Okay, real talk—how many times have you opened the fridge, sighed, and immediately started calculating how long delivery would take? SAME.
Chinese takeout has been our weeknight hero more times than I care to admit, especially after those 12-hour shifts where my feet hurt, my hair’s a mess, and the idea of chopping anything feels like a personal attack.
But here’s what changed for us…
One night, our usual spot was closed (a tragedy), and Matthew—bless him—decided we’d try making sesame chicken at home. I was skeptical.
I mean, the sauce? The crispiness? The magic? But y’all… it worked.
And not only was it delicious, it was healthier, faster than delivery, and way more fun. (Plus, our kitchen smelled AMAZING.)
So now, Chinese recipes have become a regular thing in our house.
And let me tell you—they’re easier than you think.
Most use basic pantry ingredients (hello, soy sauce and garlic), they cook up FAST, and you can customize everything (less salt, more spice, gluten-free—do your thing).
Trust me—you’re gonna want to try EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.
10 Best Chinese Dinner Recipes to Make at Home
There’s just something so comforting about a good Chinese dinner—the kind that hits all the right notes: savory, a little sweet, maybe a bit spicy, and SO satisfying.
And when you realize you can make those same delicious dishes at home, with fresh ingredients and way less grease? Game changer.
These are the Chinese cooking recipes we turn to on those nights when we want something quick, cozy, and packed with flavor—without relying on takeout.
Some come together in 20 minutes, some are fun little weekend projects (looking at you, dumplings), but they’re all worth bookmarking and making on repeat.
So grab your soy sauce and your favorite wok—let’s do this.
Lo Mein Noodles with Chinese Sausage and Gai Lan
"An easy and fast Chinese Lo Mein noodle dish loaded with sweet and salty lap cheong (Chinese sausages) and leafy green gai lan (Chinese broccoli)."
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Cashew Chicken
"TESTED & PERFECTED RECIPE – This cashew chicken with tender stir-fried chicken and roasted cashews in garlic sauce tastes just like take-out, only better."
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Peking-Style Chicken
"Serve this crispy-skinned, exceptionally moist chicken like you would a Peking duck: with Chinese pancakes, sliced scallions, cucumber, and hoisin sauce."
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Ma La Xiang Guo (Sichuan Mala Dry Pot)
"This Ma La Xiang Guo recipe teaches you to make this popular Chinese restaurant dish in your own kitchen with a simple approach."
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Pork with Garlic Sauce
"An authentic version of Pork with Garlic Sauce or Yu Xiang Rou Si (鱼香肉丝) involves just three main ingredients: pork, wood ear mushrooms, and celtuce, the stem part of a lettuce plant"
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Chinese Hamburger, Rou Jia Mo
"Chinese Hamburger, Rou Jia Mo (肉夹馍) means “meat in a bun,” which sort of makes it similar to what we’d think of as a hamburger, or maybe a Chinese sloppy joe. So there’s the meat filling of shredded pork belly with spices and fresh herbs sandwiched between a homemade pan baked bun."
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Peking Duck
"Discover the joy of homemade Peking Duck! Crispy, flavorful, and surprisingly simple, this recipe brings a Chinese classic to your table."
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Szechuan Chicken
"Just as delicious as Chinese take-out, but made right at home, this Szechuan Chicken recipe is super easy to make, ready in just 30 minutes."
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Mapo Tofu
"Mapo tofu is a specialty of China’s Sichuan province, and a paragon of the region’s famed ma la, or numbing and spicy, flavor.The complex flavor of this Chinese dish comes from three key ingredients: Sichuan chili flakes, umami-rich doubanjiang (a fermented chile–broad bean paste), and citrusy, tingling, mildly mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns (the berry of a prickly ash tree)."
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Instant Pot Braised Beef (Chinese-Style)
"An easy Instant Pot braised beef recipe that creates melt-in-your-mouth beef with a rich, well-rounded sauce that is very fragrant. Make it ahead of time and enjoy it throughout the week!"
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