Better Than Takeout: Easy Copycat Recipes from Your Favorite Restaurants
Better Than Takeout: Easy Copycat Recipes from Your Favorite Restaurants
Craving restaurant flavor without leaving the house? These easy copycat recipes capture the magic of your favorite takeout dishes using ingredients you probably already have. Save time, money, and enjoy meals that taste just as good—if not better—than the real thing. Let’s bring that takeout experience home!
Stir-Fry • Fast • Classic
Panda Express Chow Mein
Recreate the iconic chow mein from Panda Express right in your kitchen. This quick noodle stir-fry uses cabbage, celery, and a rich soy garlic sauce that hits all the same sweet-savory notes you love from takeout.
Ingredients:
Soft chow mein noodles
Sliced cabbage and celery
Soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil
Stir-fry noodles and veggies in soy garlic sauce until glossy and perfectly coated.
This classic mall food court dish gets an at-home upgrade. Juicy chicken bites are coated in a sticky-sweet bourbon-style glaze made with soy, brown sugar, and garlic—minus the alcohol but full of flavor.
Ingredients:
Chicken breast or thigh pieces
Soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar
Apple juice or broth in place of bourbon
Sauté chicken, simmer in sauce until thick and caramelized.
This 15-minute dish delivers restaurant-level flavor with minimal effort. Plump shrimp are coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce that caramelizes beautifully in the pan—ideal for serving over rice or noodles.
Ingredients:
Shrimp, peeled and deveined
Honey, soy sauce, and garlic
Butter and sesame seeds
Sear shrimp quickly, glaze with honey garlic sauce, and serve hot.
These crispy salmon bites are coated in a creamy, spicy bang bang sauce that rivals your favorite restaurant appetizer. Lightly pan-seared and tossed in a tangy mayo-chili glaze, they’re addictive and fun to serve.
Ingredients:
Salmon cubes
Mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce
Cornstarch and paprika for coating
Crisp salmon cubes, toss in bang bang sauce, and serve over rice or greens.
All the buttery, garlicky goodness of shrimp scampi baked into a comforting pasta dish. This easy weeknight dinner combines shrimp, lemon, cheese, and breadcrumbs for a crowd-pleasing bake that tastes restaurant-quality.
Ingredients:
Shrimp and pasta
Garlic butter and lemon juice
Mozzarella and breadcrumbs
Mix shrimp and pasta with sauce, top with cheese, and bake until golden.