22 Copycat McDonald’s Recipes to Make at Home

Most of us grew up eating McDonald’s. There are a few menu items you can probably taste just by thinking about them. The good news is, you can recreate them at home with ingredients you probably already have on hand. We’ve collected copycat McDonald’s recipes for you to try out including burgers, chicken, sides, desserts, and even breakfast. We counted these copycat McDonald’s recipes down, so the most iconic item on the menu comes last.

22) Chocolate Chip Cookies

McDonald’s Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate, so no wonder they’re a favorite. McDonald’s version comes in a pack of three cookies, and they’re usually served up nice and warm. We bet you’d demolish a batch of these at home, too. These cookies are all about balance. For the chewiest centers, use more brown sugar than white, and add an extra egg yolk. When it’s time to pull them out of the oven, the edges should be set, but the centers should look just a tad underbaked. They’ll continue to set on the warm cookie sheet.

21) Holiday Pie

Limited to a short window around Christmas, McDonald’s Holiday Pie is sought-after by fans each year. Made with a flaky, sugar-glazed crust, vanilla custard filling and rainbow sprinkles, this dessert is easy to recreate at home! All you’ll need is stovetop custard, store-bought pie crust dough and powdered sugar glaze. Chill the thickened custard, then spoon it into pie crust rectangles and pinch the edges to seal. Brush with glaze while the pies are warm and sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles. Crimp the edges with a fork to contain the filling while baking.

20) Breakfast Burrito

McDonald’s Breakfast Burrito features scrambled eggs, sausage, onions, green chiles, tomatoes and melted American cheese wrapped up in a small flour tortilla. Not only is this portable breakfast a cinch to recreate at home, it’s also super easy to make in batches! Start by browning sausage with onion, then stir in green chiles and tomatoes. Pour in beaten eggs and cook until just set. Spoon onto warmed tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and burrito time! Individual portions freeze well so wrap each burrito separately and grab ’em whenever you need a quick breakfast fix!

19) Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit

With layers of crispy bacon, American cheese and a folded egg served on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit, McDonald’s Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit may be the most satisfying breakfast sandwich on the menu! Homemade biscuits boast tender middles and golden, buttery crusts. While the biscuits are baking, cook bacon on a separate tray in the oven. For the eggs, lightly beat them, then cook as you would a thin omelet, folding each into a square to fit inside the biscuit. Slice the biscuits in half, brush with butter and start stacking!

18) McRib

One of McDonald’s most elusive menu items, the McRib is a boneless pork patty shaped like a rib rack, glazed with barbecue sauce and topped with onions and pickles on a long roll. Its come-and-go availability has fans tracking its reappearance, but you can recreate it at home! Combine ground pork with seasonings, then press into thin rectangles. Use a knife to score each side to resemble ribs. Sear, then simmer in barbecue sauce until glazed. Serve on toasted hoagie rolls with onions and dill pickles. Freeze formed patties to help keep them together during cooking!

17) Shamrock Shake

McDonald’s minty, vanilla Shake is only available around St. Patrick’s Day, but with our copycat recipe, you can enjoy this green delight all year long! Combine vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract and green food coloring. We suggest starting with a small amount of mint extract as it can quickly become overpowering. Like the real thing, this Shake should be garnished with whipped cream and a cherry. Use peppermint extract for the best flavor. Enjoy right away!

16) McCrispy Strips

Introduced in 2025, McDonald’s McCrispy Strips are all white meat chicken strips encased in a crispy black pepper coating. Served with a Creamy Chili Dip, these new-and-improved strips are McDonald’s first new, permanent menu item in years! Dredge buttermilk-soaked chicken in a seasoned flour mixture (loaded with black pepper!) then fry until golden. For the dip, combine mayo, sweet chili sauce and a splash of sriracha, stirred together while the oil heats. Dredging the chicken twice leads to extra-crunchy coatings!

15) Snack Wrap

Gone since 2016 but back (temporarily!) in July 2025 thanks to loyal fan demand, McDonald’s Snack Wrap consists of a crispy chicken strip, shredded lettuce and cheese and sauce, all wrapped up in a flour tortilla. First, cook up a batch of our McCrispy Strips (or any crispy chicken tenders!). Next, warm a tortilla, top with ranch or pepper sauce and one chicken strip, lettuce and cheese. Fold the bottom up and tightly roll. Warming tortillas will make them easier to roll!

14) Oreo McFlurry

One of McDonald’s most popular desserts for decades has been the Oreo McFlurry. There’s no McFlurry machine at home, but that’s not necessary. Simply wait for your favorite vanilla ice cream to soften a bit on the counter for 10 minutes, then stir in a splash of milk until it’s nice and thick (but still pourable) like soft serve. Stir in plenty of crushed Oreos (with a few chunks for some added texture) and serve up immediately in a cup with a long spoon.

13) Filet-O-Fish

Pollock or cod cut into squares, breaded and fried until golden brown makes for a delicious replica of the Filet-O-Fish. Mix together mayo, sweet relish, minced onion and lemon juice for homemade tartar sauce. Serve on a steamed bun (steam buns in microwave for a few seconds with damp paper towel for perfect soft buns) with tartar sauce and half a slice of American cheese. Pollock or cod works best for this recipe, and panko breadcrumbs give the perfect crispy coating to compliment the creamy tartar sauce.

