20 Copycat Applebee’s Recipes

Looking for copycat Applebee’s recipes that are spot-on?

From spinach artichoke dip to chicken fajitas, you can make your Applebee’s favorites at home!

When it comes to Applebee’s, I admit I mostly go for the monthly cocktail specials, but I stay for the food!

From their zesty fiesta lime chicken to the indulgent peanut butter cheesecake, these Applebee’s Recipes are surprisingly simple and just what we need at the end of this tough year. 

Now isn’t the time to be watching your waistline!

It’s the time to enjoy a big bowl of warm spinach dip or a thick slice of maple butter blondie with a big scoop of ice cream and plenty of caramel drizzle. 

Use this list of 20 amazing Applebee’s recipes on those cold nights where leftovers just won’t do.

1. Applebee’s Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

You don’t order Applebee’s spinach and artichoke dip because you’re hungry.

You order it because it’s rich, creamy, and the perfect pairing to a bowl of crunchy chips. 

What makes this better than all the rest?

It’s not just a combination of cream cheese, mozzarella, spinach, artichoke, and garlic.

This recipe incorporates alfredo sauce to make it extra creamy. 

2. Copycat Applebees Quesadilla Burger

If the idea of a quesadilla makes your mouth water, just imagine it combined with a burger!

I often find burger buns too thick or even dry.

This dish takes everything you love about two meals and pairs them for one insanely delicious dinner. 

3. Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad

I’m a huge fan of loading salad with more than just wilted greens and tomatoes. 

It needs plenty of crunch and plenty of dressing. And this salad delivers!

Not only is it covered with noodles and almonds, the chicken is crispy, too, for added flavor. 

4. Applebee’s Pico de Gallo

Maybe you just get it with your nachos, or maybe you like this fresh salsa on everything from eggs to chicken. 

Either way, it’s good to have a go-to recipe, and this should be it.

The combination of onion, jalapenos, and tomatoes is just right, and the vinegar is a must.

5. Copycat Applebee’s Chicken Quesadilla Grande

People are often disappointed with quesadillas at home. They usually make them in the microwave and are just soft and bland. 

Applebee’s uses a blend of cheese and plenty of chipotle sauce, which makes all the difference!

For the best finish, fry the quesadilla in a pan or place it on the griddle to toast the tortilla. 

6. Fiesta Lime Chicken

This might just be my favorite on the list, and I highly recommend it.

But be sure to start the day before, so the chicken can sit in the marinade and soak up all that incredible flavor. 

Though it’s best cooked on a grill, it will bake perfectly, staying moist even after you broil the cheese. 

7. Applebee’s Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Copycat)

Using red potatoes is the key to these delicious potatoes. 

I love to leave the skin on for extra nutrients and a bit of texture. 

But the real star is the roasted garlic. Trust me; it’s worth the extra time!

8. Copycat Applebee’s Garlic And Peppercorn Fried Shrimp

When used right, black pepper can enhance a dish in a way salt just can’t.

And I know you have a jar of colorful peppercorns from TJ Maxx at home! We all do 🙂

Since the shrimp has such a mild flavor, the pepper can really shine in the crust and makes such a nice flavor change. 

9. Copycat Applebee’s Chicken Fajitas

We all turn our heads when those sizzling plates drive by!

There’s something so comforting about them, and the fajitas are especially tasty. 

These are a great, lighter dinner option and can easily be modified to include any number of veggies. 

10. Applebee’s Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Recipe

I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again: salad dressings make excellent marinades!

They’re already perfectly flavored with everything you need and will keep your chicken juicy and tender. 

The only cheese I would recommend to keep here would be the mozzarella for the pull. Otherwise, feel free to play with the cheeses for something different. 

11. Steak and Shrimp Parmesan Applebee’s Copycat

Doesn’t steak and shrimp seem super decadent? The kind of meal you only have when you’re treating yourself?

Well, I’m a big fan of treating yourself at home, and I think you should start with this.

When it comes to making steak, try to find a good cut from a butcher or meat counter. It will make all the difference!

12. Copycat Applebee’s Lemonade

Adding sparkling water to your lemonade might seem like a small thing, but it will perfectly enhance the citrus. 

Start with this as your base, and then experiment with adding fruit. 

I like to top mine with strawberries for some sweetness to cut through the zest.

13. Apleebee’s 4-Cheese Mac and Cheese

This no-nonsense mac and cheese is insanely easy to make. 

You need not mess around with flour or steeping the milk. 

Just throw it all in a pot and gently heat to combine. Cornstarch will thicken the sauce, and the whole thing can be on the table in 30 minutes.

14. Applebee’s Vegetable Medley

Although zucchini, carrot, squash, and corn make for a fantastic mixture, you should keep this sauce on rotation for all your roasted veggies.

Try to keep the vegetable of similar size, so they all cook at the same time and sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve.

15. Copycat Applebee’s Clubhouse Grille Sandwich Recipe

Thick bread is the key to this mammoth sandwich.

With all those fillings – cheese, ham, turkey, bacon, tomato, and lettuce – you’ll need a solid foundation!

I don’t always have deli meat in the house, so I will often substitute sliced chicken instead. 

16. Applebee’s Maple Butter Blondie Copycat Recipe

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that a blondie is essentially a slab of thick cookie dough.

Ok, so it’s not exactly cookie dough, but it’s super close. 

Brown sugar is best to get that chewy texture in the middle, and the butterscotch chips add a nice creamy sweetness. 

But the sauce!! *chef’s kiss*

Made using cream cheese, sugar, maple syrup, and butter, it’s like a warm caramel cheesecake, and I would highly recommend making double!

17. Applebee’s Beer Cheese

I’m not sure why fondue went out of style. This wild combination of blond ale and cheese is a revelation!

Lighter beer is recommended, though if you prefer a deeper beer flavor, you can experiment with something darker. 

Be sure to choose a blend of cheeses that are mature and full of flavor. American cheese is inexpensive but has little taste. 

Go for a gruyere or mature cheddar!

18. Applebees Triple Chocolate Meltdown

It might sound silly, but most lava cakes are just under-baked cakes. 

They bake for just eight minutes, allowing the outside to set up while the inside remains liquid. 

Be sure to whip the eggs and sugar until thick and pale, and only just fold the rest through to keep the volume. 

These are best when made in individual ramekins. 

19. Applebee’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Not only does this cheesecake have a chocolate cookie crust, it’s made with brown sugar for a deeper caramel flavor throughout.

Once the cream cheese, sugar, and peanut butter are smooth, gently stir everything else in, trying not to incorporate too much air. 

I like the chocolate topping, but caramel frosting would make an excellent addition.

20. Applebee’s Apple Chimicheesecake

This dessert is such a fun way to serve cheesecake!

Fresh, spiced apple cheesecake gets filled into a tortilla, which gets rolled in cinnamon sugar and fried. 

If you haven’t already left for the kitchen, be sure to dice your apples quite small and try piping the filling to keep it in the middle.