When dining out, it’s tempting to try a variety of dishes, but some dinner recipes are simply better made at home. Many restaurant versions of these meals can’t capture the freshness and flavor that come from your own kitchen. Here are 19 dinner dishes that you should skip ordering at a restaurant and instead enjoy making them yourself for a truly satisfying meal.
Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread
Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread combines tangy cranberries and citrusy orange zest, baked with poppy seeds for a crunchy texture. This bread typically takes over an hour to bake. It is best made at home to enjoy its moist texture and bursts of fruity flavor freshly out of the oven. Ordering this in a restaurant might not do justice to its fresh, zesty taste.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread
Ultimate Holiday Rice Krispies® Treats
Ultimate Holiday Rice Krispies® Treats are a festive treat made with marshmallows, butter, and Rice Krispies®, often decorated with candies and chocolate. These treats can be made quickly in about 20 minutes. The combination of crunchy cereal and gooey marshmallow is delightful, but these are often overpriced in restaurants. Homemade batches allow for more customization and freshness.
Get the Recipe: Ultimate Holiday Rice Krispies® Treats
Peach Crumble Bars
Peach Crumble Bars feature layers of fresh peaches, sandwiched between buttery crumble topping and base. This dessert takes about 45 minutes to prepare and bake. The bars are sweet and have a satisfyingly flaky texture, which might not be as enjoyable if not served fresh. Making them at home ensures they’re enjoyed at their best.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crumble Bars
White Chocolate Fudge
White Chocolate Fudge is a rich confection made from white chocolate, condensed milk, and often nuts or dried fruit. It takes about 10 minutes to prepare, with several hours needed to set properly in the fridge. Its creamy, sweet taste can be too cloying if not fresh. Restaurants typically charge a premium for this simple treat.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Fudge
Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter
Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter are quick to make, requiring just about 20 minutes from start to finish. The biscuits are fluffy and buttery, paired perfectly with a sweet citrus-infused honey butter. The combination tastes best when freshly made, which is rarely the case in a restaurant setting. Thus, they are best enjoyed homemade.
Get the Recipe: Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter
Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice
Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice is a zesty, one-pot meal featuring chicken, lime juice, and cilantro over rice. It usually takes about 30 minutes to cook. This dish tastes fresh and vibrant when freshly prepared, but in a restaurant, the flavors can become muted over time. Cooking this at home ensures it retains its bright flavors.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice
Mini Apple Pies
Mini Apple Pies are delightful little desserts filled with spiced apple slices encased in flaky pastry. They take about 45 minutes to prepare. The aroma and taste of freshly baked apple pies are hard to match when ordered from a restaurant. Homemade versions also allow for adjusting the sweetness and spices to personal taste.
Get the Recipe: Mini Apple Pies
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe creates rich, moist cookies loaded with chocolate chips. These cookies take around 20 minutes to bake. They are best enjoyed warm and gooey from the oven, a state few restaurants can offer. The homemade batch allows for that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Grandma’s Cornbread
Grandma’s Cornbread is a traditional, simple side dish that takes about 25 minutes to bake. It’s known for its comforting, slightly sweet and crumbly texture. In a restaurant, cornbread can often arrive stale or dry. Homemade ensures it is enjoyed at its peak freshness and ideal moisture.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Cornbread
Pineapple Ice Cream Cakes
Pineapple Ice Cream Cakes are a summery dessert made from layers of pineapple and ice cream on a crunchy base. They require several hours to freeze properly. The freshness and creamy texture of homemade ice cream cake can rarely be matched by restaurants. Plus, they often come with a high markup when dining out.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Ice Cream Cakes
Lamb Shepherd’s Pie
Lamb Shepherd’s Pie is a hearty dish made from a layer of cooked lamb covered with mashed potatoes and baked. It takes about an hour to prepare. The flavors of rosemary, thyme, and lamb meld better when freshly baked, which restaurants can’t always guarantee. This pie tastes richer and more cohesive when made at home.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Shepherd’s Pie
English Muffin Bread
English Muffin Bread is designed to mimic the nooks and crannies of English muffins, baked into a loaf that takes about 35 minutes to bake. This bread is delightful when fresh, offering a crispy exterior and soft, airy interior. Restaurants often serve it well after it has been baked, losing some of its best textures. Homemade allows for serving it right from the oven.
Get the Recipe: English Muffin Bread
Beer Cheese Dip with Bacon
Beer Cheese Dip with Bacon combines sharp cheese, beer, and pieces of crispy bacon. This dip is typically prepared in about 30 minutes. While delicious, the warm, creamy texture of this dip deteriorates quickly, making it less appealing in a restaurant. It’s best enjoyed freshly made at home for peak flavor.
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Dip with Bacon
Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet
Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet is a savory dish cooked with chicken, cream, and balsamic vinegar, usually completed in under 30 minutes. This skillet meal tastes creamy and rich with a tangy finish. However, the delicate balance of flavors can be lost if not served immediately, which is often the case in restaurants. Homemade cooking controls the quality and freshness.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake consists of sweet biscuits, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. It typically requires about 30 minutes to prepare. The juicy freshness of the strawberries and the softness of the biscuits are best experienced when freshly assembled. Restaurants often pre-make these, which compromises texture and flavor.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
Apple Bacon Beer Bread
Apple Bacon Beer Bread is a savory, dense bread made with apples, bacon, and beer. It takes about an hour to bake. The unique combination of savory and sweet flavors melds perfectly when served hot from the oven, which is a rarity in restaurants. It’s best baked at home for optimal enjoyment.
Get the Recipe: Apple Bacon Beer Bread
Easy Pavlova Recipe
Easy Pavlova Recipe features a meringue base topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, requiring several hours to prepare and set. The crisp exterior and marshmallowy interior are sublime when freshly assembled. Restaurants often struggle to keep it from becoming soggy. It’s best served immediately after assembly, which is more feasible at home.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pavlova Recipe
Banana Bread Muffins
Banana Bread Muffins are a moist, flavorful option for a quick snack or breakfast, taking about 25 minutes to bake. These muffins are best enjoyed warm with the banana flavor being most potent soon after baking. When ordered at a restaurant, they might not be as fresh, affecting the overall taste and texture. It’s preferable to bake them at home.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread Muffins
Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust
Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust have a zesty lemon filling on a buttery shortbread base, taking about 50 minutes to prepare. The sharp, refreshing taste of lemon pairs wonderfully with the crumbly crust. These bars lose their appealing contrast in texture if not enjoyed fresh, which is a challenge for restaurants. Homemade bars ensure perfect texture and taste.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust