What's harder: skipping Noodles & Company takeout or sticking to your budget? With these copycat recipes, you don't have to choose! Whether you're in the mood for Noodles & Company Pad Thai, Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Japanese Pan Noodles or a giant rice crispy treat, these budget-friendly recipes will satisfy any craving.
19 Noodles & Company Copycat Recipes That’ll Let You Skip the Drive-Thru
Updated on Mar. 12, 2024
1/19
Inspired By: Pad Thai
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a simple pad thai loaded with crisp vegetables and zesty flavor. It’s quick, simple, and fresh-tasting. —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova Scotia
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 339 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 186mg cholesterol, 701mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 4g fiber), 12g protein.
2/19
Inspired By: Wisconsin Mac & Cheese
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to serve this mac & cheese with a salad and crusty bread. It's a satisfying meal that feels upscale, but will fit just about any budget. And because the Gorgonzola is so mild in this dish, even the kiddos will go for it. —Charlotte Giltner, Mesa, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 468 calories, 22g fat (14g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 649mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein.
3/19
Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
Total Time
6 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to make this for my husband and myself to have on a cold night. It warms us right up! Greek yogurt can be substituted for the sour cream. —Meg Hilton, Atlanta, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 317 calories, 18g fat (8g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 736mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein.
4/19
Inspired By: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Total Time
5 hours 50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and this dish is still one that guests request frequently. It is my No. 1 standby recipe and also makes amazing meatball sandwiches. The sauce works for any type of pasta. —Jane Whittaker, Pensacola, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
About 3 meatballs with 3/4 cup sauce: 250 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 79mg cholesterol, 1116mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 4g fiber), 20g protein.
5/19
Inspired By: Thai Green Curry
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Thai cuisine has such wonderfully intense flavors, but the dishes can be heavy and time-consuming. My answer is a refreshing salad with mango, gingerroot and a pop of jalapeno. —Melanie Stevenson, Reading, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 370 calories, 19g fat (3g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 590mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 5g fiber), 13g protein.
6/19
Inspired By: Cheesy Garlic Bread
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You can't go wrong with this recipe. The cheesy, butter bread is so simple to make but the taste is sinful. Plus it looks fantastic, and people just flock to it! It's better than the usual garlic bread too. —Karen Grant, Tulare, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 237 calories, 15g fat (9g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 468mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 10g protein.
7/19
Inspired By: Tomato Basil Bisque
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband, Patrick Maas, makes this wonderful, creamy bisque. Sweet red pepper enhances the lovely tomato-basil flavor. —Veronique Deblois, Mine Hill, New Jersey
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 383 calories, 36g fat (22g saturated fat), 122mg cholesterol, 1214mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 4g fiber), 3g protein.
8/19
Inspired By: Chicken Veracruz Salad
Total Time
3 hours 10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We use this super-duper chicken across several meals, including it in tacos, sandwiches, omelets and enchiladas. My little guys love to help measure the seasonings. —Karie Houghton, Lynnwood, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups lettuce with 3 ounces cooked chicken: 143 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 516mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable.
9/19
Inspired By: Penne Rosa
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I reworked this recipe from an original that called for vodka and heavy whipping cream. My friends and family had a hard time believing a sauce this rich, flavorful and creamy could be light. —Margaret Wilson, Hemet, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 335 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 12g protein.
10/19
11/19
Inspired By: Grilled Chicken Caesar
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My Caesar with grilled chicken is a healthier alternative to heavy meat and potatoes dishes. After grilling the kabobs, we serve them family style. —Melissa Adams, Tooele, Utah
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 441 calories, 21g fat (5g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 601mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 5g fiber), 31g protein.
12/19
Inspired By: Alfredo MontAmore®
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I want a lighter dinner, I use lean turkey bacon in this recipe. It gives the pasta that richness you want without all the extra fat. —Courtney Harris, Denton, Texas
13/19
Inspired By: Rice Crispy
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend shared with me this fresh take on traditional crispy treats. My husband loves them, and I feel so efficient with their quick prep time. —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
1 bar: 79 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 58mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
14/19
Inspired By: Chicken Noodle Soup
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was sick, my mom would make me this heartwarming chicken noodle soup. It was soothing when I had a cold, but this soup is a bowlful of comfort on any chilly day. —Anthony Graham, Ottawa, lllinois
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 195 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 639mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 starch, 1/2 fat.
15/19
Inspired By: Potstickers
Total Time
55 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Chicken and mushrooms make up the filling in these pot stickers, a traditional Chinese dumpling. Greasing the steamer rack makes it easier to remove them once they're steamed. —Jacquelynne Stine, Las Vegas, Nevada
Nutrition Facts:
1 pot sticker with 1 tsp. sauce: 39 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 254mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
16/19
Inspired By: The Med Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This salad is my standard—I always make sure I have the ingredients on hand so I can whip up this easy salad anytime. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1-2/3 cups: 196 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 637mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein.
17/19
Inspired By: Spicy Korean Beef Noodles
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We've raised beef the majority of our lives, so I like to try new recipes that feature it. This beef noodles recipe is different and absolutely delicious. —Margery Bryan, Royal City, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 328 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 560mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 26g protein.
18/19
Inspired By: Pasta Fresca
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Flavor-packed sausage and sun-dried tomatoes are sure to liven up any simple pasta dish. I have a feeling that once you've tried it, it'll become a family favorite!—Dawn Singleton, Eighty Four, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 617 calories, 33g fat (13g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 949mg sodium, 53g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 24g protein.
19/19
Inspired By: Japanese Pan Noodles
Total Time
20 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A little peanut butter and a sprinkling of peanuts give this side dish plenty of flavor. While red pepper flakes offer a little kick, brown sugar balances it out with a hint of sweet. —Mitzi Sentiff of Annapolis, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 358 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 472mg sodium, 54g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 5g fiber), 15g protein.
