Trying to save money—what do you make when you’d rather have takeout?

[Anonymous]

Chicken and waffles - breaded chicken strips in the oven or air fryer (I use the whole foods one from the prepared section but those are expensive) and frozen waffles with hot honey/maple syrup. Serve with apples wedges or salad.

[Anonymous]

For us it's more of a time issue, on the nights that kids have activities and we have 30-40 minutes total to unpack from work, cook eat, clean up, change into whatever they need to practice in, and get back in the car. It's so much easier if I can place an order before I leave the office, and dinner is there and ready when we get home.

Our standbys for those nights are:
Quick-cooking pasta (8 min boil time or less) and a jarred sauce. I make a huge batch of sauce a few times a year and freeze it, so I'll use that if I have it.

Tuna melts on English muffins, topped with a slice of Provolone. Sliced veggies on the side.

Scrambled eggs, frozen hash browns, fruit. I add chopped spinach to my eggs, kids aren't a huge fan of that.

Fish & chips - frozen breaded cod from Costco with frozen French fries, all in the air fryer. Carrot & celery sticks on the side, or a cole slaw bag kit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A combo of items from TJ’s and Costco is what we do under these circumstances.

For example, Trader Joe’s kung pao chicken with rice from the rice cooker and maybe some Trader Joe’s spring rolls or pot stickers. I make double the rice I need and use the leftover for rice and bean burritos the next night. Just heat canned beans.

Pretty easy and not too much clean up. Yes, more than from takeout, but not that much more and much less expensive.

TJ’s kung pao chicken is so good. I also like their scallion pancake things. The pre-marinated chicken shawarma is good too.

OP I get where you’re coming from b/c sometimes you just want to eat and not prepare anything. That is when we pull out a frozen lasagna that can be baked in its original pan. Also, I will cook large meals when I have energy (like a bunch of chicken Alfredo) and freeze half so I can pull it out later and serve with a bagged salad.

Another idea is charcuterie night. We do this like once a month where we just grab all the stuff we need to use out of the fridge (usually we have some prosciutto or salami) pair with whatever fruit, cheese, etc. we need to finish off and some crackers, nuts, etc. Super easy and our kids love eating this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chicken and waffles - breaded chicken strips in the oven or air fryer (I use the whole foods one from the prepared section but those are expensive) and frozen waffles with hot honey/maple syrup. Serve with apples wedges or salad.

DP, but this just reminded me we often make chicken strips in the air fryer and then cut them up and toss them with a pre-made Cobb salad. It’s close(ish) to the chick fil a salad. Sometimes I even get an extra packet of avocado ranch from CFA to use on a salad later. So good!

[Anonymous]

We all love the TJ’s orange chicken (in the frozen aisle). While it is baking I microwave a bag of broccoli and pour some of the orange sauce on it, and microwave rice, too.

[Anonymous]

My quick easy meals are omelettes, French toast, grilled cheese. I also make my kids chicken parm sandwiches - heat up frozen breaded chicken patties in the toaster oven, spoon jarred tomato sauce on top and sprinkle with grated Parmesan or a slice of mozzarella in a hamburger bun. These are all ingredients that I either have in the fridge or freezer.

[Anonymous]

We’ve made a lot of these easy meals, but one thing I’ve learned into of late is making the takeout food we’re craving. There are great recipes out there. It can’t be done in a pinch, but with a little planning so you have the ingredients for butter chicken or kung psi chicken. I’ve expanded my repertoire this way.

I also try to challenge myself like another pp said to just cook something even when I don’t feel like it. Once you start it gets easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve made a lot of these easy meals, but one thing I’ve learned into of late is making the takeout food we’re craving. There are great recipes out there. It can’t be done in a pinch, but with a little planning so you have the ingredients for butter chicken or kung psi chicken. I’ve expanded my repertoire this way.

I also try to challenge myself like another pp said to just cook something even when I don’t feel like it. Once you start it gets easier.

+1
There's takout for the convenience and then there's restaurant food you want to learn to make at home.

[Anonymous]

"Fa-Asian" is what I call my fake Thai take-out. It's basically pot stickers, curry something with rice, and steamed broccoli. Thanks to Trader Joe's, I can get it on the table in about 15 minutes. Kids love it.

[Anonymous]

I keep Guanciale in the freezer for exactly this situation and make pasta alla gricia. It’s so yummy and tastes like restaurant food, all the kids love it, and it’s easy easy.

https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/pasta-alla-gricia/

[Anonymous]

Other than pizza, we have been so disappointed in quality of take out lately that have started doing more of these quix fix meals instead of ordering in.

-We love the pre-marinated meats at H-Mart. Good quality and I always have rice and sides in freezer
-Ramen (love the selection at H mart)
-quick shrimp stirfry, only takes a few minutes. I always have a great selection of different condiments (thai chili sauce, tamarind sauce, etc.)
-relay on freezer meals. I always double up things like soups and beans so there is always something to pull out of freezer
-rotisserie chicken and just add sides
-charcuterie board with good bread (always a big hit)

[Anonymous]

OP I totally get that you do not want to cook but...

I do have a simple frying pan meal. Make crepes. The batter is SO easy. Mix the flour, egg milk and water. Done.

Melt some butter in a non stick pan, pour your first crepe, and top it with some ham and cheese. Wrap it up and there's dinner.

Just keep using the same pan and take turns making the crepes...

Rinse out one pan and one measuring cup when done.

add a bagged salad or whatever if you need a veg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been spending entirely too much on takeout and vow to eat out less next month. But sometimes I just don’t want to cook. I don’t want to clean. I don’t want to do anything but throw away a paper plate, at most. I’m looking to alternatives to eating out that don’t require ANY effort or energy in the kitchen. **NOT PIZZA!** We already have a rotating pizza night.

I’ve considered those Costco prepared meals, but they aren’t exactly “cheap”, and some of them take planning (like an hour or more to bake the pot pie/meatloaf, etc.)

Cereal night is another idea but in the past, everyone is still hungry later. And, cereal isn’t cheap either! And nobody enjoys the same cereal. If I’m spending $6 a box, we might as well get Subway.

Help!!!

You are in dire need of a math class.

I get what’s she’s saying. I have two kids and they each pick a cereal, and DH and I don’t eat that, and I often don’t like what DH likes. So that’s three boxes. If they are $6 each that’s $18, plus milk, so $20. We could get Subway for $30, or whatever, and have no dishes. I think that’s what OP is saying.

Are you each eating an entire box of cereal for one meal?

[Anonymous]

Breakfast for dinner - eggs, pancakes or waffles, bacon.
Creamy chicken tortilla soup with tortilla chips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is microwaving something from Trader Joes too much effort?

👆douche