Whether you fancy Friday night fish and chips or a weekend curry feast, make it cheaper, healthier and tastier by ditching the takeaway menu and making your own fakeaways at home. We’ve rounded up our favourite takeaway swaps, many of which are so quick and easy, you’ll have them on the table in less time than it takes for a takeout delivery to arrive.
Seema Pankhania’s Butter Chicken
Satisfy your craving for a curry with this deliciously rich (and spicier) version of that takeaway staple butter chicken – made with an easy homemade paste, tender marinated chicken thighs, and a creamy flavour-packed sauce with the perfect blend of spices.
Bored of Lunch’s Air Fryer Crispy Fried Chicken
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and much lighter than your usual takeaway order, these air fryer chicken thighs and drumsticks are proof that you can recreate your favourite fried chicken order at home without compromising on flavour.
Sweet and Sour Jackfruit Fakeaway
In the mood for sweet and sour chicken or pork? This one-pot vegan version, which uses the meaty texture of jackfruit, is a simple fuss-free traybake with minimal prep work required.
Deep Pan Pizzas
These budget-friendly pan pizzas, complete with homemade sauce and dough, use handful of ingredients and are great for family pizza night.
Shrimp Patty Bao Buns with Fennel and Gherkin Pickle
Crispy panko-coated prawn patties, crunchy iceberg lettuce, and a lip-smacking array of spicy and pickled toppings make these fluffy bao buns the perfect fakeaway feast.
Chicken Katsu Curry
Crispy coated chicken with a peanut curry sauce, served with rice and sliced chilli, this homemade take on a Japanese fast food is a must-try.
Soy Sauce KFC Crispy Wings – Ganjang Yangnyeom Chicken
Looking to get your Korean Fried Chicken fix? Look no further than this easy recipe for crispy chicken wings doused in a sticky, spicy soy sauce glaze.
Nadiya Hussain’s Chicken Shawarma
Nadiya’s spiced roasted chicken shawarma tastes so much better than the kebab shop version. Serve it up with flatbreads and a delicious broccoli slaw.
Chris Bavin’s Lamb Jalfrezi Meatballs
“Lamb jalfrezi is a perfect slow-cooked recipe, but sometimes we just don’t have the time to use cuts of lamb that take time to tenderise”, says Chris Bavin with this cheat’s alternative to a curryhouse classic using spicy meatballs and a quick jalfrezi sauce.
No-guilt Fish and Chips
This chippie classic is packed with flavour, featuring breadcrumb-coated white fish, homemade sweet potato fries and mushy pancetta peas. Serve it up on the table on a huge sheet of greaseproof paper with lashings of ketchup, then when you’re done, scrunch it up and throw it away to reduce your washing up.
Chris Bavin’s Healthier Falafel Feast
Learn how to make your own spiced baked falafels in this healthier twist on the original takeaway favourite. Bring them to the table with hot pittas, hummus, pickles, crispy fresh veg and chilli sauce, then let everyone load up their own.
Peanut Butter Noodles with DIY Garlic Chilli Oil
Ready in 15 minutes, this fast noodle dish makes the most of store cupboard and cornershop staples. Make your own DIY garlic chilli oil to drizzle on top, along with a fried egg and extra lime wedges. Perfect Friday night TV fodder.
Chris Bavin’s Prawn Tacos
Featuring paprika prawns, zingy cabbage slaw and chilli mayo stuffed into soft tortilla wraps, these crowd-pleasing tacos take less than 30 minutes to get on table and they’re a surefire crowd-pleaser.
Quick Meatball Pizza with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella
This might not be a pizza in the traditional sense (the base is puff pastry), but it takes 40 minutes to make and as Rukmini Iyer herself says, “this stunning, unashamedly loaded pizza-style tart is possibly one of my proudest creations”. With quick homemade meatballs, tomatoes and mozzarella, we totally agree.
