31 Chinese Recipes That Make Staying In the Better Option

Takeout has its place, but these Chinese recipes make staying home the better deal. They’re quick, bold, and easier than you might expect. From saucy noodles to crispy bites, each one delivers without the wait. You won’t miss the delivery fee or the lukewarm container. Just real food that actually feels worth it.

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Chinese Steamed Egg

Chinese Steamed Egg is soft, silky, and comes together with barely any effort. It’s comforting without being heavy, and it always feels like a win when you need something low-effort but warm. A quick drizzle of soy and sesame oil finishes it off. This is the kind of dish that proves staying in doesn’t mean settling.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Steamed Egg

Beijing Noodles

Beijing Noodles bring a savory bean sauce, chewy noodles, and ground meat that makes it feel more substantial than it looks. It’s rich, earthy, and easy to pull off on a weeknight. You don’t need many ingredients to make it work. Just noodles, sauce, and a reason not to order out.
Get the Recipe: Beijing Noodles

Spicy Dan Dan Noodles with Ground Pork

Spicy Dan Dan Noodles with Ground Pork is a dinner that doesn’t wait around. The chili oil hits fast, the pork adds richness, and the noodles do all the soaking. It’s the kind of bold, messy meal that tastes better than anything from a takeout box. You’ll want it again before the dishes are dry.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Dan Dan Noodles with Ground Pork

Kung Pao Chicken Noodles

Kung Pao Chicken Noodles goes heavy on the sauce, tosses in peanuts for crunch, and doesn’t skimp on the heat. The noodles carry everything, and the chicken picks up all the flavor. It’s spicy, quick, and better eaten straight out of the pan. Staying home never tasted this good.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chicken Noodles

Cold Sesame Noodles

Cold Sesame Noodles bring nutty, salty flavor with a bite of vinegar that keeps things sharp. They’re great when it’s too hot to cook but you still want real food. The sauce coats every strand without getting heavy. One of those meals that sneaks into your rotation without trying.
Get the Recipe: Cold Sesame Noodles

Hakka Noodles Stir-Fry

Hakka Noodles Stir-Fry is fast, saucy, and a good way to clear out the fridge. The noodles stay chewy, the veggies keep some crunch, and the soy-garlic sauce ties it all together. It’s not complicated, just consistently good. Takeout vibes without the delivery fee.
Get the Recipe: Hakka Noodles Stir-Fry

Sweet and Sour Tofu

Sweet and Sour Tofu is crispy on the outside, soft inside, and coated in a sauce that doesn’t mess around. It hits the balance of sweet, tangy, and sharp. You’ll forget this was tofu halfway through. The kind of meal that keeps you from missing meat or takeout.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Tofu

Spicy Egg Fried Rice

Spicy Egg Fried Rice comes together fast and clears out your leftovers in the best way. The chili adds a punch, the egg keeps it rich, and the rice soaks up every bit. It’s fast, forgiving, and always hits. One pan, zero complaints.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Egg Fried Rice

Sesame Noodles with Beef

Sesame Noodles with Beef is quick comfort in a bowl. The beef adds depth, the noodles soak up the sesame sauce, and dinner’s done in under 30 minutes. You’ll want this on repeat, especially when takeout starts to feel like a chore. Simple, filling, and no delivery tip required.
Get the Recipe: Sesame Noodles with Beef

Singapore Rice Noodles

Singapore Rice Noodles bring curry flavor, just enough heat, and noodles that stay light but filling. The shrimp and veggies round it out without making it feel heavy. It’s fast, colorful, and hard to stop eating. Better than takeout and done before they’d even show up.
Get the Recipe: Singapore Rice Noodles

Beef Chow Fun

Beef Chow Fun is all about chewy rice noodles, seared beef, and smoky soy sauce that pulls everything together. It’s simple, but feels like more. The wok-char gives it real flavor, even if you’re cooking it on a tired weeknight. Staying in wins when this hits the pan.
Get the Recipe: Beef Chow Fun

Stir-Fried Tomatoes and Eggs

Stir-Fried Tomatoes and Eggs is soft, savory, and quietly comforting. The tomatoes bring tang, the eggs stay silky, and the combo hits harder than you’d expect. It’s budget-friendly and fast, but still feels like a full meal. Proof that simple food can be the right call.
Get the Recipe: Stir-Fried Tomatoes and Eggs

Bang Bang Noodles with Chicken

Bang Bang Noodles with Chicken goes wide and chewy, soaked in chili oil and layered with garlic and soy. The chicken holds it down without making it heavy. Every bite has heat, chew, and something worth going back for. A clear case for staying in.
Get the Recipe: Bang Bang Noodles with Chicken

Scallion Noodles

Scallion Noodles lean on hot oil, soy sauce, and fresh scallions to turn pantry basics into something you’ll crave again. No chopping, no drama, just straight flavor. You’ll be eating in 15 minutes, tops. A strong reminder that good food doesn’t have to be loud.
Get the Recipe: Scallion Noodles

Garlic Chili Oil Noodles

Garlic Chili Oil Noodles deliver on heat, crunch, and that deeply savory edge that only comes from hot oil hitting raw garlic. It’s fast, satisfying, and easy to adjust depending on how your day went. Not fancy, just effective. Staying in doesn’t get easier than this.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chili Oil Noodles

