Life

11 Of Your Favorite Restaurant Foods You Can Actually Buy At The Grocery Store

by Megan Grant
Courtesy of Panera and The Cheesecake Factory

There's only one thing better than fresh, handmade, nutritious, home-cooked food, and that's restaurant food. Roasted chicken and organic vegetables lightly sautéed in extra virgin olive oil are great; but have you had Olive Garden's breadsticks? If you want to enjoy restaurant-quality food whenever you want, you need to know about these 11 restaurant foods you can actually buy in supermarkets and other stores. This means you can enjoy these foods anytime, anywhere — like in your sweats sitting in bed, watching old episodes of Friends and eating all of it yourself. #NoShame.

There's something special about really good food you didn't have to cook yourself. I like to think it's the universe patting me on the back after a long day of work, saying, "Good job, Megan. Enjoy this frozen macaroni and cheese." It's a great night when all I have to do is preheat the oven to 350 and kick back with a glass of white wine while my dinner thaws out.

And if it happens to be one of my favorite meals from one of my favorite restaurants? No, it's not Christmas. No, it's not my birthday. It's one of these 11 restaurant foods you can find at the store.

1

Lots Of Panera Bread Goodies

According to Panera's website, you can buy their soup, mac and cheese, dressing, coffee, meat, and frozen bread at stores all around the country, including Sam's Club, Target, Kroger, and Publix. This means, yes, you can enjoy creamy, gooey, cheesy mac and cheese whenever the heck you want.

2

Brown Bread From The Cheesecake Factory

You know that feeling when you finish the free bread basket and then have to ask for more because bread is life? We've all been there. Good news: The Cheesecake Factory has been making headlines recently, with the announcement that their infamous brown bread is being released to grocery stores. A rep confirmed to Bustle that it'll first launch in Winn Dixie, Bi-Lo, and Harveys grocery stores.

3

PF Chang's

Enjoy gourmet Asian cuisine anytime, and you don't even have to prepare it yourself. You can find some of PF Chang's entrees, snacks and appetizers, sides, and sauces on grocery store shelves. Defrost an entire meal for your guests and don't correct them when they compliment your cooking.

4

Marie Callender's

Do you want to indulge in all your favorite comfort foods and rich, decadent desserts in the comfort of your own home, so you can finish all of the food by yourself the way food was intended to be eaten? Guess what? You can! Visit Marie online to find out the closest location where you can nab some seriously delicious eats.

5

Bob Evans Products

Booooob Evans, down on the farm. Who remembers THAT jingle? If you're in the mood for meats and taters and pasta and... and... and... gravy (*heavy breathing*), you can buy it from a local grocery store and fix it up it at home. This is called nirvana.

6

TGI Fridays Appetizers

Did you know you can find Friday's jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and potato skins at the store? Eat them before the main course, or eat them as the main course. We won't judge you.

7

Nathan's Famous Weiners

They've got the best hot dogs in the nation, and you don't even need to visit a restaurant to get your hands on a big, juicy weiner. You can find Nathan's in stores like Target and Sam's Club. Is this real life? Hot diggity dog.

8

California Pizza Kitchen

Look at CPK, makin' dreams come true and stuff. Find their organic, gluten-free, crispy thin, and crispy flatbread pizzas at stores like Target, Walmart, and even Walgreens. With CPK, every night can be pizza night. WIN.

9

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix

If they eat biscuits in heaven, they're eating Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay biscuits. Do these ever get old? Rhetorical question, obvi. Get 'em at Target or Walmart. Or... both. And then eat them all by yourself.

10

Cracker Barrel Cheese

Brace yourself: you can buy CB cheese at Target, Walmart, and Walgreens. Have yourself a cheese-tastic day, every day.

11

Hooters Hot Wing Sauce

What's the BEST part of Hooters? No, not the boobs. The hot wing sauce! You don't have to visit the restaurant to get it, either — not that you'd mind. But just in case you're more in the mood for a night at home, you can grab it at Walmart and Publix.