Recipes for 25 Takeout Favorites: No Delivery Necessary!

Ever thought about trying to replicate your favorite takeout recipe at home? You can! We've got recipes for everything from chicken fried rice to Chicago-style pizza for you to try.

By
Carrie Havranek
Carrie Havranek
Carrie has 10+ years experience as a food writer, editor, and recipe developer. She is the author of Tasting Pennsylvania and a contributor to Simply Recipes since 2017.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 26, 2022
Take Out Favorites at Home

The allure of ordering your favorite takeout meal on a crazy weeknight can be almost impossible to resist, whether it’s Indian, Chinese, Thai, sandwiches or the perennial favorite—pizza. It can feel like a necessary indulgence when life gets ahead of you.

However, sometimes it can be fun to cook your own takeout menu favorites at home!

These ten recipes will get you cooking something that’s arguably better tasting and better for you than what you'll find on your average takeout menu. Plus, you can tailor the ingredients and spice level to your preference, which is a bonus.

What takeout favorites would you like to make at home?

  • Chicken Fried Rice

    Chicken Fried Rice
    Lisa Lin

    If you’ve got leftover rice, some chicken in the fridge or freezer, and a few veggies to use up, then you have the makings of this chicken fried rice.

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  • Homemade Pizza

    Homemade Pizza
    Elise Bauer

    Sometimes, only pizza will do. This recipe makes two balls of dough – make two pizzas tonight or freeze one of the balls of dough for next time. Top your pizzas to your heart’s delight.

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  • Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

    Nashville hot chicken sandwich with pickles and served on a plate.
    Irvin Lin

    Who has the best spicy breaded chicken sandwich? You do! No need to sit in a drive-thru trying to get your hands on the latest popular sandwich. You can make this crispy, spicy, hot, and just a little bit sweet sandwich at home.

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  • Chicken Tikka Masala

    Easy chicken tikka masala served over basmati rice in bowl
    Lisa Lin

    Raid your spice cabinet and make this delicious and very do-able Chicken Tikka Masala. Just marinate the chicken in the morning and cook it up when you get home later.

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    Continue to 5 of 25 below.

  • Shrimp Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

    Shrimp Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
    Lisa Lin

    These Vietnamese spring rolls in chewy rice wrappers are fresh and loaded with veggies and herbs. The peanut sauce comes together with a quick whisking.

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  • Italian Sub Sandwich

    Side view of an italian sandwich on a platter that is cut into slices. Meat, cheese and toppings are layered on the sandwich.
    Nick Evans

    Submarine sandwich. Hoagie. Whatever you call it, this is the way to make it at home in a BIG way. Meats, cheese, and veggies fill a sliced loaf of Italian bread. Cut it into pieces to feed a crowd at a picnic or while watching the big game.

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  • Pressure Cooker Saag Tofu (Indian Spinach and Tofu)

    Pressure Cooker Saag Tofu
    Coco Morante

    This vegan version of an Indian takeout classic uses tofu instead of paneer. It's ready in a flash thanks to the pressure cooker.

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  • Air Fryer Onion Rings

    Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings stacked on a plate with a dipping sauce.
    Nick Evans

    Spray the breaded onion rings with a little oil before air frying them and you'll have crisp, savory onion rings that will beat any version you get on the side of a takeout burger.

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    Continue to 9 of 25 below.

  • Smashburger

    Close up view of a homemade smashburger.
    Nick Evans

    The fat content of ground chuck helps the beef patty caramelize as it cooks. You end up with a burger that's tastier than a fast-food burger that you can top with fresh toppings and a classic burger sauce.

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  • Firecracker Chicken

    Firecracker chicken recipe
    Nick Evans

    This chicken would have to be spicy with the word firecracker in the title, right? Right. Buffalo sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar come together to make the feisty sauce.

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  • How To Make Cold Brew Coffee

    Easy cold brew with milk in a tall glass

    Iced coffee is refreshing on a hot day, but sometimes the expense of taking it out from the coffee house is prohibitive. With this method, you'll have iced coffee in your fridge that's never watery or bitter and always ready to cool you down.

