Everyone loves fast food, but hitting the drive-through every day can put a huge hole in your wallet, not to mention what it can do to your health. Fortunately, a lot of the most popular fast food items that you order when you stop in at McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and other chains are actually pretty easy to make yourself. In fact, you can even modify some of them to be healthier (but just as tasty) when you make them at home. Here’s our ultimate list of fast food breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes that you can make at home.
McDonald’s Egg White Delight McMuffin
To start your day with a healthy fast food fix at home with this simulation of the McDonald’s Egg White Delight McMuffin, you’ll just need:
- 1 egg white
- 1 slice of cheese (We prefer Vermont white cheddar, but you can substitute your favorite cheese here.)
- 1 slice of Canadian bacon
- 1 English muffin (whole wheat)
Just microwave the egg white for about 1:20-1:30, and slice and toast the English muffin. Add salt, pepper, and any other spices you want to the egg white, and put it on the muffin with the Canadian bacon and cheese for a fast, delicious, and healthy fast food breakfast. See the McDonald’s Breakfast Menu for more inspiration.
Arby’s Curly Fries
Want to add a mouthwatering side to any of your favorite dinner recipes? Try this easy recipe, and you can actually enjoy a healthier version of the Arby’s curly fries that you love by baking them instead of frying them. You’ll just need:
- 3 potatoes (large)
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
- 3 tablespoons egg
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1½ tablespoons milk
Then you’ll just need to preheat your oven to 450 degrees while you bring a medium pot of water to a boil. You can get your fries to be curly by cutting your potatoes with a curly cutter, or you can just cut them regularly if you don’t care if they’re curly. Boil the potatoes for three minutes, and then drain and rinse them in cold water. Dry them with a paper towel and set them aside.
Combine your dry ingredients in a small bowl. Then add your milk and egg, and mix it all together well. Put your fries in a large bowl and then pour that seasoning you just made over them. Make sure all of the seasoning is mixed up over the fries, and then dump them onto a baking sheet (to avoid a mess when cleaning up, line your sheet with parchment paper). Bake your fries for 30-35 minutes, and you’ll have a great alternative to getting Arby’s curly fries at the drive-through! No time to cook it at home? Go to the Arby’s Menu Prices and order some from the restaurant.
KFC Coleslaw
Speaking of delicious sides, you can make KFC’s coleslaw at home, too. You’ll just need:
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup light mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar (or sugar substitute)
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 16 ounces of bagged shredded coleslaw
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
Whisk together everything but the shredded coleslaw. Then add the coleslaw, mix it together, and put it in the refrigerator for two to three hours before serving. Want to create some healthy chicken dishes? See our list of KFC menu prices for inspiration.
McDonald’s Big Mac
No list of at-home fast food recipes would be complete without a McDonald’s Big Mac, right? To make eight Big Macs for your family or a small get-together, you’ll need:
- 2 lbs ground chuck beef
- 1 head of shredded romaine lettuce
- 3 fresh, thinly sliced pickles
- 8 buns of your choice
- 5 ounces of thinly sliced mild cheddar cheese
You’ll grill your burgers and toast your buns just like you would with any other burger, but the real secret to the Big Mac is the special sauce. To make McDonald’s special sauce, you’ll just need:
- 1¼ cups olive oil (you’ll want a ¾ cup portion and a ½ cup portion)
- 1 minced shallot
- 2 tablespoons of champagne vinegar
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- Sea salt
Mix the egg yolk, one tablespoon of vinegar vinegar, and one tablespoon of lemon juice together in a large bowl with a pinch of salt. Start to whisk the ingredients together and slowly pour in three quarters of a cup of olive oil as your sauce starts to get thicker. In a different bowl, whisk together your shallot, ketchup, sugar, relish, a tablespoon of vinegar, and a pinch of sea salt. Whisk these ingredients together as you pour in a half-cup of olive oil slowly.
Once you have both bowls whisked to perfect, pour the contents of the second bowl into the first one, and mix the two until they’re one uniform sauce. Voila! You’ve just made McDonald’s famous special sauce. Now you can just add it to your burgers, and you’ll have the best Big Macs you’ve ever tasted! Of course you can also check the McDonald’s Menu prices for other items.
With these recipes, you can save money and keep your waistline slim while enjoying all of your favorite fast food items. Try one of these breakfast, lunch, or dinner recipes today and enjoy!