"Fakeout takeout" means making the dishes you'd usually order in, right at home. With a few pantry staples and some restaurant tricks, many takeout favorites take about as long to cook as they would to arrive at your door.
Start with the dishes you order most
Look at your recent orders and pick the two or three dishes you get most often. Those are the recipes worth mastering first, because you already know you love them. Our menu covers the most popular categories:
- Chinese-American: orange chicken, beef and broccoli, lo mein.
- Italian-American: chicken parmesan and pan pizza.
- Diner and sports bar: smash burgers, chicken tenders and buffalo bites.
Make it as fast as delivery
- Prep while things heat up. Chop vegetables while the oven preheats or the rice cooks.
- Keep sauces ready. Mix stir-fry sauce in a jar on the weekend; it keeps in the refrigerator for several days.
- Use shortcuts. Store-bought pizza dough, frozen vegetables and rotisserie chicken save real time.
- Cook rice ahead. Day-old rice is ideal for fried rice, and leftover plain rice reheats well for bowls.
Get the crunch right
Crispy coatings are what make many takeout dishes satisfying. Pat ingredients dry, use cornstarch or panko for coatings, keep oil at the right temperature, and don't crowd the pan. An air fryer can help — see our air fryer converter.
Balance the meal
Restaurants often serve large portions with few vegetables. At home, it's easy to add extra broccoli to the stir-fry, serve a side salad with pizza, or swap some fries for roasted vegetables.
Make it a takeout night
Serve dishes in bowls or even reusable takeout containers, set out chopsticks or a pizza cutter, and let everyone build their own plate. It's an easy way to make a weeknight dinner feel like a treat.