Why keep relying on takeout when you can make the same food at home, skip the wait, and actually get it hot? These recipes bring all the bold, saucy, crispy things you love without the extra cost or mystery ingredients. From sticky sesame chicken to shrimp lo mein that doesn’t come in a plastic container, this list has your cravings covered. They’re fast enough for a weeknight and easy enough to not feel like a project.
Spicy Udon Noodle Stir Fry
This stir fry brings chewy udon noodles together with ground beef and a garlic-ginger sriracha sauce that delivers serious flavor without requiring a single takeout menu. It’s done in under 30 minutes, uses ingredients you can actually find, and hits that same bold, saucy comfort you’d expect from your favorite noodle spot. Great for nights when dinner needs to come together fast but still feel like something worth eating.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Udon Noodle Stir Fry
Shrimp Lo Mein
Juicy shrimp, tender noodles, and crisp vegetables tossed in a salty-sweet sauce make this lo mein a solid backup when takeout sounds good but your wallet says no. It’s ready in about 20 minutes and easy to customize with whatever vegetables you’ve got left in the fridge. Great for a last-minute dinner that feels like something you planned.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Lo Mein
Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Thinly sliced beef cooks fast, and that’s exactly what you need when everyone’s hungry and tired. This dish delivers that classic beef and broccoli flavor with fewer ingredients and less sugar than takeout. The sauce thickens quickly, the beef stays tender, and you can throw it all over rice or noodles. It checks every box for a weeknight dinner that feels complete without being complicated.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
General Tso Shrimp
This one-skillet meal gets the sticky, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce just right. You only need about 10 minutes and a few basic ingredients to pull this together. It tastes like something you’d order, but the shrimp are fresher, the sauce isn’t drowning everything, and you didn’t have to pay for delivery. It’s a great backup plan when dinner needs to be fast but still hit the mark.
Get the Recipe: General Tso Shrimp
Honey Orange Sesame Chicken
Crispy chicken pieces coated in a sticky citrus sauce with just enough sesame to make it feel familiar. This one’s fast, crowd-friendly, and makes great leftovers if you double the batch. You won’t miss the takeout version, and the cleanup is way easier than you’d think. Great when you need something everyone will eat without complaints.
Get the Recipe: Honey Orange Sesame Chicken
Kung Pao Chickpeas
Chickpeas take the lead here instead of chicken, but the sauce stays bold, spicy, and packed with flavor. This is a smart meatless dinner that still hits like takeout and works well over rice or noodles. It cooks fast, uses basic pantry staples, and doesn’t feel like a second-choice vegetarian option. Perfect for a plant-based night that doesn’t disappoint.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chickpeas
Sweet & Sour Tofu
Crispy tofu, bell peppers, and pineapple tossed in that sticky red sauce you always want more of. It’s fast to make, easy to pull off, and hits that sweet spot between comfort and convenience. You’ll save money, skip the greasy takeout version, and still get all the flavor you expect from this classic. Works great as a standalone dinner or with rice on the side.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Sour Tofu
Hot & Sour Egg Drop Soup
This soup combines two of the best takeout staples into one big pot of bold, savory broth with silky eggs and just enough vinegar and spice to keep it interesting. It’s simple to make and surprisingly filling on its own. Great when you want something warm and comforting that still tastes like it came from a restaurant.
Get the Recipe: Hot & Sour Egg Drop Soup
Kung Pao Shrimp
This dinner delivers on the heat, the crunch, and that slightly sweet sauce that coats every bite just right. Shrimp cook in minutes, the sauce comes together in one pan, and you can throw it all over white rice for a fast, complete meal. This one’s great when you want a restaurant-style dinner without doing much more than stirring.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Shrimp
Tofu Fried Rice
This fried rice is a smart way to use up leftovers while still feeling like real dinner. Crispy tofu adds protein, rice soaks up the sauce, and any vegetables you’ve got will work. It’s flexible, quick, and perfect for nights when you need to feed people with what’s already in your fridge. Tastes like takeout, costs way less.
Get the Recipe: Tofu Fried Rice
Wonton Soup
Store-bought wontons simmered in a rich broth with a few add-ins like scallions or bok choy can feel just as comforting as anything you’d get from the corner spot. This is a low-effort, high-reward meal that works on busy nights or when you need something simple and warm. You don’t need a ton of ingredients to make this feel complete.
Get the Recipe: Wonton Soup
Sesame Chicken
This is the crispy, saucy chicken you always think about ordering—only this time you control the sauce and skip the grease. It’s a perfect weeknight recipe that delivers that classic flavor with a short ingredient list. Serve it over rice or eat it straight from the pan while standing in the kitchen. It works either way.
Get the Recipe: Sesame Chicken
Chinese Egg Rolls
Making egg rolls at home is easier than it sounds, and they’re great for using up random veggies and protein. Crisp them up in a pan or the oven and serve them with soy sauce or sweet chili. They’re a perfect side to round out dinner or a fun main when you don’t want a heavy meal.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Egg Rolls
Scallion Pancakes
These crispy pancakes come together with just flour, scallions, and a little oil. They’re chewy, salty, and super snackable. Great as a side dish or for dinner when you’re craving carbs and don’t want to mess with a full meal.
Get the Recipe: Scallion Pancakes
Beef Chow Fun (Beef Ho Fun)
Wide rice noodles, tender beef, and crisp vegetables all tossed in a savory sauce that comes together fast in a hot pan. This dish is great when you’re in the mood for takeout but want to keep it a little lighter and a lot cheaper. Tastes like the real thing with less grease and zero wait time.
Get the Recipe: Beef Chow Fun (Beef Ho Fun)
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
