15 Takeout Recipes That Are Better at Home

By Jennifer A. • Oct 29, 2024

Burgers, pad thai, pasta — oh, my! Save your pennies and make your favorite takeout meals from home! Your kitchen will smell delicious, your wallet won't deplete, and your stomach will be happy with these 15 Favorite Takeout Recipes. Keep those comfy clothes on and get cozy — it's a takeout night!

1. Szechuan Beef

Takeout menus may differ from Chinese restaurant to Chinese restaurant, but one dish remains constant — Szechuan Beef. But you don't need to call up delivery to enjoy the spicy and savory slices of steak paired with stir-fry classics. All you need is a frying pan or wok and a little patience. It's actually fairly simple to get some beautiful char and a sweet tangy sauce on some bright, sweet bell peppers, crunchy carrots, and tender onions, all of which pair beautifully with the steak. Szechuan Beef looks and tastes like the best version of itself, so you may be tempted to just make it yourself from now on!

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2. Asian Cashew Shrimp

Looking to try something new? You're gonna love this Asian Cashew Shrimp! Grab your chopsticks and get ready to dive into these plump, pink shrimp that are tossed with some tender celery and a sweet and tangy sauce you'll want to enjoy every drop of. Served over some fluffy rice and sprinkled with some cashews for a satisfying crunch, we're pretty confident that Asian Cashew Shrimp will impress you enough to make it into your monthly rotation!

3. Best Margherita Pizza

Hold the delivery! Best Margherita Pizza will convince you to never call for takeout again! This homemade pizza dough is the perfect foundation for the zesty tomato sauce, creamy Parmigiano-Reggiano and mozzarella, and the tasty basil that all join in flavorful forces when baked until golden-brown. Smell and taste the difference when you make the Best Margherita Pizza. Mamma mia, it's so good!

4. Amazing Sticky Orange Chicken

Duplication is the absolute best form of flattery (or so we say), and we're here to flatter all those who know great taste. Amazing Sticky Orange Chicken is your guilty-pleasure, copycat-takeout recipe that you can make at home. Simple and so delicious, fresh-from-the-market chicken breasts are cut into generous pieces, fried, then tossed in a sweet-n-spicy citrus sauce for that shame-free freshness you can't get any place else. Forego the fortune cookies, your lucky day begins the minute Amazing Sticky Orange Chicken hits your skillet. Flattery (and amazing taste) will get you everywhere!

5. Chicken Parmesan Burgers

It's time to change up the cookout chicken game with a new twist on an Italian comfort classic! Chicken Parmesan Burgers have the crunchy, cheesy, savory flavor of chicken parmesan, saturated in a bright and mellow tomato sauce, on a toasted hamburger bun. The parmesan is mixed right into the meat, so you'll never be without that sharp, nutty flavor. Chicken Parmesan Burgers only take 35 minutes to make, so you can easily cook them alongside ribs! They'll become a barbecue staple before you know it!

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6. Buttermilk Fried Chicken

What’s better than homemade fried chicken? There are few things in this world, in our opinion. This Buttermilk Fried Chicken is perfectly crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside — just as it should be. In just 45 minutes, you’ll have a fried chicken dinner that rivals your favorite takeout fried chicken! Buttermilk Fried Chicken can be served with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or any other side of your choosing for the ideal Southern comfort meal.

7. Air Fryer French Fries

Time to pull out the air fryer, because these Air Fryer French Fries are to die for! These fries are perfectly golden and crispy, and arrive on the table in less than 20 minutes. You'll never want takeout fries again after you try these deliciously seasoned with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper! Make Air Fryer French Fries and dip them in your favorite sauces for a delicious side dish, or even a yummy snack.

8. Homemade Popcorn Chicken

Sure, takeout popcorn chicken is tasty, but this Homemade Popcorn Chicken is even better! In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy the delicious, crunchy, juicy taste of restaurant-style popcorn chicken without even leaving your kitchen. Dip these yummy bite-sized morsels into your favorite sauces, and enjoy! Homemade Popcorn Chicken is so good, you'll want to make it again and again.

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9. Pull-Apart Pizza Bread

Woo! It's Friday night so that means it's pizza party time! Put down the takeout menu and step into your kitchen. Pull-Apart Pizza Bread is coming to play! No boxed pizza will ever compete with these perfectly fluffy and cheesy bites. Not only are they topped with melty mozzarella and spicy pepperoni, they're FILLED with that, too! And if you're feeling really wild, you can cover them with all your favorite supreme toppings, like crumbly sausage, sweet green peppers, and meaty black olives. Smother with a nice splash of garlic butter, dip in your favorite tangy pizza sauce, and sprinkle with fresh basil and a kick of red pepper flakes, and you've got yourself the perfect popper for any occasion! Pull-Apart Pizza Bread will certainly bring the pizza, the party, and the fun!

10. Smash Burgers

You can never ever have too many burger recipes, so naturally, you need one that doesn't require a grill! Smash Burgers are just that — to ensure that when you're feeling the summertime blues, or you can't make it out to the grill, you can still experience the savory, serotonin-filled flavors! The juicy generously seasoned patty opts to be cooked in a skillet to achieve the brown, crusty goodness you were longing for. Placed on a golden-brown, crispy bun and topped with gooey cheese and all your favorite sweet and savory toppings, Smash Burgers will bring you joy, no matter the season!

11. Stay-Home Thai Peanut Chicken

Go out? Like, go outside? No thanks, we'd much rather stay in. We can bring the restaurant right into our kitchen with Stay-Home Thai Peanut Chicken. The sweet, savory, spicy, nutty, Thai-inspired peanut sauce is just so amazing you'll want to eat it with a spoon. When chicken drumsticks are marinated in that sauce and then brushed with even more while it roasts to perfection... well, you may have trouble finding enough rice to eat it with! Stay-Home Thai Peanut Chicken will have you turning down invites to go out!

12. Make-It-At-Home Bowl

Don't pay high dollar for mediocre food! Skip the lines and enjoy a Make-It-At-Home Bowl instead. Guaranteed freshness, deliciousness, and simplicity every time, this homemade version of a chicken, veggie, and rice bowl really can't be beat. You can truly make it the way you want and don't have to question what's in the food you're eating. Nothing can beat what comes out of your kitchen and this Make-It-At-Home Bowl is the delicious proof!

13. Takeout Fried Rice

We've all had that moment of wanting Takeout Fried Rice, but not wanting to call up delivery and wait as the food inevitably grows cold. Thankfully, Takeout Fried Rice is actually a snap to make at home and tastier than anything your local Chinese restaurant can make! In just 30 minutes, you can have the fluffy rice infused with savory soy sauce and filled with bright red peppers, sweet mandarin oranges, juicy beef, and browned onions that you've been dreaming about! Get your chopsticks ready for a new home-cooked favorite!

14. Best Kung Pao Chicken

You know we have to say it... this is the Best Kung Pao Chicken out there. Like, it's truly better than any takeout you can get anywhere! The juicy chunks of chicken, crunchy peanuts, and fresh celery pieces are soaked in a savory, tangy sauce that tastes so terrific atop a bed of fluffy white rice. Stay in and make the Best Kung Pao Chicken ever! You'll be glad you did!

15. Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme®

Now you can make a fast-food favorite right at home! Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme® brings together seasoned beef, crispy tostada shells, gooey nacho cheese, and fresh toppings, all wrapped up in a warm, golden tortilla. It's the perfect way to enjoy that iconic flavor without leaving the house. Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme is just like the one you crave, but even better when made fresh!