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Recreating Fast food favorites totally from scratch using real cooking techniques. All with the goal to remake it, but better.
2019
What better way to celebrate 500,000 subscribers than making a fried chicken sandwich that rivals the Popeyes chicken sandwich. Buttermilk fried chicken, layered between a Japanese milk bun, black garlic mayo, homemade pickles. It's perfect. Making a chicken sandwich isn't just some recipe, it's a technique, an art form if you will. Hope you guys get a kick out of this and make your very own sandwich!
Looks like the secret is out. You can make your own curly fries at home, and with super minimal ingredients and time. Once you hold the power of the curly, you hold the power of all. Welcome to our debut first episode of But Better.
I promise you can have Chick Fil A Nuggets accompanied by the coveted chick fil a sauce made entirely homemade. Just get your hands on some MSG and you might be on your way to the best chicken nuggets you'll ever make in your life. Welcome back to the technical Episode 3 of But Better.
Making homemade pizza is easy. It's a different story when you decide to go head to head with Dominos and Pizza Hut to see who the true reigning king is. I made my decision, now you decide. Welcome back to But Better Episode 4.
Starting episode 5 of But Better off strong with the best fast food burger In-N-Out at but of course.. better. We pulled out all the stops with homemade buns, the best burger sauce, griddled onions, you know... the works.
Next up for But Better Ep. 6 we are tackling the heavy clouted taco bell chicken crunchwrap supreme. Can we survive this one? Yes. Yes we can.
Fried chicken, coated in a sweet soy orange glaze. Sounds easy enough to me... But Can we beat Panda Express? Welcome back for Episode 7. of But Better.
The coveted chicken McNugget is no secret. It's all in the technique and as it turns out, that's pretty easy too! And with that, welcome to episode 8. of But Better.
Ah yes the Original glazed donut. I will say, this is the nicest I've ever been to any of the participants in but better. But will that be enough for them to win? Welcome back to But Better, Episode 9.
Welcome back to But Better Episode 10! Fret not, you can still have your Wendy's baconator burger at home, but better, and all it takes is some patience and a little practice. Solid homemade buns, fresh ground beef... the ultimate burger flex.
Olive Garden, the land of relentless salad, and apparently coveted breadsticks. Well, for episode 11 of But Better we will be deeply flexing on Olive Garden breadsticks by making the ultimate homemade version of them.
Yet another one that is surprisingly easy. You asked for a homemade how-to guide on a mcgriddle and I think we just hit this bad boy outta the park. I'm talking homemade griddle cakes plus little spots of molten real maple syrup.
Homemade cinnamon rolls are special thing that is easily attainable by most. Now Making Cinnabon cinnamon rolls may prove to be just as easy if not easier. Will we be able to defeat the coveted king of cinnamon rolls?
A meatball sub (or meatball hero) is one of those things where making it at home is not only easier than you think but about 1 billion times better. Enjoy my winning recipe to recreate the Subway Meatball Sub, but better.
Look, I'm actually a fan of Chipotle, but it's high time to do it to em as we say. I'm talking homemade tortillas, beautifully marinated chicken, and perfect rice. Once everything is said and done, you're left with quite possibly one of the best burritos you'll ever eat.
Ah the humble Dorito. It's no Michelin starred plate up, but it is a childhood memory driving flavor for many people. Now we have to figure out if we can make our very own homemade Doritos with our very own cheese powder.
The fried chicken and secret 11 herbs and spices from KFC (albeit not homemade) are considered by many, the undefeated fried chicken champion. I’m not necessarily trying to say they’re wrong, I’m just saying I think we can do better.
The time has come... we are going to make a mcflurry completely from scratch. A recipe many thoughts was impossible, is now possible and it's shockingly easy to make. And no, the machine is not down today, and it never will be again.
Homemade prime rib roast, homemade buns, and a beautifully crafted cheese sauce. All of this can and will be done. Let's see who really has the meats.
The Taco Bell Mexican Pizza is leaving menus forever, and you've asked over and over. Here it is to quell your hunger in perpetuity.
Ah, the quintessential breakfast hashbrown from Mcdonald's. Unbeatable right? Or maybe we can make a homemade hash brown that is easy and only 3 ingredients. Maybe we'll win this one at the same time too?
