🕒 30-Minute Copycat Meals for School Nights


Hi friend,

Busy weeknights don’t leave much room for long recipes — which is why these 30-minute (or less) copycat meals are perfect for back-to-school season. Easy to prep, easy to clean up, and guaranteed to please even picky eaters:

🌮 Taco Bell Mexican Pizza – Crispy tortillas, seasoned beef, and melty cheese in a fun weeknight dinner.

🥣 Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana – A one-pot classic with sausage, potatoes, and kale — hearty but easy.

🥪 Starbucks Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Gooey, golden, and just right for a fast dinner with soup or salad.

🍤 Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp – Crispy shrimp tossed in a creamy sweet sauce — tastes fancy, but it’s fast.

👩‍🍳 Time-saving tip: Keep tortillas, frozen shrimp, and shredded cheese on hand — they’re the backbone of quick weeknight meals.

Here’s to making back-to-school dinners deliciously simple.

Happy cooking,
Stephanie


IN MY KITCHEN THIS WEEK 🛒

These gadgets and tools make school-night cooking faster (and cleanup easier):

🌮 Cast Iron Skillet – Perfect for crispy Mexican pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches.
🍤 Wok or Deep Skillet – Gets that Panda Express–style sear and crisp on shrimp.
🧀 Panini Press / Sandwich Grill – Takes homemade grilled cheese to the next level.

👉 [See my back-to-school picks here »]

Note: Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you decide to purchase. Thank you for supporting CopyKat—it helps me keep sharing all these recipes with you!


🏈 Don’t Miss This!

If you love great food and football, I’ve got something special for you.

I’m launching a Game Day Eats email series that will take you from kickoff all the way through the Super Bowl. Each week, you’ll get:

🍔 Game day–ready copycat recipes
🍗 Crowd-pleasing appetizers & dips
🍹 Fun drinks and party-friendly treats
📅 Timed perfectly for every big game weekend

It’s the ultimate playbook for a stress-free football season hosting experience.

👉 [Join the Game Day Eats Football Series now »]

Welcome to CopyKat Recipes!

Do you love Copycat recipes? I will place easy-to-follow recipes that taste just like your favorite restaurant recipes. Best of all, these recipes have easy-to-find ingredients! Unlock the secrets of your favorite restaurants tonight!

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