Missing your McMuffins, pining for peri-peri or going cuckoo without KFC? We’ve got you covered!
There’s something about a takeaway night that gives us something to look forward to and brings the whole family together.

When some of our favourite restaurant chains shut up shop at the start of lockdown we all wondered how we were going to get through. Luckily, our prayers were answered and some of the most popular food chains have released their secret recipes meaning we could finally enjoy our favourite dishes once again.

Here is everything you need to recreate recipes from McDonald’s, KFC, Nando’s, Gregg’s and more. If your mouth’s already watering, read on!

Fancy a Maccy’s Breakfast?

• English muffins
• 75g sausage meat
• 2 eggs
• A slice of American cheese
• One potato

How to make it:

1. Toast the English muffins until golden brown.
2. Season sausage meat with a pinch of salt and pepper then shape into balls.
3. Flatten into patty shapes and cook under a pre-heated grill for six to seven minutes on each side (or as per instructions on packaging).
4. Brush the inside of a metal ring with a little oil and place in a small frying pan.
5. Pour in just enough water to cover the base then bring to the boil.
6. Crack the eggs into the rings, cover the pan and cook for two to three minutes.
7. Assemble your McMuffin by layering the patty and egg on top of a slice of cheese.
8. Dig in!

Wing it with a KFC!

What you’ll need:

• 24 chicken wings
• 1 cup flour
• 4 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups hot chilli sauce (depending on preference)

How to make it:

1. Boil the chicken in a saucepan with half the chilli sauce and let simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Remove the chicken wings and coat in the other half of the chilli sauce and marinate for up to two hours.
3. Mix the flour and spices together in a bowl.
4. After the two hours have passed, crack your two eggs in another bowl and coat the chicken in the dry ingredients.
5. Build up the batter by giving the chicken an egg wash in your other bowl and repeat the process.
6. Heat a generous amount of oil in a frying pan and fry until they’re gold and crispy all over.
7. Get rid of any excess oil by drying the chicken wings on a piece of paper towel.

IKEA’s Marvellous Meatballs 

You’ll need:
For the meatballs:

• 500g beef mince
• 250g pork mince
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic (crushed or minced)
• 100g breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 5 tbsp of milk
• Salt and pepper

For the cream sauce:

• Dash of oil
• 40g butter
• 40g plain flour
• 150ml vegetable stock
• 150ml beef stock
• 150ml thick double cream
• 2tsp soy sauce
• One tsp Dijon mustard

How to make it:

1. 1. Combine the beef and pork mince with your fingers, before adding finely chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs and egg. Give it all a mix, then add a little milk and season with salt and pepper.
   2. Shape the mixture into small, round balls and place them in the fridge for two hours before cooking.
   3. Once the two hours is over, pop them out of the fridge and into a frying pan, making sure to brown the meatballs on all sides.
   4. Add them to a covered ovenproof dish and put them in the oven at 180 degrees for 30 minutes.
   5. To make the sauce, melt 40g of butter in a pan. Whisk in 40g of plain flour and stir for two minutes, after which you should add 150ml of vegetable and beef stock and continue to stir. Finally, add 150ml double cream, two teaspoons of soy sauce and one teaspoon of Dijon mustard. Wait until the sauce is simmering and then allow it to thicken.

Dreaming of Peri-Peri

1. 1. • 12 boneless chicken thighs (skin on)
      • Nando’s Medium Peri Peri sauce (125ml bottle)

How to make it:

1. 1. 1. Put the thighs in a bowl and rub them all over with the marinade. Once they’re all covered, cover the bowl with clingfilm and put it in the fridge for at least an hour (ideally overnight).
      2. When you’re ready to start cooking, set the oven to 180 degrees and transfer the thighs to a roasting tray with the skin side up. Put them in the oven for around 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
      3. Next, heat up a grill pan on the stove. When it becomes smoking hot, put the thighs skin-side down in the grill pan (make sure not to move them so you get those classic grill marks). Once the marks appear, flip the chicken and do the same on the other side for another 1-2 minutes.
      4. Brush over a bit more of the Nando’s sauce and serve!

The Gift of Pastry

What you’ll need:

1. 1. • Beans
      • Sausage
      • Puff pastry
      • One egg
      • Grated cheese

How to make it:

1. 1. 1. Cut two squares of pastry and egg wash the edges.
      2. Squash your beans and mix together with the sausage to make the filling, and then spoon them on top of one of the pastry squares.
      3. Sprinkle some cheese on top, put the other pastry square on top (sealing the edges with a fork) and give the top of the pastry an egg wash.
      4. Put it in the oven for 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius and enjoy!

And for Dessert

What you’ll need:

1. 1. • 110g unsalted butter
      • 170g caster sugar
      • 85g light brown sugar
      • One egg
      • 190g self-raising flour
      • 3g salt
      • 120g large dark chocolate buttons
      1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and melt the butter in a saucepan.
      2. Beat the butter with the sugars until it’s well combined, after which you can add the egg until it’s all incorporated.
      3. Add the flour and salt until a dough forms, and then toss in the chocolate chips.
      4. Scoop out balls of dough (the recipe should produce about eight) and place them on a lined baking tray, pressing them down slightly to flatten them.
      5. Bake for 10-12 minutes and enjoy!

If you’re still with us and not already in the kitchen whipping up your favourite dish, why not check out these baking recipes using what you’ve already got in your cupboard. Also perfect for afters!

Tags: Foodie Tips, Recipe Ideas