Spicy Garlic Beef Noodles

Spicy Garlic Beef Noodles hits with chili and garlic from the first bite, followed by beef that actually brings something to the table. The sauce clings to every strand and keeps you coming back. It’s loud, quick, and always worth the mess. A better use of your evening than staring at a delivery app.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Garlic Beef Noodles

Szechuan Shrimp

Szechuan Shrimp goes bold with chili oil, garlic, and that signature numbing spice that doesn’t hold back. The shrimp stay juicy and soak up the heat fast. It’s quick, sharp, and leaves takeout looking mild in comparison. A solid reason to eat in.
Get the Recipe: Szechuan Shrimp

Air Fryer Kung Pao Chicken

Air Fryer Kung Pao Chicken keeps things crisp without the oil but still delivers the heat and sauce you want. The peanuts bring crunch, the sauce sticks, and everything stays hot. It’s the shortcut version that still feels right. Perfect for lazy nights that need a little flavor boost.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Kung Pao Chicken

Chicken Hot and Sour Soup

Chicken Hot and Sour Soup is thick, spicy, and sharp in all the right ways. The chicken gives it weight, the vinegar gives it bite, and the heat shows up fast. It’s the kind of soup that feels more like a full meal than a side. You’ll want it even when you’re not sick.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Hot and Sour Soup

Stir Fried Hokkien Noodles

Stir Fried Hokkien Noodles bring chewy noodles, a dark savory sauce, and just enough veg to make it feel balanced. It’s fast, filling, and better than what most restaurants deliver. One wok, no stress. This is weekday dinner done right.
Get the Recipe: Stir Fried Hokkien Noodles

Spicy Ma Po Tofu with Ground Pork

Spicy Ma Po Tofu with Ground Pork brings soft tofu, rich sauce, and that mouth-numbing heat that sneaks up on you. The pork gives it depth, and the chili oil makes sure it’s not boring. It’s bold, fast, and best eaten with rice. Way more interesting than anything from the usual delivery order.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Ma Po Tofu with Ground Pork

Fried Pork and Shrimp Wontons

Fried Pork and Shrimp Wontons are crispy, golden, and gone before you even plate them. The filling is juicy, the wrappers stay light, and they’re just salty enough to not need sauce—but you’ll dunk anyway. They’re easier to make than they look. And way better fresh than anything in a takeout box.
Get the Recipe: Fried Pork and Shrimp Wontons

Hoisin Beef

Hoisin Beef is quick to make and full of that sticky-sweet sauce that somehow makes plain rice exciting. The beef gets seared fast and tossed in the pan with garlic and green onions. No marinating, no waiting. Just a fast, flavorful dinner that tastes like more work than it was.
Get the Recipe: Hoisin Beef

Spicy Prawns in a Noodle Nest

Spicy Prawns in a Noodle Nest is all about texture—crispy noodles underneath, juicy shrimp on top, and heat in every bite. It’s a little messy, but worth it. You don’t need much else on the table when this shows up. It’s one of those meals that looks like takeout but tastes better.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Prawns in a Noodle Nest

Singapore Noodles

Singapore Noodles brings curry, crunch, and just enough sweetness to keep it interesting. The noodles stay springy and light while the spices do the heavy lifting. It’s fast, colorful, and doesn’t need much babysitting. A solid plan when staying in needs to feel like a treat.
Get the Recipe: Singapore Noodles

Spicy Cucumber Salad

Spicy Cucumber Salad is cold, crunchy, and has a chili-garlic kick that hits quick. It’s great on the side of something hot or eaten straight from the bowl. No cooking required, and still full of flavor. This is the reset button your dinner rotation needed.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Cucumber Salad

Mongolian Pork

Mongolian Pork is sticky, savory, and fast—just how dinner should be on a weeknight. The pork cooks in minutes and gets coated in a dark sauce that clings to everything. Serve it over rice or noodles, and you’re done. This one feels like takeout without the wait time.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Pork

Air Fryer Pork Belly

Air Fryer Pork Belly gives you crispy skin and juicy meat without hovering over a hot pan. It’s rich, salty, and surprisingly low-effort. The hardest part is waiting for it to cool. Better than restaurant versions, especially because you don’t have to share.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pork Belly

Mongolian Beef Noodles

Mongolian Beef Noodles goes all in with a sweet-salty sauce, tender beef, and thick noodles that don’t fall apart. It’s a one-pan meal that doesn’t cut corners on flavor. Big payoff, low effort. Ideal for when staying in needs to feel like a reward.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Beef Noodles

Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein

Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein takes care of itself while you handle everything else. The pork gets tender, the noodles soak up the sauce, and you’re left with something that feels way more complicated than it is. Toss everything in and let it go. This is one of those hands-off meals that always delivers.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein

Tanghulu

Tanghulu is crunchy, glossy, and way more fun to eat than it has any right to be. The sugar shell cracks with each bite, giving way to tart fruit underneath. It’s fast if you don’t mind a little sticky cleanup. This one makes staying in feel like a win even before dinner starts.
Get the Recipe: Tanghulu