Homemade takeaways: Tastier and better for you!

If you fancy ditching the takeaway and trying something new, swap your Friday night or Saturday night feast for some homemade takeaways instead.

Homemade Takeaways

We're all about homemade food, not just from the healthy point of view but the thought of trying something new and experimenting in the kitchen too...

If you fancy ditching the takeaway and trying something new, swap your Friday night or Saturday night feast for homemade takeaways instead.

We know that having a takeaway can sometimes go from being a treat to being a bad habit, some of the food is just so delicious. But when you're having a takeaway craving, you don't need to always reach for the menu and the phone.

With homemade food  you know exactly what you're getting as you're putting in the ingredients, so no nasty surprises when you dicover just how much salt content is actually in that cheeky takeaway.

Homemade food just tastes so much better than shop bought - and you can have loads of fun in the kitchen celebrating new and different ways of cooking.

You can make all of the recipes below with a little help from the kids and hubby too. It's the perfect family activity to get the family working together as a team.

Take a look at some homemade takeaways below...

Homemade Indian takeaway

It's really simple to make a classic Indian takeaway in the comfort of your own kitchen, not only is it a great way to try making something new, it's also much healthier than a takeaway (and you can sneak some extra veggies into the mix!)

Classic starters

Indian starters are easier to make than you may think. A few sheets of pastry, a handful of freshly chopped onions and you can make a whole heap of classics with our easy recipes:

Classic mains

Curry is top of the menu when it comes to an Indian takeaway. Whatever the heat or whatever the flavour, we've got the perfect recipe for you just like these:

Classic sidesDon't forget the sides! One of the most important parts of Indian cuisine are the side dishes. From simple pilau rice to juicy mushroom bhaji:

Make your own Indian takeaway menu with our Indian recipes

Homemade takeaway pizza

Homemade Takeaways

Pizza is another one of our favourites. It's just so easy to pick up the phone and then sit back and wait for it to arrive but it can sometimes be quicker to make the pizza yourself and much, much cheaper too!

Classic pizzas

From pepperoni to mushroom, we've got lots of delicious pizza recipes to get the whole family making this month:

More homemade pizza recipes

Classic sides

Complete your pizza with some classic takeaway sides including potatoes wedges and chicken wings, mmm...

Homemade takeaway fish and chips

Homemade Takeaways

Nothing beats a classic fish and chips on a Friday night. If you fancy making your own, we've got plenty of variations to try. You could try cooking them in the oven or even spicing your fish up a bit.

Classic fish and chips

Try these healthier alternatives which take under an hour to rustle up, much quicker than driving to the chippie and hanging around in the queue!

Classic fish and chips sides:

Homemade takeaway kebab

Homemade Takeaways

Swap the takeaway kebab for the homemade version instead. You can control portion sizes, put whatever sauce you like on it and it won't go soggy either!

Classic kebabs

Your favourite meat, some herbs or spices for flavour and a skewer to cook it all on, what could be simpler?

More homemade kebab recipes

Classic sides

Bulk your feast up with some of these classic sides you often order with your kebab. We've got homemade chips and plenty of salads to choose from too:

Homemade Chinese takeaway

We just love Chinese food. From chicken chow mein to sweet and sour pork, it's the perfect treat on a Saturday night. Make your takeaway from scratch - it'll be much healthier, cheaper and you'll know exactly what goes into every dish too.

Classic starters

Start your Chinese feast off with some simple classics. These treats are quick and easy to make once you know how:

Classic mains

Feed the whole family with these classics. They'll be clean plates all round:

Classic sides

Complete your meal with the most classic side dish of them all:

More homemade Chinese recipes

Homemade takeaway burger

Homemade Takeaways

There are a few obvious restaurants that are very tempting when it comes to a fast food burger but it's actually cheaper to make burgers yourself.

Classic burgers

Ditch the fast food for your own version. Burgers are really easy to make and can be made in advance too and then just popped in the oven or on a griddle pan to cook.

More homemade burger recipes

Classic sides

Don't forget the sides! Chips, salad and homemade burger buns - yes please!

Alternatives

Homemade Southern fried chicken takeaway

Homemade Takeaways

The tempting arouma from a fried chicken shop will break even the strongest of dieters but you don't have to give in completley. Homemade 'fried' chicken can be baked and still retain lots of lovely flavour - for less calories!

Classic takeaway chicken recipes:

Southern-fried chicken recipe

Chicken nuggets recipe

Chicken burger recipe

Classic sides from a takeaway chicken shop:

Baked beans recipe Coleslaw

Homemade Thai takeaway

Homemade Takeaways

With more and more Thai ingredients becoming available on supermarket shelves, Thai dishes are getting easier to make. Try making your own from starters to side dishes.

Classic starters

Start your meal off with a classic soup or some simple pancakes - the choice is yours!

Classic mainsCurry and noodles make up the bulk of Thai mains. You can try using different meats and different variations of these recipes below, whatever suits your family's taste buds really:

Classic sides

These sides are just as easy to whip up as the rest:

Homemade Thai takeaway

Homemade Takeaways

With more and more Thai ingredients becoming available on supermarket shelves, Thai dishes are getting easier to make. Try making your own from starters to side dishes.

Classic starters

Start your meal off with a classic soup or some simple pancakes - the choice is yours!

Classic mainsCurry and noodles make up the bulk of Thai mains. You can try using different meats and different variations of these recipes below, whatever suits your family's taste buds really:

Classic sides

These sides are just as easy to whip up as the rest:

Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies