Forget Takeout: 10 Dinners That Are Cheaper to Make at Home

Ten takeout favorites, beaten in your own kitchen. The pizza place, the burger joint, the Chinese spot – same flavors you crave, a quarter of the price, and no waiting for a cold delivery bag. And number eight is the $15 takeout classic you can make in 12 minutes. ⏱ What's cooking tonight: 0:00 – Welcome 0:23 – #1 Philly Cheesesteak 2:09 – #2 Orange Chicken 3:42 – #3 Loaded Beef Burrito 5:04 – #4 Crispy Fish Sandwich 6:14 – #5 Diner-Style Patty Melt 7:33 – #6 Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi 8:52 – #7 Oven-Baked Crispy Wings 10:07 – #8 Beef and Broccoli (12 minutes, I timed it) 11:41 – #9 Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks + Quick Tomato Soup 12:56 – #10 Takeout-Style Fried Rice 14:28 – Which takeout habit are you replacing first? 📋 ALL RECIPES (each one serves 2): #1 PHILLY CHEESESTEAK – Serves 2 1/2 lb beef, sliced paper thin (freeze 20 min first – it slices easier) • 1 onion • provolone or white American cheese • 2 soft hoagie rolls Cook onions till golden, sear the beef fast, chop and mix, top with cheese till melted. Steam the rolls face-down on the pile, then scoop. #2 ORANGE CHICKEN – Serves 2 2 chicken breasts or 4 thighs, cut in pieces • 1 egg • cornstarch for coating • Sauce: 1/2 cup orange juice, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp honey, garlic, 1 tbsp cornstarch in cold water Coat chicken in egg then cornstarch, fry till golden. Simmer the sauce till glossy, toss the chicken back in. Serve over rice. #3 LOADED BEEF BURRITO – Serves 2 1/2 lb ground beef • chili powder, cumin, garlic powder • 2 large flour tortillas • cooked rice • canned refried or black beans • shredded cheese Season the browned beef, build the burritos, roll tight. Toast seam-down in a dry skillet 2 min per side till crisp. #4 CRISPY FISH SANDWICH – Serves 2 2 white fish fillets (cod works great) • flour, 1 egg, breadcrumbs • 2 buns • lettuce • Tartar sauce: 1/2 cup mayo, chopped pickles, squeeze of lemon Bread the fillets, fry 3-4 min per side till golden. Toast the buns, build with tartar and lettuce. #5 DINER-STYLE PATTY MELT – Serves 2 1/2 lb ground beef, shaped into 2 thin oval patties • 1 onion, caramelized in butter • 4 slices rye bread • 4 slices cheese • butter Sear the patties, stack cheese-patty-onions-cheese between bread, butter the outside and grill till golden. #6 GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP SCAMPI – Serves 2 1/2 lb shrimp, peeled • 1/2 lb spaghetti • 3 tbsp butter • 4 cloves garlic • 1/2 lemon • pinch of red pepper flakes Cook shrimp in garlic butter 2 min per side, add a ladle of pasta water, toss in the drained spaghetti. #7 OVEN-BAKED CRISPY WINGS – Serves 2 2 lbs chicken wings, patted completely dry • 1 tbsp baking powder (not soda!) • 1 tsp salt • garlic powder • Sauce: butter + hot sauce, or honey + soy + garlic Toss wings with the baking powder mix, bake on a rack at 425°F for 40-45 min, flipping once. Toss in sauce. #8 BEEF AND BROCCOLI – Serves 2 1/2 lb beef, sliced thin • 1 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tbsp cornstarch for the beef • 1 crown broccoli • Sauce: 1/3 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp sugar, garlic, ginger, 1/2 cup water + 1 tbsp cornstarch Sear the beef fast, steam the broccoli 2 min with a lid, pour in the sauce till glossy, toss it all together. Over rice. 12 minutes total. #9 GARLIC PARMESAN BREADSTICKS + QUICK TOMATO SOUP – Serves 2 1 can refrigerated pizza dough • melted butter + garlic powder • parmesan • Soup: 1 can crushed tomatoes, 1 cup broth, pinch of sugar, Italian seasoning, splash of cream Cut dough into strips, brush, bake at 400°F for 10-12 min. Simmer the soup 10 min, cream at the end. #10 TAKEOUT-STYLE FRIED RICE – Serves 2 2 cups cold day-old rice (that's the secret) • 2 eggs • frozen peas and carrots • any leftover meat, diced • 2-3 tbsp soy sauce • green onions Hot pan, rice flat, let it toast. Scramble the eggs in the corner, add everything else, soy sauce around the edge of the pan. The delivery apps will survive without us. Pick one and make it this week. Then tell me in the comments which takeout habit you're replacing first – I read every single one. 👨‍🍳 Subscribe and pull up a chair – there's a lot more where this came from. #betterthantakeout #easydinnerideas #homemadetakeout #easyrecipes #cheapmeals #budgetcooking #copycatrecipes #dinnerideas #quickdinners #easydinners #friedrice #cheesesteak #homecooking #savemoney