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    Home

    How to Break Up with Take-Out

    I did some research to find the most commonly ordered take-out foods. Turns out we have easy, budget-friendly recipes here on Good Cheap Eats to help you break the take-out cycle.

    Not only can you save money, but you’ll also be able to make your favorite foods exactly the way you like them, avoiding allergens or unwanted ingredients.

    turkey burger loaded with tomato, lettuce, chipotle mayo, and blue cheese on homemade bun. this …

    Check out these fan-favorite Good Cheap Eats as an alternative to take-out:

    Jump to:
    • Breakfast
    • Mac & Cheese
    • Chicken
    • Burgers
    • Fries & Sides
    • Mexican Food
    • Asian Take-Out
    • Pizza

    Breakfast

    Coffee

    The average American spends over $2000/year on coffee! Bring that in-house statistic down by making your own coffee drinks at home!

    • iced coffee in milk bottle, surrounded by coffee beans.
      Homemade Iced Coffee
    • overhead shot of cold brew in glass coffee cups.
      Cold Brew Concentrate
    • overhead shot of hands clasping glass of iced mocha with ice cubes floating atop.
      Iced Mocha (32 cents/each!)
    • french press cold brew coffee on butcher block.
      French Press Cold Brew Coffee

    Cinnamon Rolls

    Cinnamon Rolls are one of the most commonly ordered breakfast item, yet they’re also incredibly easy to make at home.

    • dozen cinnamon rolls on parchment paper with glazing
      Whole Grain Cinnamon Rolls to Make Your Weekend Mornings
    • rainbow breakfast rolls with sugar glaze and sprinkles
      Rainbow Cinnamon Rolls
    • orange cinnamon rolls on platter
      Orange Rolls (49 cents/each!)
    • cinnamon rolls in freezer
      How to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls

    Donuts

    Donuts are next on the list of items that folks aren’t sure how to make themselves. While it does take a special kitchen gadget or two, baking or frying donuts at home is pretty easy!

    • stack of chocolate baked donuts on beaded glass cake platter.
      The Best Chocolate Baked Donuts (17 cents each)
    • buttermilk donuts stacked on a plate
      Gramma John’s Buttermilk Donuts

    Breakfast Sandwiches

    The ever-popular breakfast sandwich is so easy to make at home, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing it forever. Don’t forget to try your hand at Breakfast Burritos, too!

    • breakfast sandwich with table spread
      Breakfast Sandwich Recipe: Easy & Freezer Friendly
    • breakfast sausage patties on a white plate.
      How to Cook Breakfast Sausage
    • cut half of breakfast burrito leaning on second half on plate with pico and orange slices.
      Breakfast Burrito Ideas
    • breakfast burrito cut in half, pitcher of orange juice
      Jace’s Breakfast Burritos

    Mac & Cheese

    I’ll be honest. I’ve never trusted Mac & Cheese that came from a restaurant. Part of that is because homemade is so easy and cheap! I hope you’ll give these easy recipes a try.

    • close up of spoonful of mac and cheese.
      Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
    • Stovetop Mac and Cheese – No Need for a Box!
    • plate of mac and cheese
      Easiest Mac and Cheese Recipe
    • red ramekins with macaroni
      Alfredo Mac and Cheese

    Chicken

    I was a child of the Chicken Wars, and while I still favor KFC Original, I’ve learned that making my own at home is a far better way. Try one of these easy chicken recipes and let me know what you think!

    • basket with fried chicken sandwich and fries
      Fried Chicken Sandwich
    • Chicken Patties on white platter
      Crispy Chicken Patties (better than chicken nuggets!)
    • plates of food on table, with crispy chicken tenders
      Fried Chicken Strips
    • toothpick holding up a chicken bite with steam rising from it.
      Buffalo Chicken Bites

    Burgers

    I love a Double-Double or Big Mac just as much as the next person, but it’s the high costs I can do without. Making homemade burgers is a great way for you (and me!) to save money and still enjoy a great hamburger.

    • A close up of a plate of food, with Bacon Cheeseburger
      BBQ Bacon-Onion Cheeseburger Recipe
    • A close up of a burger on a plate
      Popeye Burgers with Spinach
    • turkey burger on plate with blue cheese crumbles
      Easy Turkey Burger Recipe
    • sausage burger on a plate, with coleslaw
      Spicy Sausage Burgers
    • A pan of homemade burger buns
      Homemade Hamburger Buns Recipe
    • homemade hamburger buns on board
      Everything Hamburger Buns
    • A stack of burgers on plastic wrap
      Making Burger Patties for the Freezer
    • A close up of a burger on a plate
      5 Ways to Dress Up a Burger

    Fries & Sides

    • sweet potato fries on sheet pan
      Sweet Potato Fries
    • black bowl of Chili Cheese Fries with lots of toppings.
      Homemade Chili Cheese Fries
    • forkful of potato salad on plate with pork chop and salad
      Easy Homemade Deli Potato Salad
    • woman holding potato coin
      Parmesan Potato Coins

    Mexican Food

    Growing up in Southern California, I was blessed with some of the best Mexican food this side of the border. While I definitely have favorite taquerias to visit, I also know we can save some money making tacos and burritos at home. Here are just a few of our faves, but be sure to check out all our Mexican food recipes.

