After a long day, there’s nothing better than takeout. Right? Wrong! Unless, that is, you crave steep delivery fees, exasperating wait times, and lukewarm meals that turn into soggy leftovers. Armed with the best ingredients, the right techniques, and a plan for getting dinner on the table, stat, you can do better than takeout with comfort-food dishes that satisfy every night of the week!
Ordering takeout is a hard habit to break, even when it rarely lives up to expectations. Still, if you crave variety and comfort, dishes that excite with a world of flavors pulled from around the globe, homemade takeout offers wow-worthy results without significant drawbacks. The first step towards making restaurant-quality dinners at home is learning expert culinary tricks and flavor secrets. Add to that no-measure, no-mess Success® Rice, grains and pasta, and you’ll be able to make Chinese fried rice that rivals the best, delectable Indian-style curries, and Thai dishes that are as sweet, savory, and rich as the ones you routinely crave.
Had a busy day with no time to catch your breath? Instead of settling for takeout, recreate your favorite restaurant-quality dishes at home. With better-than-takeout recipes that are fast, don’t make a mess, and tempt with bold, satisfying flavors, your kitchen will feel like the best restaurant in town.
Why homemade can beat takeout
Far from being the easiest route to dinner, takeout means extra costs, delayed dinnertimes, and meals that need to be reheated before you can relax. Zero in on homemade takeout dupes, and you’ll save time and money, all while satisfying cravings for fresh, delicious, varied meals. Fully customizable, homemade takeout can also be spiced and sauced to everyone’s liking.
5 restaurant tricks for takeout flavor at home
Think you can’t recreate the flavor of your favorite takeout meals? Use these tips and tricks to unlock the secrets behind some iconic takeout dishes!
- Making takeout at home is a matter of starting out with the right ingredients and using them properly. For example, the best fried rice is made from chilled, day-old rice that’s reheated in a hot pan. Save yourself time by cooking a bag of Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice the night before, then refrigerating it until it’s time to make your Chinese takeout at home.
- Fried rice comes together quickly. Prep all of your ingredients—including veggies, sauces, chopped meats, and eggs—and have them ready before you start cooking.
- Cook fried rice over high heat, in batches. Avoid crowding the pan, as this will cause the ingredients to steam instead of searing and getting crispy.
- Balance is key to achieving the flavors you crave, whether you’re making fried rice, curry, or a rice bowl. Taste as you go, making sure that your dish has a perfect balance of sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and spice.
- Using the right rice is key to a standout dish. Reach for aromatic, long-grain Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice when making Thai or Chinese dishes. Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice, with its separate grains and nutty flavor, is best for Indian stews and curries. Perfectly chewy, sweet, and soft, Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice makes restaurant-quality onigiri, pork belly fried rice, and more in just 12 minutes. Success® boil-in-bag brown rice is a nutty addition to Mediterranean rice bowls.
Chinese takeout classics
Incredibly simple to make and packed with flavor, these Chinese takeout recipes will help you kick your takeout habit!
Express Orange Chicken
Fresh ingredients make for a takeout dupe that feels homemade in this 30-minute recipe. Cook bite-sized morsels of chicken until golden and crisp, then coat them in a sticky, mildly spiced orange sauce. Paired with broccoli and served over a warm bed of fluffy Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice, this better-than-takeout orange chicken is a weeknight menu star.
Pork Belly Fried Rice
Made with Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice, this 30-minute dish has a distinctively satisfying chew that sets it apart from other fried rice. Dotted with a range of savory ingredients, this better-than-takeout fried rice is as flavorful as any restaurant meal—without the hefty price tag.
Thai takeout favorites
Some of our favorite comfort food dishes rely on the bright and bold flavors of Thai cuisine. Bring them into your kitchen with these Thai takeout recipes.
Easy Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry
Built for your craziest days, this appetizing, 20-minute dinner makes excellent use of pantry and freezer staples. With quick-cooking shrimp at its core, sautéed vegetables, a warming, full-bodied sauce, and plenty of Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice, this dish has all the elements of a grade A dinner.
Beef Massaman Curry
Prep this heady beef curry on the weekend, and weeknight dinners will require nothing more than reheating and making a fresh batch of Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice! Braised in a pungent sauce made of curry paste, fish sauce, tamarind paste, coconut milk, and more, cubed beef and potatoes are the heroes of this hearty stew.
