Ditch the takeout with 19 recipes that beat restaurant food

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Ready to ditch the takeout? These 19 recipes are easy to prepare and rival the quality of restaurant food. Including various meals ranging from chicken and beef to seafood and soup, this collection is all about making your kitchen the best place to eat. Say goodbye to ordering in and enjoy these straightforward and memorable recipes.

Creamy Tuscan chicken in a skillet.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Chicken with creamy mushroom sauce in a pan.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce combines seared chicken with a cream-based mushroom sauce. The dish is cooked entirely in one skillet, making for an easy cleanup. With a 30-minute cooking time, it rivals restaurant offerings both in terms of flavor and efficiency.
Get the recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon

Roasted cubed butternut squash and spinach with sour cream.
Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon recipe combines butternut squash with cauliflower and crispy bacon. The ingredients are baked to achieve a crisp, aromatic texture. This dish offers a rich complexity of flavors you usually find at a restaurant but from the comfort of your home.
Get the recipe: Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Chicken with spinach and cream sauce in a skillet.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Tuscan Chicken centers around chicken cooked in a sauce made from heavy cream and Italian herbs. This one-pan dish means less time spent cleaning up. Ready in 40 minutes, it rivals the complexity and richness of a restaurant meal.
Get the recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Tuscan garlic shrimp and spinach with tomatoes in a pan.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach dish includes shrimp with garlic, grape tomatoes, and spinach. This recipe is ready in about 30 minutes, a time frame that restaurants can rarely beat. The ease of preparation makes it an excellent choice for quick yet upscale home dining.
Get the recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Bacon Asparagus Pasta

Bowl of creamy bacon asparagus pasta with a fork.
Bacon Asparagus Pasta. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Bacon Asparagus Pasta features pasta tossed with asparagus and bacon. Ingredients are first boiled and then sautéed to perfection. This simple dish offers a restaurant-level meal in only half an hour.
Get the recipe: Bacon Asparagus Pasta

Lemon Garlic Scallops

Scallops with parsley and garlic in a skillet.
Lemon Garlic Scallops. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

In this Lemon Garlic Scallops recipe, scallops are pan-seared with lemon and garlic. The quick 30-minute cooking time and straightforward preparation make this an ideal alternative to a restaurant seafood dish.
Get the recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops

Keto Zuppa Toscana

A bowl of keto zuppa Toscana with a spoon in it.
Keto Zuppa Toscana. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

This Keto Zuppa Toscana is a flavorful soup made with sausage, kale, and potatoes. Prepared in 1 hour, this dish offers a home-cooked alternative to the famous Olive Garden version but with the same impressive and delicious flavors.
Get the recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

A skillet of creamy sun dried tomato chicken with a wooden spoon.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken involves chicken thighs cooked in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. The entire recipe is executed in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. This dish captures a restaurant-quality experience in your own kitchen.
Get the recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

A serving of Philly cheese steak casserole being pulled up from a pan.
Philly Cheese Steak Casserole. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

This Philly Cheese Steak Casserole is a creative take on the classic sandwich, using sirloin steak, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Oven-baked to perfection, this recipe provides an inventive dining experience that outshines many restaurant offerings.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

Creamy Garlic Chicken

A white skillet of creamy garlic chicken garnished with herbs.
Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Garlic Chicken incorporates chicken breasts cooked in a smooth garlic cream sauce. With a total time of 30 minutes and just one pan, this dish is a solid alternative to eating out and won’t disappoint.
Get the recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Bowl of instant pot butter chicken atop cauliflower rice in a bowl.
Instant Pot Butter Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced,

This Instant Pot Butter Chicken showcases marinated chicken thighs cooked in a rich tomato-based sauce. Requiring an Instant Pot and 40 minutes of your time, this dish offers a faster, yet equally flavorful, alternative to restaurant Indian cuisine.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Creamy Italian sausage soup in a pot with a spoon and garnishes on the side.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is a one-pot dish featuring Italian sausage, canned tomatoes, and cream. With a cooking time of just 30 minutes, it beats waiting at a restaurant and delivers a home-cooked meal that’s rich in flavor.
Get the recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Spinach Chicken Bake

Creamy spinach chicken bake in a glass baking dish.
Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Spinach Chicken Bake is a quick meal featuring chicken baked with spinach and a creamy sauce. The recipe is straightforward and only requires 30 minutes — the convenience and flavors easily rival restaurant meals.
Get the recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake

Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Creamy ground beef skillet with cauliflower rice garnished with fresh herbs with a fork.
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice includes ground beef cooked with cauliflower rice and mushrooms. The recipe is made in one pan and is ready in 30 minutes, offering a quick, restaurant-level dining experience at home.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Coconut curry Thai turkey meatballs on top of cauliflower rice in a bowl.
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

These Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs are made from ground turkey and are cooked in a coconut curry sauce. The sauce incorporates coconut aminos, coconut milk, and both curry powder and red curry paste. The recipe has a cooking time of 30 minutes, making it a quick and satisfying option that delivers flavors akin to what you might find at a Thai restaurant.
Get the recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup

Easy keto cauliflower cheddar cheese bacon soup in a pot with a spoon.
Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup has cauliflower and cheddar cheese forming the base, with bacon as a garnish. The dish is stovetop-cooked and ready in 30 minutes, making it an excellent restaurant alternative.
Get the recipe: Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup

Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Chicken thighs in cream sauce with artichoke hearts in a pan with a spoon.
Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts centers on chicken thighs cooked with a cream sauce and artichoke hearts. The recipe only requires one pan, delivering flavors that easily rival any restaurant dish.
Get the recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms

Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms replaces traditional rice with cauliflower and incorporates a mushroom sauce. With a cooking time of about 30 minutes, it’s a restaurant-quality dish you can easily make at home.
Get the recipe: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms

Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

Instant pot chicken adobo in a bowl atop cauliflower rice.
Instant Pot Chicken Adobo. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Instant Pot Chicken Adobo is a Filipino-inspired dish using chicken, vinegar, and soy sauce. Requiring an Instant Pot and 40 minutes of cooking, it provides a quick yet authentic dining experience that outperforms many restaurant offerings.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

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