Homemade Takeout Recipes That Save You Money!

Skip the drive-thru and save money with these homemade takeout recipes! In today’s video, I’m making Starbucks copycat drinks, KFC-style chicken, and easy Chinese takeout at home. These DIY takeout meals are budget-friendly, family-approved, and so simple to make.


#BetterThanTakeout #CopycatRecipes #HomemadeTakeout #SkipTheTakeout

Honey Sesame Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade
• 1 ½ lbs chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
• ½ tsp white pepper
• 1 tbsp water

Batter
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup water
• 2 tsp oil

Sauce
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• ¼ cup honey
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 tbsp water
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp sesame oil

Slurry & Garnish
• 2 tsp cornstarch + 3 tbsp water
• Sesame seeds & green onions

⸻

Instructions
1. Marinate chicken: Mix chicken with bouillon, pepper, and water. Let sit 10 minutes.
2. Make batter: Whisk eggs, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, water, and oil. Coat chicken in the batter.
3. Fry chicken: Heat oil to ~365°F. Fry chicken in batches until lightly golden (3–4 min). Drain. Increase heat to 375°F and fry again for 2 more minutes until crisp.
4. Make sauce: In a pan, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, vinegar, ketchup, honey, brown sugar, garlic, and water. Simmer. Stir in slurry to thicken, then finish with sesame oil.
5. Combine: Toss crispy chicken in the sauce until coated. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

Serve hot over rice or with veggies.

Oven Fried Chicken

Ingredients
• 3 lbs bone-in chicken
• 3 eggs + 1 tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups flour + ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1 tbsp each: paprika, black pepper, garlic powder
• 1 tsp each: sage, thyme, oregano, celery seed
• 2 tsp seasoned salt (Lawry’s)
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 3 tbsp buttermilk
• ½ cup avocado oil

Instructions
1. Place a cast iron skillet in a cold oven, set to 450°F, and preheat together.
2. Season chicken with salt & pepper.
3. Beat eggs in one bowl. In another, mix flour, cornstarch, and seasonings. Rub in buttermilk until mixture is shaggy.
4. Dip chicken in egg, then dredge in flour mixture, pressing to coat.
5. Add oil to hot skillet, place chicken skin-side down, and bake 15 min.
6. Flip and bake 15 min more, until breasts hit 160°F and thighs 175°F.
7. Rest on a rack 10 min before serving.


Chipotle Chicken Copycat

Chicken Marinade
• 2 to 2 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
• 12 oz can chipotle peppers in adobo
• Use the sauce directly
• Add 1–2 peppers finely chopped if you want extra heat
• 7 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 ½ tsp oregano
• Juice of 1 large lime
• ⅓ cup avocado oil (or olive oil)
• ⅔ cup water

Instructions
1. Make the marinade
• In a large bowl, add the adobo sauce from the can plus 1–2 chopped chipotle peppers (optional for more heat).
• Stir in garlic, cumin, black pepper, onion powder, oregano, lime juice, oil, and water.
2. Marinate the chicken
• Add cut up chicken thighs to the bowl, coat well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (overnight best).
3. Cook the chicken
• Heat 1–2 tbsp oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Place chicken
• Cook about 5–7 minutes per side, until fully cooked and enjoy



Homemade Strawberry Frappuccino

Ingredients

Strawberry Syrup (Puree):
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2–3 tablespoons water (as needed for blending)

Frappuccino Base:
• 1 cup milk (any kind—whole milk makes it creamier)
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar (or adjust to taste)

Topping:
• whipped cream (½ cup heavy whipping cream + 1 tablespoon sugar)


Instructions

1. Make the strawberry syrup/puree
• In a small saucepan, cook the frozen strawberries with sugar over medium heat until they soften and release their juices (about 5 minutes).
• Blend until smooth. If it’s too thick, add a splash of water. Let cool.

2. Make the whipped cream
• In a mixing bowl, add ½ cup heavy whipping cream and 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Whip until soft peaks form.

3. Blend the frappuccino
• In a blender, combine milk, ice, strawberries, heavy cream, and sugar.
• Blend until thick and frosty.

4. Prepare the cup
• Drizzle some of the strawberry puree along the inside walls of your serving glass.

5. Assemble
• Pour in the strawberry frappuccino.
• Top generously with the homemade whipped cream.