Ah, the nostalgia of toaster strudel before school. You think it's good until you realize a very important homemade secret. A secret... that we will discuss today.
So making something like a homemade classic Starbucks Frappuccino seems impossible…well actually it’s not. It’s really easy, you just need some finesse and a little xanthan gum.
Everybody loves these biscuits... I don't know why but we can definitely outdo them. We can make them completely homemade, better, and maybe save some time to make a specialty lobster roll of sorts.
Butterfinger candy bars seem like an impossible job to make at home. Right? Well.. turns out they’re actually kind of easy. Might go as far to say that they may even be… better.
They say it can't be done. A homemade McRib, which is essentially just a rib sandwich isn't just doable... we can make everything from scratch and make it much much better.
The coveted chicken finger combo from Raising Canes, secret Cane's sauce and all, being done completely homemade. Yes, we made the fries and even the Texas toast. Please enjoy.
Holiday season or not this is the coffee of choice for many people. Today we are taking a look at homemade Starbucks coffee drinks, but only 3 of the top seasonal choices. Except like… we’re gonna make them better of course.
2022
Homemade Texas Toast, rich melty Swiss, and the best patty melt burger sauce ever. Also, it's my bday today so Uhm... my book is right below.
The quest to defeat this spicy chicken sandwich might have created our best homemade chicken sandwich so far.
A homemade breakfast sandwich should be special. With fresh buttermilk biscuits, crispy homemade pan sausage, the fluffiest eggs, we’re gonna make it that way.
This is a disgrace to all homemade pizza, but we’re going to make it good.
A burrito bowl should and could be something special. Tender beef barbacoa, the best rice, and all the ingredients to make the perfect homemade bowl.
A breakfast sandwich deserves respect. Homemade jalapeño cheese sausage patties, oozing soft cooked eggs, homemade buns, and a lot of bacon makes this a true breakfast baconator.
Pizza rolls should taste like pizza, savory pepperoni, gooey cheese, fried in a homemade dough? I don’t think I’ll ever burn the roof of my mouth again with a Totino’s Pizza Roll.
The cheesy gordita crunch isn’t a gordita, but we’ll play your game Taco Bell.
Wingstop…. Stop. My Homemade lemon pepper wings will be the happiness you all so rightfully deserve.
I don’t know how Panda Express came up with Beijing Beef, but we will give it the purpose it deserves.
These aren’t just homemade French fries with cheese sauce. And yes we did a "Bell Grande" version too, don't you worry.
Homemade candy bars are easier than I thought, sorry Snickers.
Heavy is the homemade chicken sandwich that wears the crown.
It’s going to be a chickenJOY to take on Jollibee with the perfect homemade fried chicken.
I have Out Pizza'd The Hut before, and now I will out-cinnamon stix the Hut too. So we’re making essentially the greatest homemade cinnamon roll in existence but in the form of a stick.
Sure it’s Five Guys Burgers and Fries… But it all starts with the burger. We’re making it all homemade with a little bit of *spice*.
Snack recipes don’t stop at granola. And these Cheez-Its are just the beginning.
Making Kentucky Fried Chicken means taking on Colonel Sanders. So pleeeeaaase stop saying that I look like him.
Homemade French Fries come in all shapes and sizes, and if Chick-Fil-A wants waffle fries, I’ll give them Waffle Fries.
Nobody knows how SPAM is made, but I think we can figure it out.
Twelve wing sauces, twelve chicken sandwiches, but there can only be one winner. Good luck Wingstop.
My biscuits aren't dry either.
We’re going for the gold, and to up the stakes... we've got the culinary director of shake shack here. A first for But Better.
This time I’m bringing my home to the restaurant. Good luck Nandos.
2021
Ah yes, the humble chocolate lava crunch cake. It's our first cake to cross off the list on the but better series, and I think we've got a good shot.
We went to Panda Express, PF Changs, Pei Wei, and many, many more only to find many places were clean out of General Tso's. We picked a select few, went head to head, and well... you'll just have to watch the video to see if our homemade General Tso's chicken was the true winner.
