15 Takeout Recipes You Can Easily Make at Home
They're fast, fun, and just as delicious!
No doubt, one of the best conveniences in our modern day is takeout. You pick up the phone or click open an app, scroll through a vast selection, and miraculously dinner gets delivered to your door. But here's the thing: Ordering takeout can really eat through your budget. And while it's convenient, it's not particularly healthy if you don't know how it's prepared. Plus, you still have to wait for it. No driver is that fast!
The good news is there are plenty of your favorite takeout recipes you can make at home. They're easy weeknight dinners that with a tiny bit of effort can taste even better than takeout. Plus, many use affordable pantry ingredients to save on your food bills. Not to mention, most of them are 30-minute meals or less so they are even faster than takeout... and of course, just as delicious!
While many find burger recipes approachable, they might be intimidated by noodle bowls or rice bowls or making pizza at home, for example. But this list is here to show you otherwise with easy-to-follow recipes that will knock your socks off with flavor, like stir-fry recipes and even snackable treats like potstickers. So put down that phone, pick up that skillet, and get ready to make restaurant-style meals that are way better than takeout―no tip necessary.
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ree's version of this Chinese-American classic uses pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and sriracha to mimic the restaurant-style sauce. Just grab a package of chicken thighs and get cooking!
Get Ree's Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe.
Crab Rangoon
With a golden, crispy exterior and creamy, dreamy filling, this snack is a crowdpleaser. Use economical imitation crab meat and store-bought wonton wrappers. Then you can either deep fry or air fry them!
Get the Crab Rangoon recipe.
Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza
While you can make pizza dough or buy it in the frozen section, you can also use puff pastry. It's much easier to roll out and assemble, so you can have homemade pizza in about 40 minutes.
Get Ree's Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza recipe.
Pepper Steak
Like any classic stir-fry, pepper steak consists of meat cooked hot and fast, accompanied with tenderly cooked vegetables, and a sweet-and-savory sauce that's mostly made of bottled soy sauce and chicken broth.
Get the Pepper Steak recipe.
Chipotle Carne Asada Tacos
Hello, Taco Tuesday at home! There are plenty of easy taco recipes to choose from, but these feel particularly special. The not-so-secret ingredient is a can of chipotle peppers from the store.
Get Ree's Chipotle Carne Asada Tacos recipe.
Lo Mein
Ever wonder how they get that flavorful sauce? All you need is soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine vinegar, honey, and sesame oil. This recipe has chicken but you can use shrimp, too.
Get the Lo Mein recipe.
Chicken Teriyaki
Ready for this? You can make teriyaki sauce from scratch. Skip the bottled kind and still have this on the table in just 30 minutes. Just blanch or steam some broccoli on the side and dinner is served.
Get the Chicken Teriyaki recipe.
Mini Calzones
Another way to skip pizza dough is to use frozen dinner rolls instead. Then fill them with a delicious three-cheese mixture and Italian sausage, fold, and bake. Serve them with marinara sauce (the jarred kind is totally fine).
Get the Mini Calzones recipe.
Pork Fried Rice
One of the best ways to use leftover rice is making flavorful fried rice and make it a full meal. Even better? It uses frozen vegetables so there's practically no prep. Just throw it all in a pan.
Get Ree's Pork Fried Rice recipe.
Pot Stickers
Using store-bought dumpling wrappers and a simple stir-together filling, you can have a homemade pot stickers. These do take a bit more time to assemble than other dishes on this list, but they are worth the effort.
Get the Pot Stickers recipe.
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Filled with pork, ginger, garlic, slaw mix, and an easy sauce, get all the flavors of an egg roll in just 15 minutes! Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds and crispy wonton strips for a little added texture.
Get Ree's Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe.
Coconut Shrimp Curry
A can of coconut milk and some curry powder is all you really need to transform shrimp and rice into an amazing meal. Don't stress about the kind of curry powder you have either―Ree says it'll work.
Get Ree's Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe.
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Set it in the morning and forget about it until dinner, then come home to the same flavors as takeout. It's less effort than scrolling through an app! Or you can make it when you get home, too.
Get the Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli recipe.
Air-Fryer Taquitos
While most restaurant beef taquitos are deep fried, you can skip the complicated oil and just use your air fryer. They are healthier that way, too. It's a great way to use leftover pot roast or brisket.
Get the Air-Fryer Taquitos recipe.
Cashew Chicken
This is one of Ree's favorite comfort foods. "I could eat it weekly for the rest of my life and never get tired of it," she says. You can also make a spicy shrimp version.
Get Ree's Cashew Chicken recipe.
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