12) Cheeseburger

McDonald’s Cheeseburger consists of a thin beef patty topped with ketchup, mustard, pickle, chopped onion and American cheese on a soft bun. The Cheeseburger is the original, the one it all started with. Make homemade versions by forming beef into thin patties wider than the buns and cooking on a hot griddle. Serve with ketchup, mustard, American cheese, pickles and rehydrated dried minced onion (soak in water for the onion flavor). Looking to make a Double Cheeseburger? Add another patty and slice of cheese! Have all toppings ready before cooking.

11) McChicken

The crispy chicken patty sandwiched between two halves of a toasted bun with shredded lettuce and mayo is one of the best value sandwiches on the McDonald’s menu. And making a homemade version couldn’t be easier! Simply form ground chicken mixed with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder into thin, round patties (chilling formed patties for a bit helps firm them up for less messy breading), dip in egg, coat with flour and breadcrumbs and fry until golden brown. Serve on toasted buns with mayo and shredded lettuce.

10) Apple Pie

Crisp, golden pastry stuffed with cinnamon apples and dusted with sugar sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not only too good to be true, it is easy to make at home! Most locations now bake their Apple Pies, although some still fry them old-school style. To make a homemade version, soften diced apples in a saucepan with sugar, cinnamon and a little cornstarch and allow to cool before assembling pies (this helps avoid overly soft pastry). Fill rectangles of store-bought pie crust, cut slits in top, brush with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake.

9) Pancakes (Hotcakes)

8) Hash Browns

Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, McDonald’s Hash Browns might just be the best item on the breakfast menu! Here’s how to make your own: par-boil whole russet potatoes and allow to cool before shredding. Combine potatoes with salt, onion powder and a spoonful of flour and form into ovals. Chill for 30 minutes (this will help potatoes hold together), then fry until deep golden brown and sprinkle with a little extra salt immediately after frying for that familiar salty, fast food flavor.

7) Sausage McGriddle

Instead of using an English muffin, McDonald’s serves up the McGriddle on two griddle cakes sweetened with maple flavor. Paired with a savory sausage patty, the sweet and salty breakfast sandwich is one customers rave about. To recreate it at home, pour batter for small pancakes onto a griddle and drizzle each one with a little maple syrup before flipping. It’ll caramelize just a bit, creating little pockets of sweetness like the original McGriddles. Serve two McGriddle-inspired pancakes with a sausage patty (add some brown sugar and sage to the pork for those savory notes).

6) Big Mac Sauce

This creamy, tangy sauce is a secret ingredient in McDonald’s most popular burger, but it is also tasty over fries, in salads and on wraps, so much so that McDonald’s is now even selling it as a dip in some countries! Mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, a splash of vinegar and a pinch of garlic powder, onion powder and paprika are all it takes, stir together and chill for at least an hour to allow flavors to meld before using. White wine vinegar lends this sauce tang, while paprika adds color without spice.

5) Sausage McMuffin with Egg

One of McDonald’s most popular breakfast sandwiches is simply a toasted English muffin, sausage patty (try adding sage, pepper and a little brown sugar to the ground pork for an authentic flavor), round egg and melty slice of American cheese. To make perfectly round eggs, slip greased canning lid rings onto a greased skillet, crack eggs inside rings and add a splash of water before covering with a lid, which will help eggs cook more evenly. When ready, butter toasted muffins and top with sausage patty, slice of cheese and egg.

4) Quarter Pounder with Cheese

For folks who prefer more beef to bun in a burger, McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese features a thick quarter-pound beef patty topped with two slices of American cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard served on a sesame seed bun. Form beef into quarter-pound burgers slightly wider than the bun and season with salt and pepper. Sear in a skillet over high heat, then immediately top with cheese and cover the skillet for a few minutes until the cheese is melty (covering the skillet helps ensure both slices of cheese melt). Serve on a toasted sesame seed bun.

3) French Fries

McDonald’s French Fries are thin, crispy, and salty, a perfect combo that makes them hard to stop eating. McDonald’s fries are more flavorful than many restaurant fries thanks to beef tallow, but these fries are still worth a try. To recreate at home, cut russet potatoes into thin fries and soak in water with added sugar to help them brown. Pat dry, then parboil or partially fry the potatoes before frying again until crispy. Add salt immediately after. Be sure to pat the potatoes dry before cooking to make them crispy and limit splatter!

2) Chicken McNuggets

Chicken McNuggets come in four shapes: the ball, the bell, the boot, and the bone. They’re popular with kids and grown-ups alike, and the reason there are so many dipping sauces at McDonald’s. To recreate at home, add chicken breast and salt to a food processor and blend until it forms a paste. Form into nugget shapes, then chill or freeze until firm. Toss nuggets in flour, dip in cold tempura batter, then fry until golden and puffy. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like barbecue, sweet and sour, or honey mustard.

1) Big Mac

Big Mac is McDonald’s most well-known burger: two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions between a three-part bun. It’s one of the most popular McDonald’s menu items ever made! To recreate the three-layered sesame seed bun, toast the top and two bun bottoms. Form the beef into thin patties and grill on a griddle. Assemble by layering special sauce, onions, lettuce, cheese, and a patty on the bottom bun, then repeat with sauce, onions, lettuce, and pickles before topping with the second patty and final bun piece.