burger

    Southern California—the birthplace of famous hamburgers from McDonalds, Carls Jr. and In-n-Out Burger—is home to another thriving burger chain that opened its first store in 1952. Lovie Yancey thought up the perfect name for the 1/3 pound burgers she sold at her Los Angeles burger joint: Fatburger. Now with over 41 units in California, Nevada, and moving into Washington and Arizona, Fatburger has become the food critic's favorite, winning "best burger in town" honors with regularity. 

    The seasoned salt used on the beef patty is the secret here. (Hint: It's just Lawry's). And there's no ketchup on the original version, just mayo, mustard, and relish. You can follow my Fatburger recipe below for an exact copy, or go to town with any condiment combination you like.

    Source: Even More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 4.00 (votes: 11)
    McDonald's Filet-O-Fish

    The year 1963 was a big one in McDonald's history. The 500th McDonald's restaurant opened in Toledo, Ohio, and Hamburger University graduated its 500th student. It was in that same year that McDonald's served its one billionth hamburger in grand fashion on The Art Linkletter Show. Ronald McDonald also made his debut that year in Washington, D.C., and the Fillet-O-Fish sandwich was introduced as the first new menu addition since the restaurant chain opened in 1948.

    Now, you can use my easy McDonald's Filet-o-Fish copycat recipe to make it at home. Complete the meal with my recipe for McDonald's French Fries.

    Update 8/4/19: Current versions of this sandwich come with the bun untoasted. For a classic version, make yours as described below, or skip step 2. Be sure to microwave your finished sandwich for 10-15 seconds to warm up your bun, and steam the sandwich before serving.

    Source: More Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
  • Score: 5.00 (votes: 1)
    KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Low-Fat

    The secret to cloning the Colonel's famous gravy at home is to first darken the chicken broth with a roux. Roux is a mixture of flour and oil that is cooked in a saucepan over low heat until it's browned, but not burned. This magical mixture not only colors the gravy for us, but also thickens it. The small amount of oil used here and no addition of drippings will give you gravy that tastes as good as the stuff from the world-famous chicken chain, but with significantly less fat.

    And when you're done with the gravy, you can easily make mashed potatoes that taste just like KFC's with the popular Potato Buds instant potatoes. And fat-free butter-flavored spread adds butter flavor without fat. You're going to love this one.

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving size–1/2 cup potatoes and 3 tablespoons gravy
    Total servings–4
    Calories per serving–120 (Original–120)
    Fat per serving–2g (Original– 6g)

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Lite by Todd Wilbur. 

    Read more
  • Not rated yet
    KFC Tender Roast Chicken

    Tender Roast chicken was introduced in 1996 after KFC axed Rotisserie Gold, its short-lived, whole-roasted chicken product that was meant to compete with home meal replacement chains like Boston Market and Kenny Rogers Roasters. Although it's not fried, as are the other KFC chicken offerings, six ounces of Tender Roast still has approximately 7.6 grams of fat when the skin is left on. That's why we're going to strip it all off. But not so fast. We'll keep that skin on through most of the baking process, so that the meat stays nice and juicy. Then, once the skin is peeled away, we can sprinkle the tasty spice blend over the juicy chicken and let it finish baking.

    Click here to try more of my KFC copycat recipes. 

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving size–6 ounces
    Total servings–4
    Calories per serving–206 (Original–338)
    Fat per serving–7.6g (Original–17.4g)

    Source: Top Secret Recipes Lite by Todd Wilbur.

    Read more
Never miss a secret
Subscribe to Todd Wilbur’s newsletter and be the first to know what’s free and what’s new!
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.

What's Hot