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19 Healthier-Than-Takeout Dishes

Weeknights get so hectic that families resort to a mishmash of takeout to feed the family at dinner time. Here’s a healthier, better way to do meal time – Healthy Dinner Recipes that are WAY better than takeout! Bonus: They taste phenomenal. 

Better than Takeout Dishes Collection

No need to spend cash on takeout on a busy weeknight. These Healthy Dinner Recipes are WAY better than takeout. No artificial anything, and nothing you wouldn’t want to feed the family. Just everyday ingredients tossed together to create easy, healthy meals that taste even better than takeout.

Way Better Than Takeout:

  1. One-Pan Thai Fried Rice (GF). We love our Thai fried rice at the local Thai restaurant, but it’s just so much healthier and easier to whip this up in under 30 minutes at home. It’s a family favorite.
thai fried rice
One-Pan Thai Fried Rice

2. 20-Minute Vietnamese Spring Roll Bowls – yeah, you could meander through the crowded Vietnamese takeout to grab your spring rolls. OR you could take less than 30 minutes to toss together this healthy, fresh, clean bowl of goodness packed with flavor.

vietnamese spring roll bowl
Vietnamese Spring Roll Bowls

3. 30-Minute Nacho Chicken Soup. My family loves their soup when fall hits. Mexican flavors are a favorite of theirs. But where else can you get such an easy, healthy, boldly flavored soup in less than 30 minutes…your own kitchen? 🙂

nacho chicken soup
30-Minute Nacho Chicken Soup

4. Chicken Shawarma (Easy and Healthy).  Ok, I’m a sucker for our local Naf Naf Grill. It’s my healthy fast food, guiltless pleasure. But sometimes I just want to make a bunch of Shawarma at home and plenty of leftovers for tomorrow, ya know? And truthfully, this DIY version tastes better.

chicken shawarma
Chicken Shawarma

5. One-Pan Oven Baked Fajitas. A sizzling order of fajitas is mine at every Mexican restaurant we sit down at. But when we’re in between soccer games midweek, we whip up super-easy, healthy, ultra-tasty baked chicken fajitas at home.

baked chicken fajitas
Oven Fajitas, Healthy & Flavorful

6. Thai Stir Fry Noodles – Pad See Ew. I love me some Pad See Ew, but it’s almost always too greasy when ordered at restaurants. You can easily make this toothsome, delightfully flavored Thai noodle dish at home, with much less grease.

Pad See Ew
Thai Noodles: Pad See Ew

7. 30-Minute Skinny Orange Chicken. It’s done in under 30 minutes, it’s skinny, and it’s boldly flavorful. Serve over a bed of fluffy Jasmine rice – you’re about to become weeknight dinner super hero.

Skinny Orange Chicken
30-Minute Skinny Orange Chicken

8. Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls. Just like Chipotle but seriously way better. Because you can make it precisely the way you like it. No skimping on the chicken and fresh veggies here. ** Plus yummy cilantro-lime rice!

Chicken Burrito Bowls
Chipotle Style Burrito Bowls

9. 30-Minute Asian Orange Beef. Ever had overly greasy, tough-ish beef without much orange flavor? This is NOT that. Here’s your answer to tender, non-greasy, and ultra fresh flavored orange beef. Even if you’re afraid of beef…try this one. It’s amazing, my friends.

asian orange beef
30-Minute Asian Orange Beef

10. Easy, Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles. My man can eat an entire pot of this. We just saw it on a menu recently, but declined to order it because well, because this:

Spicy Thai Noodles
Thai Peanut Noodles

11. Mexican Chicken Burrito Bowl. Takeout can’t hold a candle to this homemade burrito bowl. It’s packed with only the good stuff, boldly flavored, and ultra satisfying.

Chicken Burrito Bowl
Mexican Style Chicken Burrito Bowl

12. 30-Minute Spaghetti Carbonara. I can’t say if you’d find spaghetti carbonara at a takeout anywhere, but no matter. It takes only 30 minutes to whip up this super fresh, tasty carbonara. Add bacon, chicken, or sausage for extra satisfaction.

Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti Carbonara

13. P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef Copycat. Is it technically a copycat if it’s healthier and tastier than theirs? You decide.

Mongolian Beef
Mongolian Beef (P.F. Chang Copycat)

14. Chinese Fried Rice. My family’s favorite. Handed down from generations. Not greasy, super fresh, and oh-soooo-good. Make it meatless if you wish. We never eat fried rice at any restaurants ever, because of this.

Fried Rice
Perfect Chinese Fried Rice

15. Perfectly Creamy Mac ‘n Cheese. You could order mac ‘n cheese from that famous noodle company, but why? You’ll wonder where this luscious, creamy, reheat-friendly recipe has been all your macaroni life.

Macaroni and Cheese
Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

16. Chicken Tikka Masala. Move over, Indian takeout. This homemade chicken tikka masala is the bee’s knees. Be sure to have plenty of Naan bread on hand to soak up the velvety goodness. Perfect over basmati rice. Just perfect.

chicken tikka masala
Chicken Tikka Masasla

17. Indian Tandoori Chicken. While we’re at it, this Indian Tandoori Chicken is unbelievably easy and delicious. Healthy to boot.