Fried chicken is a perfect food. Homemade chicken fries on the other hand... maybe ascends us to a new level. Or not? I'm not really sure but Burger King has set this work out for us and I think it's gonna be an easy one.
They have many names, crab puffs, crab rangoon, cream cheese wontons. If you've ever eaten at an American-Chinese restaurant, then you've likely had these before. They're pretty good but we can make them completely homemade, very easily, and more importantly... much, much better.
And we thought they were unbeatable. This is the juiciest crispiest homemade fried chicken sandwich you may ever eat. Stacked tall with thick-cut homemade dill pickles with a secret ingredient. It's all good things homies.
If you know Uncle Roger, you know that he is a good judge on fried rice, he even judged Gordon Ramsay. Some may say that Uncle Roger's fried rice recipe is perfect. However, this is But Better and nobody is safe, not even you Uncle Roger (kisses from papa), so I know we can make it better!
Maybe it really is possible to out pizza the hut.
A sandwich that should have never existed? The decision is up to you... but can we top it with our own homemade sandwich?
One of the most famous fast-food breakfasts in the world could be so much more... and we're going to make it just that. Homemade English muffins, perfectly cooked eggs, seared thick-cut smoked ham, cheddar, and light spicy mayo. Let's see how we do.
We're going after Panda Express for round 2. Chow Mein should be way better, and I have a feeling we are going to blow Panda Express out of the water...again.
The classic and fabled In N Out Burger is a special one...many opt that the animal-style fries are a favorite eating experience. Can we make them completely homemade and dare I say.... much...much better?
KFC has already been defeated on but better and now they want to try to conquer Nashville hot chicken? How you going to do Nashville like that?! Papa will not allow it.
We are challenging one of the most iconic burgers in the world to a showdown AND my cookbook is being announced!
Is it possible to make popcorn better than the movie theaters already do? Well.... I think so, maybe... First, we'll make the greatest homemade buttered popcorn recipe as the main portion, but just to add onto that I'll show you two other special ways. By special I mean garlic bread flavored popcorn, and a perfect salted caramel corn that's so good you'll want to sneak your own popcorn into the theater.
We've gone after the fast-food places, snacks, and movie theaters. Today, we're going after the furniture store....yes, the furniture store. Why does IKEA make meatballs? Have no idea, but we're making the coveted Swedish meatballs, a sentence I can't believe actually came from my mouth. All that to say, we have this in the bag.
The Oreo, is one of America's favorite snack foods. But can it be remade completely homemade from start to finish?
Homemade wing sauce is the most important component to the best wings of all time. It’s easy to make, but it requires the knowledge and technique to make it truly great. Today we go head to head with the coveted buffalo wild wings and their zing sauce, mango habanero wing sauce, and the parmesan garlic wing sauce.
We've beaten KFC before... and we're going to do it again.... hopefully. This time with the coveted homemade chicken sandwich, with homemade buns.
Flavors like pepperoni pizza and ham and cheese are replicable... but the humble hot pocket is going to get a full remodel. Can we defeat this childhood favorite (is it even a childhood favorite?) and just absolutely slam-dunk these flavors?
Homemade chicken nuggets usually aren't very good. That's why people go to Wendy's to get the spicy nuggets, and as usual, we will be challenging that today.
The blooming onion should have just been a really good onion ring, let's be honest. Nonetheless, we are here to take the title of king blooming onion.
The Doritos locos taco can be much better, and we are gonna do it.
Yes, the famous rolls with a mind-bending homemade cinnamon honey butter. Some say they can't be recreated... we'll see about that.
Not only is this the baked apple pie, but we’re bringing back the fried one, better than it ever could have been.
This has to be the easiest and one of the best homemade candy bars in the game. It'd be a whole lot cooler if you made it yourself.
The real king of burgers has arrived. Homemade Buns, perfect patties with that smokey char. This is the ultimate homemade burger.
Both the cinnamon sugar and the classic salted pretzel is in question here... And we're going to make it completely from scratch with a homemade dough in a home oven.
Can homemade churros be even better than the perfect amusement park snack? Yes, we went all the way to Disneyland for this, and it was amazing.
Joshua Weissman
Himself
