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Hey there, kitchen friend!

Dinner out is getting expensive — and honestly? Half the time, the home version tastes better anyway. This week, I’ve rounded up five restaurant dishes that are completely doable on a weeknight, and together they could save you $40 or more compared to eating out. We’re talking a sizzling steakhouse-style dinner, a creamy Italian classic, spicy Cajun shrimp, a crave-worthy chicken sandwich, and a pasta dish that’ll have everyone at the table asking for seconds. Let’s get cooking. 🍽️

🥩 Applebee’s Bourbon Street Steak

That signature Bourbon Street sizzle — tender steak marinated in a rich, smoky bourbon blend — is one of Applebee’s most beloved dishes. The secret is in the marinade: a combination of soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic, and just enough sweetness to balance the char. Make it at home and you’ll wonder why you ever paid restaurant prices for it.

🔗 Get the Applebee’s Bourbon Street Steak recipe →​

💰 Restaurant price: ~$19 per plate. Homemade cost: ~$6. You save: ~$13!

🍗 Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana

Golden, crispy breaded chicken smothered in marinara and melted mozzarella — Olive Garden’s Chicken Parmigiana is Italian-American comfort food at its finest. This copycat nails that same restaurant flavor with pantry-friendly ingredients, and it comes together in about 30 minutes. Serve it over pasta or alongside a big green salad for a meal that feels anything but budget.

🔗 Get the Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana recipe →​

💰 Restaurant price: ~$22 per plate. Homemade cost: ~$6. You save: ~$16!

🍤 Red Lobster Cajun Shrimp

This was the star of Red Lobster’s famous Endless Shrimp promotion — and once you make it at home, you’ll have endless shrimp any night you want. The shrimp are tossed in buttery Cajun seasoning and cooked up fast in a skillet. Spicy, garlicky, and incredibly satisfying. Serve them over rice, tuck them into tacos, or enjoy them as an appetizer.

🔗 Get the Red Lobster Cajun Shrimp recipe →​

💰 Restaurant price: ~$15 per order. Homemade cost: ~$5. You save: ~$10!

🥪 Arby’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Crispy buttermilk fried chicken, tangy buffalo sauce, and cool parmesan peppercorn ranch — Arby’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich is a fast-food legend. The homemade version lets you control the heat level and pile on as much (or as little) sauce as you like. This is the kind of sandwich that makes you forget fast food exists.

🔗 Get the Arby’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich recipe →​

💰 Restaurant price: ~$10 per sandwich. Homemade cost: ~$3. You save: ~$7!

🍝 Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta

Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta is a weeknight hero — penne tossed in a creamy, spiced Cajun sauce with tender sliced chicken on top. It’s bold, hearty, and comes together in about 30 minutes. If you’ve been sleeping on this one, consider this your wake-up call. It pairs beautifully with a simple salad or some crusty garlic bread.

🔗 Get the Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe →​

💰 Restaurant price: ~$16 per plate. Homemade cost: ~$5. You save: ~$11!

🍳 In the Kitchen

A few tools that make these recipes even easier:

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet — The Bourbon Street Steak and Cajun Shrimp both deserve serious searing heat. A good cast-iron skillet delivers that restaurant-quality crust every time. Mine lives on my stovetop permanently.

👉 Shop on Amazon →​

Meat Mallet / Tenderizer — For chicken parm that cooks evenly and stays tender, pounding the chicken breast to a uniform thickness makes all the difference. This simple tool is a game-changer.

👉 Shop on Amazon →​

​Large Nonstick Skillet (12-inch) — You’ll reach for this one for the Cajun chicken pasta and the buffalo chicken. A roomy 12-inch skillet means no crowding, no steaming — just beautiful browning.

👉 Shop on Amazon →​

The Savings Are Real 💸

Five restaurant meals, five nights of dinner at home — and you’ve kept more than $55 in your pocket without sacrificing a single bit of flavor. That’s the whole CopyKat philosophy: the best meals don’t have to come with a big bill. I hope at least one of these makes it onto your table this week. Hit reply and let me know which one you try first — I read every message!

Happy cooking,