After spending literal thousands on takeout over the years, I finally started making my own, and the results were humbling. Orange chicken, lo mein, pad thai, ramen, shawarma: half my usual rotation takes less time to cook than waiting for the delivery driver. These 27 takeout copycat recipes are now my weeknight regulars.
Chicken Shawarma
This air fryer chicken shawarma brings those bold Middle Eastern flavors you usually pay for at your favorite spot right into your kitchen. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s faster than waiting for delivery and tastes just as good as the real thing.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Shawarma
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
Skip the delivery fees and make this Instant Pot honey garlic chicken instead—it’s one of those recipes that makes you wonder why you ever ordered out. The pressure cooker does all the work, giving you tender chicken with a sticky-sweet glaze in about 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
Beef and Broccoli
You know that Panda Express beef and broccoli you crave on busy nights? This homemade version takes just 20 minutes and costs a fraction of the price. The sauce is spot-on and the beef stays tender, making it a go-to weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Broccoli
Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
This chicken and broccoli stir fry is your answer to those nights when you’re about to open a delivery app. With a glossy garlic-ginger sauce and crisp vegetables, it delivers that restaurant taste in 30 minutes flat.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
Mongolian Beef
P.F. Chang’s Mongolian beef is one of those dishes that seems impossible to recreate at home until you actually try it. This air fryer version gives you crispy beef in a sweet-salty sauce in just 20 minutes, and it tastes incredibly close to the restaurant original.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Beef
Mongolian Meatballs
These Mongolian meatballs give you all that savory-sweet flavor you’d get from your go-to Chinese restaurant. They’re simple to throw together and the sauce has that addictive quality that keeps you coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Meatballs
Beijing Beef
When you’re craving that crispy Beijing beef from your usual takeout spot, this slow cooker version delivers without the hefty price tag. It’s one of those set-it-and-forget-it recipes that gives you restaurant-quality results with almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Beijing Beef
Crock Pot Ramen
Stop ordering ramen for delivery when you can make this Crockpot version that honestly rivals your favorite spot. Just dump everything in before work and come home to a steaming bowl that’s already paid for itself.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ramen
Homemade Egg Rolls
These air fryer egg rolls are why I stopped ordering appetizers with my Chinese food—they’re crispy, packed with pork and cabbage, and way easier than you’d think. No deep fryer needed, and they come out just as crunchy as the restaurant version.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Egg Rolls
Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
This slow cooker pepper steak is one of those recipes that makes takeout feel unnecessary. Tender beef and crisp bell peppers in a rich sauce, all ready when you walk in the door after a long day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
Air Fryer Chicken Satay
You don’t need to hit up a Thai restaurant for great chicken satay when you can make this air fryer version at home. The homemade peanut sauce alone is worth skipping delivery, and the chicken comes out perfectly charred and juicy.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Satay
General Tso’s Chicken
This air fryer General Tso’s chicken is the recipe that finally broke my takeout habit. Crispy chicken in that signature sweet-tangy sauce, ready in 20 minutes and without the grease you get from restaurant versions.
Get the Recipe: General Tso’s Chicken
Tofu Bowl
This tofu poke bowl puts a plant-based spin on the Hawaiian classic you’d normally order out. Fresh vegetables, seasoned tofu, and a creamy peanut sauce inspired by Indonesian satay make it a filling meal that comes together quickly.
Get the Recipe: Tofu Bowl
Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
When you’re craving teriyaki but don’t want to wait 45 minutes for delivery, this air fryer version is your move. The chicken gets crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside, and the homemade sauce is sticky and sweet in all the right ways.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
Slow Cooker Beef Ramen
This slow cooker beef ramen combines birria-style meat with Japanese noodles for a mashup that beats anything you’d order in. The broth develops incredible depth while you’re at work, and all you have to do is add noodles when you get home.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Ramen
Honey Sesame Chicken
This homemade honey sesame chicken tastes just like Panda Express but costs way less. The sauce has that perfect balance of sweet and savory, and you can have it on the table faster than driving to pick up your order.
Get the Recipe: Honey Sesame Chicken
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sweet and sour chicken is one of those Chinese takeout staples that’s surprisingly easy to make at home. This air fryer method gets the chicken super crispy, and the pineapple-packed sauce is bright and tangy just like you remember.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Slow Cooker Egg Roll in a Bowl
This slow cooker egg roll in a bowl gives you all those classic egg roll flavors without the wrapper or the delivery charge. It’s become my go-to for meal prep since it’s low-carb and basically cooks itself.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Egg Roll in a Bowl
Slow Cooker Lo Mein
This Crockpot pork lo mein is what I make when I want that noodle fix but don’t feel like ordering out. The pork gets incredibly tender after cooking all day, and the vegetables stay crisp when you toss everything together at the end.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lo Mein
Fried Tofu
These crispy air fryer tofu nuggets are perfect for when you want something quick and vegetarian but still crave that takeout texture. Season them however you like and they’re ready in 15 minutes—faster than any delivery.
Get the Recipe: Fried Tofu
Shrimp Egg Rolls
These air fryer shrimp egg rolls are what convinced me I didn’t need to order appetizers anymore. They’re packed with shrimp and vegetables, come out perfectly crispy, and work great as either a snack or the main event.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Egg Rolls
Instant Pot Orange Chicken
This Instant Pot orange chicken tastes remarkably close to Panda Express but comes together in your own kitchen. The pressure cooker makes the chicken incredibly tender, and the citrusy sauce has that addictive quality that keeps you going back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Shrimp Pad Thai
Skip the Thai restaurant and make this shrimp Pad Thai at home in 30 minutes using ingredients you can grab at any grocery store. It’s got all that sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor you’re craving without the markup.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Pad Thai
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken
This air fryer honey garlic chicken is sticky, crispy, and ready before your delivery order would even arrive. It’s one of those recipes that makes you realize how much money you’ve been spending on something you can easily make yourself.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken
Chicken Katsu
This air fryer chicken katsu brings that Japanese restaurant favorite to your kitchen without the deep fryer mess. Panko-crusted cutlets come out golden and crispy, and the homemade katsu sauce ties it all together.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Katsu
Kung Pao Shrimp
This air fryer kung pao shrimp is ready in under 30 minutes and delivers all that sweet, savory, and spicy punch you’d get from your usual Chinese spot. It’s one of those recipes that makes takeout feel like a waste of money.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Shrimp
Thai Basil Beef
This Thai basil beef tastes like it came from a restaurant but takes less than 30 minutes in one skillet. The fragrant basil and touch of heat make it a weeknight winner when you’re craving those bold Thai flavors.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Beef
