Skip the Takeout—These 19 Copycat Recipes Are Almost Too Good to Be True

Photo of author

| Published:

Ordering takeout is easy, but these recipes make skipping it even easier. From crispy fried chicken to saucy noodles, these homemade versions deliver all the bold flavors you expect without the wait. They’re simple, quick, and so good, you might start wondering why you ever paid for delivery. Whether it’s a weeknight craving or a weekend treat, these dishes prove that making your favorites at home is worth it. No takeout box required.

A white plate with chicken and rice on it.
Chicken Egg Foo Young. Photo credit: Eggs All Ways.

Pork Fried Rice

Pork fried rice in a blue and white striped bowl.
Pork Fried Rice. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Pork Fried Rice turns leftovers into a takeout-worthy meal in no time. Leftover Char Siu or any flavorful pork gets tossed with rice, eggs, and vegetables in a savory soy-based sauce. The best part? It comes together in minutes with ingredients you probably already have. Skip the delivery fee and make this at home instead.
Get the Recipe: Pork Fried Rice

Chicken Enchiladas

Low angle shot of chicken enchiladas on a plate with salad.
Chicken Enchiladas. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Chicken Enchiladas bring all the bold, saucy flavor of your favorite Mexican restaurant straight to your kitchen. Corn tortillas are stuffed with shredded chicken, then smothered in homemade red chile sauce and cheese. A quick bake in the oven melts everything together into a rich, comforting dish. You won’t miss takeout once you see how simple these are to make.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas

Hoisin Beef

A white bowl with rice and hoisin ground beef and chopsticks on the side.
Hoisin Beef. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Hoisin Beef brings a balance of sweet and savory that makes takeout lovers rethink their usual order. Tender beef gets a quick sear before being coated in a thick, umami-packed hoisin sauce. Serve it over rice or noodles for an easy meal that tastes like it came straight from your favorite spot. This one is a weeknight staple that delivers on flavor without the wait.
Get the Recipe: Hoisin Beef

Chicken 65

Overhead shot of a plate of chicken 65.
Chicken 65. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Chicken 65 delivers the crispy, fiery bite of South Indian fried chicken without a complicated process. Marinated in a bold mix of spices, ginger, garlic, and curry leaves, the chicken fries up with a deep, flavorful crust. Every bite has the perfect amount of crunch and heat. Once you make this at home, you’ll never need to order it out again.
Get the Recipe: Chicken 65

Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Fried chicken pieces in orange sauce garnished with sesame seeds in a black bowl with chopsticks and a green and white napkin.
Air Fryer Orange Chicken. Photo credit: all Ways Delicious.

Air Fryer Orange Chicken gives you the crispy, saucy favorite without the grease or guilt. Bite-sized chicken pieces cook up crunchy in the air fryer before being tossed in a sticky, citrusy sauce. It’s just as sweet, tangy, and addictive as the takeout version—but way easier to make at home. One batch, and you won’t go back to waiting for delivery.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Chicken Egg Foo Young

Chicken egg foo young on top of rice on a white plate.
Chicken Egg Foo Young. Photo credit: Eggs All Ways.

Chicken Egg Foo Young turns simple ingredients into a quick, satisfying meal. Eggs, vegetables, and juicy chicken come together in a golden, pan-fried omelet-style dish. A drizzle of savory brown sauce ties everything together, making it just as good—if not better—than your usual takeout order. This is the kind of meal that works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Foo Young

Beef Birria

low angle shot of shredded beef in a bowl with a fork.
Beef Birria. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Beef Birria is the kind of slow-cooked dish that makes you forget about ordering out. Tender, shredded beef simmers in a spiced, deeply flavored broth until it’s rich enough to stand on its own. Serve it in tacos, bowls, or alongside a cup of broth for dipping. Once you taste it, waiting for takeout won’t seem worth it anymore.
Get the Recipe: Beef Birria

Instant Pot Chicken Korma

Low angle shot of bowls of chicken korma.
Instant Pot Chicken Korma. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Instant Pot Chicken Korma gives you the creamy, spiced comfort of a classic curry in a fraction of the time. Tender chicken simmers in a rich, nutty sauce with warm spices and just the right amount of heat. Thanks to the Instant Pot, all the deep flavors develop fast, making this an easy alternative to ordering out. It’s proof that homemade can be just as convenient as takeout.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Korma

Chicken Curry Laksa

Laksa in a white bowl.
Chicken Curry Laksa. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Chicken Curry Laksa is the kind of bold, brothy soup that usually takes hours to make—but not this time. Coconut milk, curry paste, and chicken create a deep, rich base that coats every strand of noodle. The layers of flavor build fast, giving you a restaurant-quality dish without the wait. Once you try it, you’ll be making this instead of dialing for delivery.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Curry Laksa

