17 Discontinued Fast Food Items (And Their Recipes) (2024)

These discontinued restaurant recipes will give you nostalgia (and make you hungry)

By: Toby Kuhnke, Editor, AllFreeCopycatRecipes.com

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17 Discontinued Fast Food Items (And Their Recipes) (1)

You remember them. You miss them. And now you can make them at home! These 17 Discontinued Fast Food Items are those dishes that you loved so much but can't find anymore. Whether you were a fan of KFC's popcorn chicken or you're a McRib fanatic, we've got the recipe for you, so you can make your favorites at home.

These failed fast food items might not be around anymore, but that doesn't mean they weren't delicious! There are those items you remember from your childhood that bring back nostalgia, and then there are those certain discontinued items that you've been craving that just disappeared from the menu one day.

Not only have we identified some of the most popular discontinued items from fast food and fast casual restaurants, but we have the recipes, too.

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1. Panera’s Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich Copycat Recipe

This sandwich was simply delightful! The reason Panera took it off their menu is a complete mystery to us. But never fear; if you were a fan of this delicious sandwich, you can now make it at home. Just watch the quick video below to learn how to make it. It's perfect for lunches!

2. Outback Steakhouse Walkabout Soup Copycat Recipe

This soup from Outback Steakhouse is full of cheesy goodness! If you ever tasted this recipe while it was still at Outback, you'll definitely remember how delicious it was. The perfect blend of seasonings in this soup makes it perfect for a chilly fall evening. You won't be able to have just one bowl!

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3. Chili’s Monterey Chicken Copycat Recipe

When you're in the mood for something new for dinner, give this old Chili's chicken recipe a try. Chili's had this delicious Monterey chicken until 2015, when they removed it from the menu, but never fear. You can have this chicken dinner any time you'd like! It's quick, easy, and packed with flavor.

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4. Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Pie Copycat Recipe

Remember this delicious dish from Olive Garden? It might not be the healthiest dish around, but it definitely is the most delicious. If you're a fan of Olive Garden's chicken alfredo, then you really should give this savory pie version a try. You'll never make spaghetti the same way again.

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5. KFC's Popcorn Chicken Copycat Recipe

KFC's popcorn chicken was served in their restaurants until 2011, but even though these delicious nuggets of flavor aren't available anymore, you can still replicate that classic KFC flavor with this recipe. The secret here is all in the breading and seasoning.

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6. Chick-fil-A's Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

No Southern meal would be complete without a side of coleslaw! Chick-fil-A used to have their own take on this delicious side, but discontinued it. If you've ever had homemade coleslaw, you know that it's better than any storebought version could ever be. Bring this coleslaw to your next family gathering, and everyone will be asking you for the recipe.

7. McDonald's McRib Sandwich Copycat Recipe

When it comes to discontinued fast food sandwiches, the McRib really stands out. This sandwich has gained quite the following, and when McDonald's occasionally brings it back, it's incredibly popular. Fans of this sandwich have even created a McRib Locator, where you can report sightings of the sandwich. But don't worry, you don't have to wait for McDonald's to bring this item back. With this recipe, you can make it at home whenever you want!

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8. Denny's Fried Cheese Melt Copycat Recipe

This Denny's creation is brilliant, and we just can't figure out why they took it off the menu! It's basically a grilled cheese sandwich with mozarella sticks in the middle. A double dose of cheesy goodness! This sandwich is perfect for when you're craving a little guilty pleasure food for dinner.

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9. Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino Copycat Recipe

This Starbucks frappuccino came and went in the blink of an eye. Only available for five days in spring 2017, this fruit drink was all the rage because of its colorful appearance. Plus, it was delicious! Even though this drink is gone from Starbucks' menu, you can still make it at home with this copycat recipe.

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10. Bennigan's Turkey O'Toole Copycat Recipe

Whether you need a new recipe to switch things up with your lunch routine, or you just miss this recipe from Bennigan's, this Turkey O'Toole gets the job done. In 2005, Bennigan's closed many of their locations, leaving their fans and their cravings behind. If you were one of those Bennigan's lovers, never fear. This Turkey O'Toole copycat recipe is here.

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11. McDonald's Fried Apple Pie Copycat Recipes

You probably know McDonald's apple pies, but did you know that they used to havefriedapple pies? That's right, the masters of fried food once brought their deep frying skills to the dessert table. Although this item hasn't been around for a while and was replaced by the baked version, you can still get that deep-fried goodness at home.

