3 homemade fast food make to favorite

Most of us, no matter how discerning we sometimes get about our meals, have a soft spot for fast food in one form or another. For some, it's a carton of greasy chow mein from the hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant down the street; for others, it's a large fry from the McDonald's drive-thru, with endless packets of "fancy" ketchup (which, as we all know, tastes moderately but unmistakably better than ketchup from a bottle). There's something about fast food and takeout—in addition to being cheap and convenient and, well, fast, it's nostalgic. A single whiff or bite can easily take you back to childhood, when a weekend trip to Pizza Hut counted as a major treat; or college, when a seven-layer burrito from Taco Bell, for all its ooziness and unhealthiness, was exactly what you needed after a night of drinking.

If you don't live near some of your favorite fast food joints, or just want to feel a little better about what you're eating by making it yourself, check out the following 15 recipes for fast food classics. You'll be surprised by how much better they can taste when re-created at home.

Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches

Want to eat Chick-Fil-A on a Sunday? What's stopping you? All politics aside, you can indeed make your very own crispy-and-salty chicken sandwich with those two crucial dill pickle chips, just like the original, any day of the week. The key to the moist chicken breast is brining for several hours, while a seasoned batter adds a crispy, flavorful coating.

Get the recipe for Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches »

Taco Bell Cemita

Unfortunately, Taco Bell has yet to introduce its own version of the Mexican sandwich, but—with a few extra ingredients—you can make your very own. A simple Taco Bell Cemita takes the insides of two soft tacos, plus a side of guacamole and salsa, and piles it all on a cemita bun with tomato, cilantro, chipotles in adobo, and quesillo Oaxaca.

Get the recipe for Taco Bell Cemita »

Chinese-American Beef and Broccoli With Oys

Tender strips of marinated beef, seared to a smoky crispness in a hot wok, with charred florets of bright green broccoli, all tossed in a savory-sweet, garlic- and ginger-scented oyster sauce. That's what beef with broccoli should be. The average food-court version is a sad, sad excuse for a meal, but your homemade beef with broccoli will be superb.