Ramen Fried Chicken

Hand reaching into a bowl of ramen fried chicken pieces.
Ramen Fried Chicken. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Ramen Fried Chicken is what happens when crispy meets extra crispy. Chicken gets coated in a batter loaded with crushed ramen noodles, creating a next-level crunch. It’s double-fried for the perfect texture, just like your favorite Korean fried chicken spot. The difference? You can skip the takeout line and make it at home.
Get the Recipe: Ramen Fried Chicken

Air Fryer Fish Tacos

Fish tacos on a small baking sheet with limes.
Air Fryer Fish Tacos. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Air Fryer Fish Tacos bring the crispy, fresh taste of fish tacos to your kitchen with minimal effort. Lightly breaded fish fillets cook up golden in the air fryer, no deep fryer needed. Topped with slaw and a squeeze of lime, they deliver all the flavor without the greasy cleanup. These tacos make skipping takeout an easy choice.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fish Tacos

Gochujang Noodles with Bacon and Eggs

A person uses chopsticks to lift a portion of Gochujang noodles with crispy bacon and two sunny-side-up eggs from a skillet.
Gochujang Noodles with Bacon and Eggs. Photo credit: Eggs All Ways.

Gochujang Noodles with Bacon and Eggs bring smoky, spicy, and savory flavors together in a way that beats delivery. Thick noodles get tossed in a rich, gochujang-based sauce before getting topped with crispy bacon and a runny egg. It’s fast, bold, and exactly what you need when takeout sounds tempting but effort sounds exhausting.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Noodles with Bacon and Eggs

Quesabirria Tacos

Overhead shot of quesabirria tacos with lime wedges.
Quesabirria Tacos. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Quesabirria Tacos give you slow-cooked beef, melted cheese, and crispy tortillas—all without the wait for takeout. The tortillas soak up rich consommé before hitting the griddle for that signature crispy bite. Dip them into extra broth for the full experience. These are the kind of tacos that make restaurant versions seem unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Quesabirria Tacos

Sopa de Camarones

A bowl of shrimp soup.
Sopa de Camarones. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Sopa de Camarones makes a case for skipping the soup section of your favorite Mexican spot. Plump shrimp, dried chiles, and fresh aromatics build a deep, rich broth in no time. The result is a light but flavorful soup that’s perfect with warm tortillas on the side. It’s homemade comfort without the delivery wait.
Get the Recipe: Sopa de Camarones

Singapore Noodles

Rice noodles with meat and veggies on a white plate.
Singapore Noodles. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Singapore Noodles bring the takeout classic straight to your kitchen. Curry powder gives the thin rice noodles their signature color and flavor, while shrimp, char siu, and veggies round out the dish. A quick stir-fry pulls everything together in under 30 minutes. Once you see how simple it is to make at home, ordering out won’t feel necessary.
Get the Recipe: Singapore Noodles

Spicy Ma Po Tofu with Ground Pork

A bowl of rice topped with stir-fried tofu cubes and minced vegetables, garnished with green onions. Chopsticks rest on top.
Spicy Ma Po Tofu with Ground Pork. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Ma Po Tofu with Ground Pork brings bold, Sichuan heat to the table in the best way. Silky tofu and seasoned pork get tossed in a fiery sauce loaded with chili bean paste and Sichuan peppercorns. Serve it over rice for a dish that’s just as comforting as takeout but twice as easy to make. This one belongs in your regular rotation.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Ma Po Tofu with Ground Pork

Sesame Noodles

Sesame noodles on a black plate.
Sesame Noodles. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Sesame Noodles give you the nutty, garlicky, savory sauce you expect from takeout, but without the wait. Thick wheat noodles get tossed in a rich blend of sesame paste, sesame oil, and soy sauce, finished with tender ground pork. It’s fast, easy, and just as satisfying as calling in an order. One batch, and you’ll never look back.
Get the Recipe: Sesame Noodles

Spicy Miso Ramen

A bowl of ramen with karaage chicken.
Spicy Miso Ramen. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Spicy Miso Ramen is proof that you don’t need to wait for takeout to get a great bowl of noodles. A miso-rich broth, crispy fried chicken, and a perfectly jammy egg come together in a way that feels like restaurant quality. The best part? You can make it in less time than it takes for delivery to arrive.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Miso Ramen

Chicken Hot and Sour Soup

Two bowls of hot and sour soup.
Chicken Hot and Sour Soup. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Chicken Hot and Sour Soup builds big flavor in just one pot. A tangy, spicy broth gets filled with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, shredded chicken, and silky ribbons of egg. It’s the perfect balance of heat and richness without the takeout price tag. Once you make it yourself, you won’t go back to the restaurant version.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Hot and Sour Soup

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.