    • cooked taco meat in oval dish with taco toppings nearby.
      Easy Homemade Taco Meat
    • dipping beef taquito into cup of guacamole.
      Beef Taquitos
    • shredded beef tacos in metal holder on white plate.
      Shredded Beef Tacos
    • hand holding chip piled with salsa above a marble pestle of salsa.
      Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa
    • white bowl of mexican rice topped with chopped cilantro.
      How to Make Mexican Rice (Instant Pot or Stovetop)
    • pair of chimichangas in baking dish topped with sauce, cheese, and chopped scallions.
      Beef Chimichanga Recipe (61 cents each)
    • bean tostada on a white plate
      Homemade Mexican Bean Tostadas (56 cents each!)
    • bowl of guacamole surrounded by blue corn tortillas
      Easy Guacamole Recipe

    Asian Take-Out

    The world of Asian-inspired take-out is vast and varied, not limited to any one country. While just a sampling of the options out there, these Good Cheap Eats Asian recipes help suit the craving when it hits — without the expense.

    • array of rice bowls in black bowls on table.
      How to Make a Rice Bowl
    • closeup of potsticker sauce in dipping cup with chopsticks and dumplings nearby.
      Potsticker Dipping Sauce
    • overhead shot of cashew chicken on a white dinner plate with a fork nearby on the black table.
      Easy Cashew Chicken
    • ingredients for chow mein
      Homemade Vegetable Chow Mein (Ready In 30 Mins!)
    • Carrots and ginger root with jar of dressing
      Carrot Ginger Dressing
    • vegetable fried rice on plate with potstickers
      Vegetable Fried Rice
    • piece of chicken held in black chopsticks over square white plate of chicken stir fry on bed of rice.
      Easy Chicken Stir Fry
    • hand holding a turkey lettuce wrap over a platter of wraps.
      Turkey Lettuce Wraps

    Pizza

    You don’t need to call the pizza delivery guy when you can easily make your faves at home. We’ve got you covered for pizza bases, sauce, toppings, and more!

    Pizza Crust, Sauce, and Other Bases

    • plain round of whole wheat pizza dough on a screen.
      Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe
    • sourdough pizza dough balls on floured surface.
      Sourdough Pizza Crust (60 cents/pizza)
    • ingredients to make homemade pizza
      BEST Homemade Pizza Recipe
    • deep dish pineapple pizza cut into quarters
      How to Make Pan Pizza at Home
    • mini pizzas on a white rectangular tray on a black table.
      Easy Mini Pizza Recipe (Freezer-friendly)
    • overhead of tortilla pizza on screen.
      Tortilla Pizza (52 cents each)
    • overhead shot of english muffin pizzas, some pepperoni some cheese, on a wooden board.
      English Muffin Pizza Recipe
    • A sliced pizza sitting on top of a cutting board
      5-Ingredient Pita Pizza
    • pizza bagels on tray with red checked cloth
      Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels Recipe (54cents/serving)
    • french bread pizza, sliced on a wooden cutting board
      Pesto and Tomato French Bread Pizza Recipe
    • white bowl of pizza sauce with whisk
      Last-Minute No Cook Pizza Sauce (50 cents/cup)
    • Homemade Pizza Sauce | Good Cheap Eats
      Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe

    Pizza Toppings

    • A pizza sitting on top of a pan on a table, with Cheese
      Quick and Easy Three Cheese Pizza
    • close up of a slice of jalapeño pizza on a plate.
      Jalapeno Pizza
    • baked supreme pizza sliced on plate
      The BEST Homemade Supreme Pizza Recipe
    • sliced burrito pizza with pizza cutter
      Burrito Pizza to Spice Up Your Pizza Nights
    • pizza topped with fresh avocado
      Chicken Pesto Pizza with Fresh Avocado
    • Tartiflette Pizza on table with pizza cutter
      Tartiflette Pizza
    • A large BBQ Chicken pizza topped with cilantro
      BBQ Chicken Pizza with Bacon & Pineapple
    • carrying pizza to the grill
      The Easiest Grilled Pizza You Can Make
    • hand pulling slice of kale pizza off pan
      Kale Pizza with Mushrooms and Tomatoes (53 cents/slice)
    • margherita flatbread pizza cut into wedges on a platter.
      Margherita Flatbread Pizza
    • close up of unsliced Thai chicken pizza.
      Thai Chicken Pizza
    • wedges of goat cheese pizza on white plate.
      Goat Cheese Pizza

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter their budget.

    More about me

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    Celebrate Your Grad

    • veggie tray made on wooden board on a diagonal on a white counter.
      Easy Vegetable Tray
    • bowl of ranch dip surrounded by veggie dippers.
      Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dip
    • meat and cheese platters on buffet table.
      How to Make Your Own Meat and Cheese Platters
    • fruit tray with kiwi, melon, and berries on white oval platter.
      How to Make a Fruit Tray
    • overhead shot of square of chocolate frosted cake on white plate with fork.
      Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar
    • close up of chocolate orange cake square on a plate.
      Chocolate Orange Cake

    Break Up with Take-Out

    • cut half of breakfast burrito leaning on second half on plate with pico and orange slices.
      Breakfast Burrito Ideas
    • two black divided meal prep boxes with lettuce leaves on one side and turkey filling on the other.
      30+ Meal Prepped Lunches to Beat Fast Food
    • pizza freezer kit in gallon size ziptop bag.
      Freezer Meal Pizza Kits
    • vegetable fried rice on plate with potstickers
      Vegetable Fried Rice

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