Staying home does not mean dinner has to feel like the same thing you make every week. These 17 recipes bring home versions of takeout staples, fast-casual sides, burgers, wings, curry, noodles, seafood, and even a bakery-style cookie. Some come together in less than 30 minutes, while a few are worth giving more time when the craving hits. The hardest part may be deciding which restaurant mood you are in first.
Salmon Croquettes
Golden crusts with tender salmon centers give Salmon Croquettes the kind of plate you could easily expect from a seafood spot. Fresh salmon mixes with panko, bell peppers, cilantro, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and egg before chilling and pan-frying. The recipe makes six servings in 40 minutes. Serve them warm with tartar sauce, lemon aioli, or spicy mayo, plus a salad or potatoes if you want to make them a full dinner.
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Sweet Orange Chicken
Crispy pieces coated in a glossy citrus sauce make Sweet Orange Chicken a strong answer when Chinese takeout sounds tempting. Chicken gets a crisp coating before being tossed with fresh orange juice, orange zest, honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar. The recipe takes about 40 minutes. Add steamed rice and broccoli, or spoon it over fried rice when you want the takeout-style plate without making a delivery order.
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Panda Express Chow Mein
Glossy noodles tangled with cabbage, celery, and onion give Panda Express Chow Mein the familiar texture of a fast-food Chinese side without the trip through the pickup line. Chow mein noodles cook with garlic, vegetables, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, broth, and a little sugar. The recipe serves four in 25 minutes. Pair it with chicken, beef, or shrimp, or make a larger bowl when noodles are what you really wanted anyway.
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Chicken Fried Rice
Savory rice dotted with chicken, vegetables, and egg makes Chicken Fried Rice useful as either a full dinner or the base for a bigger homemade takeout spread. Chicken breast cooks with sesame oil, garlic, ginger, peas, carrots, bell pepper, green onions, eggs, cooked rice, and soy sauce. The recipe serves four in 35 minutes. It reheats well, so extra portions can handle lunch or another quick meal later.
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Wingstop Louisiana Rub
Smoky spice with a little heat makes Wingstop Louisiana Rub an easy way to give homemade wings the flavor direction of a restaurant order. Smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne, cumin, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt make the seasoning in five minutes. Toss it with freshly cooked wings while they are still hot, then add celery and your usual dipping sauce for an at-home wing night.
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Cheese Quesadilla
Crisp tortillas around a thick layer of melted cheese make Cheese Quesadilla useful when a restaurant-style lunch needs almost no planning. Flour tortillas, butter, and shredded mozzarella are all you need for the basic version. The recipe makes two servings in nine minutes. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, beans, or Mexican rice when you want to turn three simple ingredients into a fuller plate.
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Korean Burgers
Juicy beef with garlic, ginger, soy, and a spicy sauce gives Korean Burgers a different direction from the usual backyard burger. Ground beef patties are seasoned before being served on sesame seed buns with scallions and a sauce made from honey barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, and chili garlic sauce. The recipe makes three servings in 20 minutes. Add fries, slaw, or cucumber salad and you have burger-night flavors without heading to a restaurant.
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Chipotle Grilled Chicken
Smoky heat and lime running through juicy thighs make Chipotle Grilled Chicken easy to build into the kind of bowl or burrito you might normally order. Boneless chicken thighs are coated with garlic, chipotle in adobo, onion powder, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper before grilling. The recipe serves four in 25 minutes. Slice the chicken over rice and beans, tuck it into tacos, or add it to a salad.
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Copycat Chipotle Black Beans
Tender beans with cumin and chipotle flavor make Copycat Chipotle Black Beans useful for building burrito bowls at home instead of standing in line for one. Black beans simmer with onion, garlic, chipotle chili powder, oregano, cumin, bay leaf, lemon juice, and lime juice. The recipe serves six in 29 minutes. Spoon them beside rice and grilled chicken, tuck them into burritos, or add salsa, cheese, and avocado for an easy bowl.
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Copycat Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies
Soft pumpkin cookies topped with caramel cream cheese frosting make Copycat Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies a bakery-style finish after dinner. Pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice flavor the cookie dough, while cream cheese, butter, caramel sauce, and powdered sugar form the frosting. The recipe makes 10 cookies in 25 minutes. Their larger size gives them the same kind of dessert-shop feel that works well with coffee, milk, or an evening on the couch.
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Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
Thick cheddar sauce wrapped around beef and pasta gives Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni the appeal of a casual cheeseburger-and-mac dinner in one skillet. Ground beef cooks with paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, tomato paste, beef broth, elbow macaroni, heavy cream, and sharp cheddar. The recipe serves six in 30 minutes. Everything cooks in the same pan, making it a practical choice when you want diner-style richness without adding another stop to the evening.
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Lamb Rogan Josh
Tender lamb in a deeply spiced sauce makes Lamb Rogan Josh worth staying home for when Indian restaurant food is on your mind. Lamb shoulder simmers with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, onion, garlic, ginger, garam masala, paprika, curry powder, tomato paste, stock, and yogurt. The recipe serves six in 2 hours 20 minutes. Spoon it over rice and add warm naan so plenty of that thick sauce makes it onto the plate.
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General Tso’s Chicken
Crunchy chicken under a sweet, garlicky sauce gives General Tso’s Chicken the kind of dinner that makes the takeout carton unnecessary. Chicken breast gets coated with cornstarch, flour, egg whites, salt, and pepper before frying, then meets a sauce built with garlic, ginger, soy, and other savory-sweet ingredients. The recipe serves six in one hour. Serve it with steamed rice, fried rice, or vegetables and add green onions before bringing it to the table.
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Mexican Rice
Fluffy grains with tomato, garlic, and cumin make Mexican Rice an easy way to fill out taco night like a restaurant combo plate. Long-grain rice cooks with fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, red bell pepper, cumin, chicken broth, and cilantro. The recipe serves eight in 35 minutes. Make a generous batch beside grilled meat or tacos, then use whatever is left in burrito bowls or alongside beans for another meal later in the week.
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Naan Bread
Puffy skillet bread with golden spots and garlic butter makes Naan Bread worth tearing into while it is still warm. Yeasted dough made with milk, yogurt, flour, and butter rests before being rolled and cooked quickly in a hot skillet. The recipe makes eight servings in 1 hour 15 minutes. Brush each piece with melted butter and garlic, then serve it beside curry or use it to scoop up every bit of sauce.
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Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast
Tender chicken and crisp green beans in a light savory sauce make Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast a fast homemade option when a drive-through dinner is calling. Thinly sliced chicken cooks with fresh string beans, garlic, soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, and sesame oil. The recipe makes three servings in 22 minutes. Spoon it over steamed rice and finish with sesame seeds for an easy takeout-style plate.
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Bang Bang Shrimp
Creamy, spicy sauce over lightly crisp shrimp makes Bang Bang Shrimp easy to recognize as the sort of appetizer that can become dinner once you are at home. Shrimp cooks with lime, cornstarch, and oil before being coated with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha. The recipe serves four in 20 minutes. Add rice, cucumbers, green onions, and cilantro to turn the shrimp into a quick restaurant-style bowl.
Get the Recipe: Bang Bang Shrimp