20 lunar new year recipes that feel just as good as ordering takeout

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Ordering takeout for Lunar New Year is tempting, and there’s zero shame in that. But what if you could make dishes at home that are just as good as your go-to restaurant order? These recipes prove you don’t need years of experience to pull off celebration-worthy food.

Two ribs on a tray with sesame seeds and sesame seeds.
Asian Spare Ribs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Mongolian Beef

Closeup of crispy beef in a bowl with green onions and sesame seeds.
Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This air fryer version brings the P.F. Chang’s experience straight to your kitchen with crispy beef pieces tossed in that signature sweet and salty sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s the kind of dish that feels like a restaurant splurge but comes together faster than waiting for delivery.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Beef

Beef and Broccoli

Stir-fried beef and broccoli garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions in a pan.
Beef and Broccoli. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

When you’re craving that classic Panda Express order, this 20-minute copycat hits all the right notes without the drive-through line. The tender beef and crisp broccoli come together in a rich sauce that tastes just like the real thing.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Broccoli

Honey Garlic Chicken

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken on wooden cutting board.
Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

The Instant Pot makes this honey garlic chicken taste like your favorite takeout spot in about 30 minutes. Juicy chicken thighs soak up all that sweet and garlicky flavor while you handle everything else on your to-do list.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Chicken

Kung Pao Shrimp

A plate of stir-fried shrimp and vegetables with cashew nuts served over rice.
Kung Pao Shrimp. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy in under 30 minutes with this air fryer version of the classic dish. It delivers all the flavor you’d expect from your go-to Chinese restaurant but cooks up fast enough for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Shrimp

Homemade Egg Rolls

Egg roll cut in half and dipped into sweet chili sauce.
Homemade Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These air fryer egg rolls give you that perfect crispy shell you’d get from takeout without dealing with a pot of hot oil. The pork and cabbage filling tastes just like restaurant-quality egg rolls but comes together right in your own kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Egg Rolls

Thai Basil Beef

A skillet with cooked ground beef, red bell peppers, green onions, and herb garnishes.
Thai Basil Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This one-skillet recipe captures that authentic restaurant taste in under 30 minutes flat. The fragrant basil and perfectly seasoned beef make it hard to believe you didn’t order this from your favorite Thai place.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Beef

Shrimp Egg Rolls

Egg rolls on a plate with dipping sauce.
Shrimp Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Packed with shrimp and vegetables, these air fryer egg rolls rival anything you’d get from a restaurant appetizer menu. They’re crispy, flavorful, and perfect for snacking or serving at your next gathering.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Egg Rolls

Asian Spare Ribs

Two ribs on a tray with sesame seeds and sesame seeds.
Asian Spare Ribs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These slow cooker ribs soak up aromatic spices and sauces while you go about your day, delivering that fall-off-the-bone texture you’d expect from a great restaurant. The hands-off cooking method makes fancy-tasting ribs totally doable on a regular Tuesday.
Get the Recipe: Asian Spare Ribs

Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken

Eating sweet and sour chicken with chopsticks.
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crispy chicken meets tangy pineapple sauce in this air fryer version that tastes just like the classic Chinese takeout dish. You’ll get that perfect crunchy exterior and juicy interior without ever dialing for delivery.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken

Beijing Beef

Beijing beef in a slow cooker.
Beijing Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This slow cooker version gives you all the flavor of restaurant Beijing beef without the price tag or the wait. It’s a healthier way to get that takeout fix on busy nights when cooking from scratch feels impossible.
Get the Recipe: Beijing Beef

Cream Cheese Wontons

Plate of fried wontons.
Cream Cheese Wontons. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These air fryer wontons come out just as crispy and golden as the ones you’d order at a restaurant. In 20 minutes, you’ll have hot, creamy-centered wontons that taste like they came from a professional kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Wontons

Fried Tofu

Fried tofu on a plate with one bitten into and a bowl of dipping sauce.
Fried Tofu. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These crispy air fryer tofu nuggets deliver that crunchy exterior you’d get from a restaurant in just 15 minutes. They’re proof that vegetarian takeout favorites are totally achievable at home with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Fried Tofu

Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Plate of orange chicken in a metal bowl from the top.
Instant Pot Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Every bite of this Instant Pot version tastes like the famous Panda Express dish you know and love. The pressure cooker makes quick work of getting that restaurant-quality flavor on your table fast.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Honey Sesame Chicken

A dish with fried chicken pieces, yellow bell peppers, and green beans, topped with sesame seeds, in a pan.
Honey Sesame Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

When Panda Express cravings hit, this homemade version delivers tender chicken in a sweet and savory sauce that rivals the original. It’s an easy weeknight meal that feels like a treat without the takeout containers.
Get the Recipe: Honey Sesame Chicken

Crab Rangoon

Crab rangoon in the air fryer basket.
Crab Rangoon. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These air fryer crab rangoon come out perfectly crispy with that creamy, crabby center you’d expect from your favorite Chinese restaurant. They’re way easier to make than you’d think and taste just as good as the ones you’d order.
Get the Recipe: Crab Rangoon

Chicken Chow Mein

Close-up of a bowl of stir-fried noodles topped with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, chicken, carrots, broccoli, and red onion.
Chicken Chow Mein. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Instant Pot version gets savory noodles, tender chicken, and crisp vegetables on your table in 25 minutes with minimal cleanup. It’s the kind of one-pot meal that makes you wonder why you ever waited on delivery.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Chow Mein

Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls – Air Fryer Recipe

Chinese chicken egg rolls on a cutting board.
Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls – Air Fryer Recipe. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These egg rolls stuff that classic sweet and sour chicken flavor inside a crispy wrapper for a fun take on two takeout favorites. The air fryer makes them come out restaurant-quality crispy without the mess of deep frying.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls – Air Fryer Recipe

Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Orange chicken in chopsticks with chicken, rice and orange slices in the background.
Air Fryer Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crispy chicken bites tossed in sweet orange sauce taste just like the Chinese-American classic you’d order out. The air fryer gives you that perfect crunch without standing over a pot of oil.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Spring Rolls

Closeup of crispy spring rolls cooked in air fryer.
Spring Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These air fryer spring rolls come out perfectly crispy and ready to dip in your favorite sauce, just like the appetizer you’d get at a restaurant. They’re quick enough for a weeknight and impressive enough for parties.
Get the Recipe: Spring Rolls

Kung Pao Chicken

Chinese chicken stir fry in a white bowl with chopsticks.
Kung Pao Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This air fryer version of the classic Chinese dish gives you crispy, flavorful chicken that tastes like it came from a restaurant kitchen. It’s a healthier take on the original that doesn’t sacrifice any of that signature bold flavor.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chicken

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