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12. Panera's Asian Sesame Chicken Salad Copycat Recipe

Panera's salads really stand out on their menu. They're healthy, delicious, and unique! Panera's Asian Sesame Chicken Salad was a signature part of their menu until it left in 2016. The next time you're craving this salad's unique sweet and savory flavors, just consult this recipe. It tastes just like the original!

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13. Carrabba's Sausage and Lentil Soup Copycat Recipe

This soup is only available certain times of the year, but sometimes we get a little Carrabba's craving that can't wait until the fall. This soup is packed with tons of flavor and it's really irresistible. It's easy to make, too. Now you don't have to wait for it to come back to enjoy this Italian restaurant staple.

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14. Copycat Wendy's Frescata Bread

When Wendy's discontinued these delicious sandwiches, fans were definitely disappointed. If you were a Frescata fanatic like we were, you'll remember that the thing that really made these sandwiches outstanding was the BREAD! Lucky for you, we've cracked the recipe code so you don't have to!

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15. Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich

The latest in discontinued fast food items, this Chick-fil-A classic will surely be missed! The slightly sweet chicken salad was a fan favorite and included pickle relish and hard boiled eggs. If you're disappointed that you can no longer get this delicious deli salad sandwich from Chick-fil-A, look no further!

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16. Copycat Cracker Barrel Beef Stew

This recently discontinued recipe was once a fan favorite of Cracker Barrel! For fans of this comfort food staple -- never fear. We have the recipe.

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17. Copycat Taco Bell Pork and Bean Chalupas

This chalupa was a Taco Bell cult classic for years. Thankfully it's still around because it tastes absolutely delicious.

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What fast food item are you nostalgic for?
Let us know in the comments!
(We just might have a recipe for it.)

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Read Next17 Discontinued Fast Food Items (And Their Recipes)

17 Discontinued Fast Food Items (And Their Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

What are 2 fast food items that were unsuccessful? ›

10 Biggest Fast Food Failures of All Time
  • We ain't lovin' it.
  • McDLT – McDonald's.
  • ⅓-Pound Burger – A&W Restaurants.
  • Frescata Sandwich – Wendy's.
  • Fish McBites – McDonald's.
  • Big Catch Meal – Long John Silver's.
  • The Arch Deluxe – McDonald's.
  • Halloween Whopper – Burger King.
Mar 7, 2024

Why is fast food controversial? ›

Criticism of fast food includes claims of negative health effects, animal cruelty, cases of worker exploitation, children-targeted marketing and claims of cultural degradation via shifts in people's eating patterns away from traditional foods.

What is the slowest fast food? ›

The slowest drive-thru was at Chick-fil-A, at over seven minutes per order (436.09) — but that doesn't tell the whole story. QSR also determined that Chick-fil-A had the busiest drive-thru lines, with an average of 3.41 cars waiting for their orders.

Did McDonald's ever sell shrimp? ›

Has McDonald's ever had fried shrimp on their menu? Yes. In Japan, they have a shrimp burger, which they call Ebi Filet-O.

Why fast food is not good anymore? ›

Fast food tends to be high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, calories, and processed preservatives and ingredients. A wealth of well-conducted research has proven the negative health effects of consuming too much of these food components.

Why is fast food banned? ›

Frequent consumption of fast food increases the risk of overweight, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes,” said dietician and nutritionist Ana Isabel Haddad. “Establishing healthy eating habits during childhood and adolescence is crucial, as they shape a child's future health.”

Why should Americans stop eating fast food? ›

This often-processed food, which is high in fat, sugar, and empty calories, is historically linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, digestive issues, and even cancer. However, even an infrequent consumption of fast food may exacerbate gastroenterological problems, turning them into a disorder such as GERD.

How many fast food restaurants fail? ›

The restaurant failure rate is difficult to track nationwide, but the National Restaurant Association estimates a 30% failure rate in the restaurant industry. In other words, one in three restaurants won't survive their first year.

What's the most successful fast food? ›

McDonald's was the most valuable fast food brand in the world with an estimated brand value of about 191 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. That same year, the brand value of Starbucks amounted to approximately 61.5 billion U.S. dollars. How many McDonald's restaurants are there worldwide?

Why did the Halloween Whopper fail? ›

Controversy. After the burger was released, many customers reported that the food coloring in the bun purposefully made their excrements a bright green color.

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