6 Fake-Out Takeout Recipes That Are Faster Than Delivery

When your closest relationship is with the food-delivery guy, it may be time to reevaluate your meal habits. Though there's an undeniable appeal to delivery food, there are also the matters of cost and questionable ingredients.

To solve both of these problems, we've gathered six homemade renditions of your favorite delivery food, from sesame chicken to fully stuffed burritos. Your stomach and your wallet will thank you after you chow down on these dishes.

Haylie Duff adds bacon to the traditional Thai fried-rice dish for a punch of smoky flavor. Serving it in a pineapple is much better than presenting it in a white takeout container, too.

British Chicken Tikka Masala

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2012, Television Food Network, GP. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2012, Television Food Network, GP. All Rights Reserved

Even though this takes a little planning ahead with an overnight marinade, cooking up the tikka masala takes only about a half an hour.

You can either stand in line at your favorite burrito joint for half an hour or make eight burritos at home for a fraction of the cost and about the same amount of time. Plus, the homemade mojo sauce makes everything taste better.

Sesame Ginger Chicken by Kelsey Nixon from Kelsey's Essentials season 3.

Sesame Ginger Chicken by Kelsey Nixon from Kelsey's Essentials season 3.

Photo by: Teri Lyn Fisher

Teri Lyn Fisher

Again, most of the time spent making this recipe is waiting for the chicken to marinate — but it's well worth the time in the fridge. One tablespoon of sambal chili sauce goes a long way to spice up this classic Chinese dish.

If you have a little more time on your hands, pair that sesame chicken with Kelsey Nixon's easy pork dumplings. The pan-fried morsels are the perfect way to start or end a meal.  

When you're hangry and craving pizza, turn to calzone-like pizza pockets stuffed with copious amounts of cheese and Italian sausage. The big shortcut is using store-bought pizza crust, so the semi-homemade dinner comes together faster than a delivery guy could drive to your house.

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Bal Arneson

Bal Arneson is an author educator mother wife and passionate advocate for simple and healthy Indian-inspired cooking. At the heart of her cooking are fresh ingredients and the vibrant flavors of herbs and spices.

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