Shrimp Pad Thai
Gather your ingredients before you start cooking, and this better-than-takeout pad Thai can be on the table in just 25 minutes. Infused with all the zippy, fresh flavors of the original—from lime juice and fish sauce to shrimp and cilantro—this dish feels unique, thanks to its base of Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice instead of rice noodles.
Thai Cashew Chicken Fried Rice
Want to make better than takeout cashew chicken at home? Simply sauté some chicken breast and vegetables, add some key seasonings, a sprinkling of crunchy roasted cashews, and layer the lot onto a bed of Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice! Fast, easy, and satisfying, this dish is a must-try on busy weeknights.
Thai Basil Fried Rice
Not in the mood for better-than-takeout chicken fried rice? This beef-based dish will satisfy! A perfect place to use up day-old rice, this dish pairs seasoned, sautéed grains with umami-rich strips of marinated beef. A heap of fragrant Thai basil and lime adds freshness to every forkful.
Indian takeout favorites
Indian cuisine and basmati rice go hand in hand. For the best results, use basmati rice when making South Asian food.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Energize chicken night with this creamy, richly flavored dish. A meal that requires only 25 minutes and three steps to put together, this dish is robust, thanks to coconut milk and tikka masala sauce spiced with ginger, cumin, coriander, and more. For the full experience, serve this curry over Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice, with a side of warm naan and cucumber raita.
Butter Chicken
Ranking near the top of our favorite easy comfort food recipes, this dish offers assertive flavors without complicated steps. With a quick marinade, sauté and stir, tender chicken, aromatics, spices, cream, and tomato purée transform into the ultimate weeknight delight.
Coconut Chicken Curry with Basmati
Sometimes, a handful of choice ingredients can make for a memorable meal. Here, the combination of red curry paste, coconut milk, fish sauce, cilantro, and lime takes chicken and Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice into exciting territory. Use mild curry paste if you have picky eaters.
Korean and Japanese favorites
Bring a world of Asian flavors into your kitchen with these popular recipes.
Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowl
It’s time to add Korean beef bulgogi to your list of go-to comfort dinner ideas! A quick sauté, this dish pairs savory beef with crisp vegetables and warm jasmine rice. For the boldest flavor, marinate the meat in the morning or the night before you plan to make this dish.
Tuna Onigiri
A 15-minute option that turns Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice into a grab-and-go snack, this dish can be made with seasoned tuna or with salmon, shrimp, leftover chicken teriyaki, or seasoned beef. Try it with multiple fillings to find your favorite.
Fast-casual rice bowls
Rice bowls are every diner’s dream! Easy to customize, they allow diners to play chef as they assemble and garnish their own bowl.
Honey Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowl
Roasted Brussels sprouts give this Success® boil-in-bag brown rice dish earthy, caramelized notes. If you don’t have time to make them, simply replace them with slaw or quick-pickled cucumbers. Set all the toppings out on a table and invite your family to make their own Southern-inspired bowl!
Mediterranean Chicken and Rice Pita Bowls
Success® boil-in-bag white rice anchors this hearty combination of sautéed veggies, chicken, and tahini-spiked sauce piled into crunchy pita bowls. If you’re short on time, serve the pita on the side instead of making it into a bowl.
Make tonight a takeout night at home
This week, ignore the takeout temptation! Instead, wow the family with better-than-takeout dishes that are hot, fresh, and served in record time. Keep a few bags of Success® Rice on hand, quick-cooking proteins, vegetables, and sauces, and you can delight in a different cuisine every night of the week.
FAQs
What’s the most popular takeout food to make at home?
Fried rice, orange chicken, and curries are some of the most popular takeout foods—and some of the easiest to recreate at home.
What’s the lightest takeout to make at home?
No matter what you’re making, at home you can control the amount of oil and sauce you use. You can also include plenty of fresh ingredients, like vegetables and herbs, which result in dishes that feel bright and flavorful, without feeling heavy. Stir-fries and rice bowls with brown rice are some light options.
Can you freeze homemade takeout?
Many homemade takeout dishes, such as fried rice and curries, freeze well. Saucy meat dishes—such as orange chicken and massaman beef—can also be frozen. To freeze any dish, portion it into freezer-safe containers, labeling them with the date. Defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat until steaming hot [to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C)] before consuming.