We love Chinese take out but I’ve learned over the years that many of the dishes are easy to make at home. Often you can make an entire dish in less time than it takes to order and wait for the delivery! So, I’m sharing my favorite homemade take-out recipes with you in one place – all of my favorite main dishes, noodles and rice recipes and appetizers and sides, too. You can even make your own homemade fortune cookies to finish your meal! So, skip the expensive take-out and try these recipes instead.
Chicken Main Dishes
When we make our favorite Chinese dishes, we always have to have a chicken dish. I’ve made lots of them over the years – some are traditional Chinese recipes and others are more American-style and all of them are delicious.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps | This is a homemade copycat recipe for P.F. Chang’s chicken lettuce wraps. This recipe only takes about 20 minutes to make and is just as good as the restaurant version.
Baked General Tso’s Chicken | This is my easy homemade version of General Tso’s Chicken using crunchy baked chicken pieces rather than fried chicken pieces. I also have a fried version that is easy to make, too.
Baked Orange Chicken | My baked orange chicken is a little healthier than take out but still crispy with the perfect amount of sauce. It’s an easy weeknight meal. You might also like my honey orange chicken, too!
Kung Pao Chicken | This famous Sichuan dish is easy to make with just a few ingredients. It’s ready to serve in about 30 minutes.
Sweet and Sour Chicken | Sweet and sour chicken is always a take-out favorite but you can make a delicious version at home. The best part about this recipe is the chicken – it’s very crunchy and stays that way even after it’s been coated in the sweet and sour sauce. It’s so delicious! I also have a baked version which is a little healthier.
Baked Honey Garlic Chicken | Crunchy baked chicken pieces are coated in a honey garlic sauce. This is a perfect weeknight meal.
Beef Main Dishes
Some of my favorite restaurant-style Chinese foods are savory beef dishes and I love recreating them at home. All of these recipes are so quick and easy you’ll want to make them yourself instead of calling for take-out.
Spicy Hunan Beef | This popular Chinese dish features incredibly tender slices of beef cooked with chili peppers, garlic and cumin. It’s a spicy and flavorful dish. This version tastes just like the one served at restaurants.
Black Pepper Beef | This classic Chinese dish is easy to make and packed with flavor. Tender slices of beef are coated in a black pepper flavored sauce for an easy stir fry that is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Szechuan Beef | An easy homemade Szechuan Beef recipe that tastes as good as the restaurant version. Tender slices of beef are cooked in a flavorful savory spicy sauce.
Crispy Orange Beef | Crispy tender strips of beef are coated in a savory orange sauce that tastes delicious over a bed of rice.
Beef and Broccoli | Chinese restaurant-style beef and broccoli stir fry made at home. It’s easy, delicious and better than take-out.
Chinese Pepper Steak | Pepper Steak is an easy stir-fry dish. Tender slices of beef are cooked with bell peppers in a thick savory sauce. This popular Chinese American dish can be made in less than 30 minutes and tastes better than take-out.
Garlic Beef | This garlic beef stir fry is flavorful and simple. It’s perfect for a quick and easy meal. You can add vegetables and pair it with rice or your favorite rice substitute.
Shrimp and Tofu Recipes
After chicken and beef, shrimp and tofu are the next most popular proteins you’ll find in Chinese dishes. I hope you find some new ones to try!
Honey Walnut Shrimp | Honey Walnut Shrimp is a popular Chinese dish. Crispy fried shrimp are coated in a creamy sweet sauce and topped with candied walnuts. This version tastes just as good as the restaurant or take-out version and is cheaper too.
Kung Pao Shrimp | This dish is an easy Chinese stir-fry that features extra plump and crunchy shrimp with the help of a secret ingredient.
Crispy Sesame Tofu | Crispy air fried tofu coated in a sesame soy glaze. This tofu dish is easy and flavorful! The tofu can be cooked in the air fryer or oven.
Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu | This is a popular Chinese dish. The tofu cubes have a super crispy exterior and a soft and silky center. The dish is very easy to make and ready in less than an hour.
Mapo Tofu | Mapo Tofu is a popular Chinese dish and Sichuan classic. It’s served at many Chinese restaurants but you can make an authentic version at home too.
Baked Orange Tofu | Crispy baked tofu cubes are tossed in a sweet and tangy Chinese-style orange sauce, similar to orange chicken.
Baked Garlic Tofu | In this easy dish. Tofu is baked until crispy and then tossed in a thick, Chinese-style stir-fry garlic sauce. I also have a plain crispy baked tofu recipe that’s great as a snack, appetizer or as a meat substitute in your favorite Chinese dishes.
Noodles and Rice
When we make homemade take-out, we always need a rice or noodle side dish. Sometimes we make these dishes as just our main dish, too. Either way, you will love these recipes.
Sesame Noodles | These Chinese noodles are the perfect dish for spring and summer. The noodles are meant to be eaten cold and are tossed in a very simple, easy, and flavorful sesame sauce.
Lo Mein Recipe | Easy Chinese Lo Mein made in the Instant Pot. Everything cooks together in one pot and there is no need to drain water from the noodles. This meal is ready in less than 30 minutes!
Garlic Noodles | Asian-style garlic butter noodles are easy and delicious and they’re ready in 30 minutes.
Crispy Pan Fried Noodles | This Chinese dish consists of a bed of crispy noodles, topped with stir-fried vegetables, shrimp, chicken, and flavored with a thick gravy-like sauce.
Chinese Fried Rice | Fried rice is one of my favorite dishes to make at home. It’s a great way to use up leftover rice and you can customize it with all kinds of vegetables and proteins.
Appetizers and Side Dishes
Potstickers, wontons and soups – there are so many choices for sides and appetizers. These are some of my favorite dishes to make at home.
Crispy Skirt Potstickers | This restaurant-style way of serving potstickers can easily be made at home. The potstickers are joined together by a very crispy coating which adds some extra crunch to every bite. This way of cooking them also makes for a great presentation. I also have a low-carb potsticker recipe you might like, too.
Wonton Soup | Wonton soup is an easy Chinese dish that is warm and comforting. This homemade version is better than take-out!
Sichuan Spicy Wontons | Wontons are coated in a very flavorful spicy sweet chili oil sauce. This popular Sichuan dish is comforting, warm, and so delicious.
Hot and Sour Soup | Chinese Hot and Sour soup is easy to make at home, ready in less than 30 minutes, and it tastes better than restaurant versions. I also have a microwave version if you’re looking to make a smaller batch.
Stir Fry Garlic Broccoli | The broccoli comes out very crisp and is coated in an easy garlic sauce. This is my favorite way to eat broccoli! You might also like my garlic green beans, another popular Chinese-style dish.
Shortcut Chinese Scallion Pancakes | These shortcut Chinese scallion pancakes taste similar to the traditional version, but without having to deal with kneading or rolling dough. The batter comes together in about 5 minutes. Another Chinese bread you might like is my sesame bread.
Chinese Dumplings (Jiaozi) | Homemade dumplings are fun to make and I share all of my tips and step-by-step photos in the post. They are so much better than take-out and are freezer-friendly, too.
Salt and Pepper Wings | One of my favorite appetizers of all time. Crispy fried wings are coated in a super flavorful and addictive blend of spices. Don’t like to fry things? I also have a baked version.
Egg Drop Soup | Out of all the Chinese dishes out there, egg drop soup is probably the easiest one to make. Once you make it at home, you’ll never pay extra to have it at a restaurant again.
