You’ll Wonder Why You Ever Bothered With Takeout After These 29

You’ll wonder why you ever bothered with takeout once you see how easy these recipes are to pull off. If you knew meals like this were possible at home, you probably wouldn’t have hit that order button so often. They’re fast, simple, and honestly better than most delivery. No special skills needed—just a good appetite and a little time.

An image of mushroom stroganoff and white rice on a plate, with a fork on the side.

Mushroom Stroganoff. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Ethiopian Cabbage

This one-pot cabbage stew comes together fast with pantry basics and bold spices. It’s proof you don’t need takeout to get something rich and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Ethiopian Cabbage

Penne Pomodoro

Penne Pomodoro is quick, budget-friendly, and built for weeknights when time is short. It makes you wonder why you'd ever reach for takeout pasta again.
Get the Recipe: Penne Pomodoro

Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup

An overhead image of two cabbage soups in a white serving bowl. — Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This one-pot cabbage soup is easy to make in big batches and uses ingredients you already have. It’s the kind of no-stress dinner that beats takeout every time.
Get the Recipe: Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup

Pasta e Piselli

Pasta e piselli is a no-fuss classic made with peas and cheese and cooks in one pot. You’ll stop ordering out once you see how simple good pasta can be.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Piselli

3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

An image of broccoli cheese casserole served on a table with a spoon on the right side. — 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This three-ingredient broccoli cheese casserole comes together fast with little cleanup. It’s a smart pick when you want comfort food without calling it in.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Pesto Tortellini Salad

A close up view of cooked tortellini pasta salad in a white bowl. — Pesto Tortellini Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This cold tortellini salad takes 20 minutes and uses under 10 ingredients. It’s exactly the kind of quick win that makes takeout feel unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tortellini Salad

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Roasted cabbage steaks are crisp, simple, and done in just over half an hour. A great side dish when you want something solid without ordering out.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Close up of cacio e pepe in white bowl with fork and spoon. — Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Cacio e pepe needs just three ingredients and one pot, but still feels like something from a restaurant. Once you’ve made it yourself, delivery won’t cut it.
Get the Recipe: Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Mushroom Stroganoff

Mushroom stroganoff cooks in 30 minutes and works with whatever carb you’ve got. When you can make something this good at home, takeout loses its appeal.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Stroganoff

One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This lemon ricotta pasta is ready in 15 minutes and doesn’t even need a second pan. It’s a go-to move for nights when delivery isn’t worth the wait.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Pizza Sliders

An image of a hand picking up one pizza slider from the baking pan. — Pizza Sliders. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Pizza sliders come together fast and use pantry ingredients, with no dough to mess with. When the craving hits, this shortcut makes takeout unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Sliders

Nigerian Fried Rice

This Nigerian fried rice is bold, fast, and only needs 15 minutes to pull off. It's a strong reason to stop ordering rice dishes that cost double.
Get the Recipe: Nigerian Fried Rice

Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese

An overhead image of a cooked gouda mac and cheese in a baking pan. — Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Baked gouda mac and cheese is creamy, rich, and ready in under an hour with minimal steps. You’ll stop buying boxed versions once you taste what’s possible.
Get the Recipe: Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

An overhead image of two bowls of mac and cheese with a fork beside each. — Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Slow cooker mac and cheese takes just minutes to prep and cooks on its own. It’s the kind of easy win that makes ordering out feel like extra work.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Mediterranean Black Bean Salad

This black bean salad uses pantry staples and a quick lime dressing for a 10-minute meal. It proves how simple it is to skip takeout and eat well at home.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Black Bean Salad

Grilled Asparagus

Grilled asparagus only takes five ingredients and cooks in 25 minutes. It’s a smart way to bring summer to your plate without calling in a side.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus

Baked Cauliflower with Cheese

Baked cauliflower cheese is rich and crisp with a creamy sauce that rivals your favorite comfort food. It’s a solid stand-in when mac and cheese feels overdone.
Get the Recipe: Baked Cauliflower with Cheese

Teriyaki Chicken on the Blackstone Griddle

Teriyaki Chicken with asparagus on a white plate with a fork. — Teriyaki Chicken on the Blackstone Griddle. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Teriyaki chicken thighs use just two ingredients and cook in under 20 minutes. It’s the kind of fast, reliable recipe that makes delivery feel slow.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken on the Blackstone Griddle

Ninja Woodfire Grilled Greek Chicken

Grilled Greek Chicken on a white plate with lemon slices. — Ninja Woodfire Grilled Greek Chicken. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Greek grilled chicken is heavy on herbs and cooks fast, perfect when time’s tight. When plans shift, it’s a strong option that beats whatever’s on the app.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grilled Greek Chicken

Orange Jalapeno Flat Iron Steak

Marinated grilled meat, sliced and on a platter. — Orange Jalapeno Flat Iron Steak. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Flat iron steak with orange jalapeño sauce is bold, juicy, and built for grilling season. It’s a reminder that you don’t need a restaurant to go big.
Get the Recipe: Orange Jalapeno Flat Iron Steak

Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Grilled chicken breasts stuffed with ham, pineapple and Jarlsberg cheese garnished with green onion. — Grilled Hawaiian Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Hawaiian grilled chicken layers ham, pineapple, and cheese under a sticky glaze. It’s the kind of cookout food that turns heads without needing takeout.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Tasty BBQ Smoked Meatloaf with Glaze

Smoked meatloaf is rich and grill-ready with a texture that holds together cleanly. It’s a backyard classic that makes you forget the delivery menu.
Get the Recipe: Tasty BBQ Smoked Meatloaf with Glaze

Best Blackstone Chicken Breast

Blackstone Chicken Breast with green beans on a white plate with a fork. — Best Blackstone Chicken Breast. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Grilled chicken breasts cook quickly and prove simple doesn’t mean boring. Even basic cuts shine when done right—no delivery bag needed.
Get the Recipe: Best Blackstone Chicken Breast

Sausage and Peppers

Sausage and peppers go from grill to table fast and work solo or in buns. It’s a go-to when you need a no-drama dinner that still beats takeout.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Peppers

Grilled Chile Lime Chicken

Sliced Tajín Grilled Chicken sits on a white plate surrounded by Tajín seasoning, a sliced lime, a white linen, and a small glass of beer. — Grilled Chile Lime Chicken. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Chile lime chicken packs heat and tang with almost no prep. It’s an easy win when time is short but flavor still matters more than speed-dial.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chile Lime Chicken

Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebab

Chicken skewers on skewers with lemon wedges. — Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebab. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Chicken kofta kebabs grill fast and are easy to share, great for feeding a group. They’re the kind of shortcut that makes takeout look like a hassle.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebab

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Asian chicken skewers on top of rice. — Teriyaki Chicken Skewers. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Chicken skewers with teriyaki sauce stay juicy and cook in minutes. Perfect for low-effort meals that hit the mark every time.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Honey Garlic BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken

Pulled smoked chicken with honey garlic glaze is bold without needing much from you. It’s a strong answer to the question “What’s faster than delivery?”
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken

Easy Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Chipotle grilled chicken is easy to prep and works in bowls, wraps, or on its own. It’s one of those go-to meals that covers all the bases better than takeout.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chipotle Grilled Chicken