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  • Spinach & Artichoke Sheet Pan Pizza

    Spinach-Artichoke Sheet Pan Pizza
    Coco Morante

    Pressing a pre-made dough into a sheet pan considerably speeds up the process of pizza making. Spinach, artichokes, and mozzarella make a delicious vegetarian topping.

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    Continue to 13 of 25 below.

  • Salmon Avocado Poke Bowl

    Salmon Poke Bowl with avocado
    Lisa Lin

    A popular Hawaiian dish, this recipe consists of diced fresh salmon along with radishes and avocado, served over rice. Ready in less than 30 minutes.

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  • Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)

    Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)
    Marta Rivera

    Start with soft, slightly sweet Cuban bread and fill it with seasoned pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, and sliced dill pickles. Serve with a side of chips and you'll have a sandwich as good as you can get from an authentic food truck with a long line.

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  • Ginger Beef Stir Fry

    Stir Fry Ginger Beef
    Elise Bauer

    You might never go back to takeout after trying this recipe. Using sirloin steak and fresh vegetables makes all the difference. Serve with rice.

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  • Quick Green Curry Chicken with Zucchini Noodles

    Quick Green Curry Chicken with Zucchini Noodles
    Lisa Lin

    For this Thai dish, pre-made green curry shortens the process, and zucchini noodles keep it veggie-forward—although you can use rice noodles if you prefer.

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    Continue to 17 of 25 below.

  • Buttermilk Fried Chicken

    Side view of fried chicken breast stacked on a platter.
    Alison Bickel

    Takeout fried chicken can be soggy by the time you get it home, but this fried chicken will always be crispy because it goes straight from the frying oil onto your plate. Plan ahead, though, because the chicken needs to marinate for at least 8 hours.

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  • Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken for Tacos

    Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat
    Elise Bauer

    If you want a simple Taco Tuesday, throw boneless, skinless chicken thighs rubbed in a mix of spices in the slow cooker with the secret ingredient—pineapple juice. Shred, pile on tortillas, add toppings, and dinner is ready.

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  • Vegan Burger

    Three patties in a grill pan to show tips to make a great veggie burger.

    This egg-free veggie burger is full of beans, veggies, nuts, and grains. You can use aquafaba, silken tofu, flax egg, or even water to bind the ingredients together. The result is a vegan burger with enough flavor and texture to rival a meat burger.

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  • BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowl

    BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowl
    Lisa Lin

    It's fun to pick and choose what you want to add to a burrito bowl at a takeout restaurant, but it's just as fun at home. Rice, corn, black beans, pico de gallo, cheese—all your favorite toppings join BBQ chicken in this fresh and healthy bowl.

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    Continue to 21 of 25 below.

  • Air Fryer Crab Rangoon

    crispy air fryer crab rangoon
    Nick Evans

    Crab and cream cheese fill wontons fry to a crisp in the air fryer. They're one of the first things to disappear when you bring Chinese takeout home, and everyone always wishes there were more. By making them at home, you can have all you want.

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  • Indian Butter Chicken

    Indian Butter Chicken
    Prerna Singh

    A butter-rich sauce laced with tomato and a special spice blend sauce drenches chicken pieces. Cashews and almonds add a subtle sweetness. It's sure to be a regular not-takeout item once you make it yourself.

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  • Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza With Italian Sausage

    Homemade Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
    Sally Vargas

    In Chicago, pizza is substantial—layered with mozzarella, meat and veggie fillings, and thick and chunky tomato sauce. You can recreate this deep-dish pie with a buttery crust at home. Our version has Italian sausage, but you can add whatever fillings you choose.

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  • Egg Rolls

    A dark plate with stacked vegetable egg rolls and dipping sauce

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Vegetarian egg rolls, filled with crispy carrots, celery, and cabbage plus flavorful shiitake mushrooms fry to a crisp. Serve with your choice of dipping sauce.

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    Continue to 25 of 25 below.

  • Copycat Shamrock Shake

    McDonald’s Shamrock Shake with green sprinkles.
    Elana Lepkowski

    You don't have to wait until St. Patrick's Day to enjoy this minty shake. Make it at home with vanilla ice cream, mint extract, whole milk, and green food dye any time you want.

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