Tandoori Chicken
Indian Tandoori Chicken

18. Juicy, Tender Meatloaf. I mean, there’s takeout meatloaf but then there’s this. Supremely juicy, never dry, tender, and perfectly flavored meatloaf you can feel good about serving the family.

sliced juicy meatloaf on a pan slathered in sauce
Tender BBQ Meatloaf

19. Last but most definitely not least, our family’s favorite 20-Minutes Skillet Lo Mein. You just can’t get it this fresh and healthy anywhere else but home.

Lo Mein
20-Minute Lo Mein

*If you make any of our dishes, snap a pic and show it off on Instagram! Hashtag it #chewoutloud so we can see your awesomeness!

Watch us make some of these dishes:

Add a comment

35 comments

    • mary hurley

    My dishes have to be not spice because of medical problems

    • Rachel

    This has been such great help these last few weeks. The chicken Tikka Masala is amazing

      • chewoutloud

      So happy you enjoyed this!

    • Jeypi Kyu

    now i’m craving for food.. hahaha you just made me wanna go out and go foodtripping.. these are such wonderfully captured photos and makes a reader appreciate them.. cheers and more articles like this please 🙂

    • Elizabeth O

    Those dish looks so delicious and tempting. Mouth-watering. What I really like is the Borrito bowl and pasta Carbonara.

      • chewoutloud

      You can’t go wrong with either one 🙂

    • Anna

    wowowow! your pictures look so good! I been trying to cook at home but all the long processes make me not want to. But your recipes are only 30mins i think i will give it a go. Thanks

    • kimberlylove13

    I will def be trying out these dishes. They look incredible! My mouth was watering while I was reading through them.

    Kimberly Love
    Author
    You Taste Like Whiskey and Sunshine
    www.kimmilove.com

      • chewoutloud

      So glad you like them, Kimberly! 🙂

    • My Travelogue by Bhushavali

    Looks like a fab range of recipes. Good to know these are just 30 mins preparations. It would be great if you can come up with such a range of veggie recipes too, so it would be helpful for people like me!!!

      • chewoutloud

      Sounds good; on many of these, you can also just omit the meat for meatless version 🙂 Lo mein here is meatless – YUM 🙂

    • Spooky Chic

    Definitely saving ALL of these! I am addicted to eating out but mostly because I don’t really know how to make anything I want, but I’m going to give it a try, especially the lo mein! Yum!

      • chewoutloud

      Hee hee… I think you’ll LOVE what you make 🙂 Enjoy and happy cooking!

    • nbosken

    Wow I love this whole roundup. I’m super allergic to peanuts. I was surprised that a lot of your Thai recipes didn’t have it. And if they did, you put it in the title, which I love as well!

      • chewoutloud

      So glad you like the peanut-free versions! 🙂

    • Fred

    I like the international flavors in this article. So interesting and so mouth-watering. How I wish I can prepare them all at home, but sometimes it is so easy to just buy. Hehe.

      • chewoutloud

      I know it, Fred! 😉 I’m with you on the diverse flavors, too…it’s how we grew up 🙂

    • thenafranssen

    Holy moly, these look so good! Amazing dishes, and awesome pics!!

      • chewoutloud

      Thanks so much, glad you like! 🙂

    • Shell

    These look like some amazing and delicious recipes! I will have to try some of them on my family!

      • chewoutloud

      Hope your fam loves these as much as ours do 🙂 Enjoy!

    • Depression No More!

    I have to bookmark this page. I love quick meals and healthy is a plus! I make some of these already but you’ve given me a few other ideas. Thanks!

      • chewoutloud

      That’s awesome you already make some of these 🙂 I love healthy & quick too. Kind of the motto around here, except for cookies 😉

    • abccooper17

    That skinny orange chicken sounds like something my family would love. I always love a healthier alternative to fast food!

      • chewoutloud

      So happy you like it! Enjoy 🙂

    • gracielaalexandraa

    I’ve recently made a goal to not eat out as much and this just did it for me! These dishes look SO good and the fact that I can actually make it in the comfort of my own kitchen… AWESOME!

      • chewoutloud

      Me too, Gracie, I’m really trying not to eat out as much b/c you just don’t know what you’re getting 🙂 Enjoy!

    • Tanvi Rastogi (@Tanviidotcom)

    So many great choices. Now only if someone would come cook for me. I am a bit lazy to cook for myself 🙂

    ❥ tanvii.com

      • chewoutloud

      LOL, luckily, these recipes are lazy-cook style…that’s often me! 🙂

    • Kecia (@KeciaHambrick)

    Ohhh, I just got a few ideas for our busy week nights. I had grabbing takeout but it’s so convenient. Now I can just whip up one of these new meals!

      • chewoutloud

      I know, takeout is way too easy, right?! 🙂 But yes, try one of these and see what you think 🙂

    • Josselyn Radillo

    def the burrito bowl is my favorite and the chinese fried chicken!!! the best of it is that
    it’s healthy

      • chewoutloud

      The burrito bowl & chicken are both awesome 🙂 Healthy + yummy. Enjoy and happy cooking!

    • Cia Black

    So many choices, so many good choice at that. I’ve booked marked this in my food folder. The 30 minutes are less will come in handing on soccer/basketball nights. I won’t feel bad making them something healthy rather than getting then fast food. I can’t wait to try these out

      • chewoutloud

      I know, I use these during soccer nights as well 🙂 Enjoy, Cia, and thanks for bookmarking!

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