That craving for orange chicken or beef and broccoli always seems to hit on the busiest nights. By the time delivery shows up, it’s cold, soggy, and costs twice what it should.
These Chinese takeout recipes bring all your favorites home: sticky General Tso’s, Panda Express–style Beijing beef, crispy egg rolls, fluffy fried rice, and more. Each one uses an appliance you probably already own. The air fryer gives you crispy chicken without a pot of oil, the Instant Pot turns out tender beef and rice in minutes, and the crockpot handles one hands-off dinner while you’re at work.
Build a combo plate with an entrée, a side of fried rice, and a few crab rangoon, and you’ve got a better-than-takeout night at home.
Chinese Takeout Chicken Recipes
1. Slow Cooker Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
All the gingery, garlicky flavor of an egg roll filling, with no wrappers and no frying. Ground chicken, cabbage, and a soy-sesame sauce cook together in the crockpot after about 15 minutes of hands-on prep. It’s naturally low carb, too.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
2. Instant Pot Orange Chicken
A Panda Express–style favorite that cooks in just 5 minutes at high pressure. Bite-size chicken simmers in soy sauce and brown sugar, then gets a sticky orange marmalade glaze on the sauté setting. Serve over rice with green onions and sesame seeds.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Orange Chicken
3. Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken
Crispy coated chicken air fries at 390°F for about 8 minutes, then gets tossed in a sweet, tangy sauce with hoisin, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes. Adjust the heat to your family’s taste.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken
4. Easy Pei Wei Sesame Chicken
Potato starch gives this chicken a takeout-style crunch in the air fryer. The sticky sauce combines hoisin, soy sauce, brown sugar, and a splash of orange juice. Finish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Get the recipe: Easy Pei Wei Sesame Chicken Copycat
5. Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken
Crispy, tender chicken bites get coated in a sweet, sticky sauce made with honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. It’s a lighter take on the restaurant version and perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the recipe: Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken
6. PF Chang’s Teriyaki Chicken
Juicy chicken thighs air fry in about 10 to 12 minutes, then get brushed with a glossy homemade teriyaki sauce. Marinate for 30 minutes or overnight for even more flavor.
Get the recipe: PF Chang’s Teriyaki Chicken
7. Kung Pao Chicken Spaghetti (CPK Copycat)
Inspired by California Pizza Kitchen, this takes Kung Pao flavor and pairs it with spaghetti. Air-fried chicken, peanuts, and a spicy, savory hoisin sauce make it a fun change from rice.
Get the recipe: Kung Pao Chicken Spaghetti
Chinese Takeout Beef and Pork Recipes
8. Panda Express Beef and Broccoli
Thinly sliced sirloin and broccoli florets both cook in the air fryer, then get tossed in a ginger-garlic soy sauce with beef stock and a touch of brown sugar. It’s ready in about 35 minutes. Serve over jasmine rice.
Get the recipe: Panda Express Beef and Broccoli
9. Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
If you love PF Chang’s Mongolian beef, this one tastes almost the same. Sliced flank steak pressure cooks for 10 minutes in a sweet soy and brown sugar sauce with garlic, then thickens up glossy and rich.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
10. Air Fryer PF Chang’s Mongolian Beef
Prefer your beef with crispy edges? This version air fries the beef, then coats it in a sweet ginger-garlic soy sauce. It’s on the table in about 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer PF Chang’s Mongolian Beef
11. Panda Express Beijing Beef
Cornstarch-coated flank steak air fries at 380°F for 8 to 10 minutes until crispy. Then it’s tossed with sautéed bell peppers and onions in a sweet, tangy sauce made with hoisin, oyster sauce, and rice vinegar. It takes about 20 minutes total.
Get the recipe: Panda Express Beijing Beef
12. Panda Express Black Pepper Beef
Tender beef and crisp vegetables come together in a bold, peppery sauce, just like the restaurant version. It’s a great pick when you want something savory instead of sweet.
Get the recipe: Panda Express Black Pepper Beef
13. Air Fryer Pepper Steak
Strips of flank steak cook with red, green, and yellow bell peppers and onion, then get seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Serve it over rice or noodles to soak up the sauce.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Pepper Steak
14. Air Fryer Chinese Spare Ribs
Pork ribs marinate in hoisin, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and five-spice powder, then air fry at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes. Brush on extra sauce at the end for a sticky, caramelized finish, just like the restaurant.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chinese Spare Ribs
Fried Rice, Soups, and Takeout Sides
15. Easy Pei Wei Fried Rice
The Instant Pot cooks raw rice, your choice of pork, chicken, or shrimp, and veggies together in just 6 to 8 minutes at high pressure. Scramble the eggs right in the pot, then stir in peas and carrots.
Get the recipe: Easy Pei Wei Fried Rice
16. Easy Instant Pot Pork Fried Rice
Tender pork, jasmine rice, ginger, and soy sauce cook together in one pot. Push the rice aside, scramble a couple of eggs, and fold them in for a classic takeout side or a full meal.
Get the recipe: Easy Instant Pot Pork Fried Rice
17. Instant Pot Egg Drop Soup
Silky egg ribbons swirl through a rich, savory broth, just like your favorite Chinese restaurant. Drizzle the beaten eggs in slowly while stirring for the best ribbons. Add a dash of sesame oil or white pepper to finish.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chinese Egg Drop Soup
18. Air Fryer Chinese Egg Rolls
Homemade pork and vegetable egg rolls get golden and crispy in the air fryer, with no pot of hot oil needed. Serve with sweet and sour sauce or hot mustard.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chinese Egg Rolls
19. Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
No takeout order is complete without crab rangoon. Creamy, crab-filled wonton wrappers come out crispy and golden in the air fryer. Serve with sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
20. Air Fryer Potstickers
A ground chicken or pork filling with napa cabbage, mushrooms, ginger, and garlic gets folded into wonton wrappers and air fried at 390°F for 8 to 10 minutes. Frozen potstickers work too.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Potstickers
21. Easy Air Fryer Chinese Donuts
End your takeout night with the sugar-coated donuts from the Chinese buffet. Canned buttermilk biscuits get dipped in melted butter and sugar, then air fry at 320°F for 5 to 7 minutes. Just three ingredients.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Chinese Donuts
Tips for Better-Than-Takeout Chinese Food at Home
- Slice beef thin and against the grain. It cooks faster and stays tender in the air fryer or Instant Pot.
- Use cornstarch or potato starch. A light coating gives chicken and beef that crispy takeout texture without deep frying.
- Sauce right before serving. Toss crispy chicken in sauce at the last minute so it doesn’t get soggy.
- Make the sauce ahead. Most of these sauces keep in the fridge for up to a week.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Cook in batches so the hot air can circulate.
- Stock the pantry. Soy sauce, hoisin, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger cover nearly every recipe here.
Chinese Takeout Recipes FAQ
Can I make these recipes in a crockpot? The Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl is written for the slow cooker. Saucy dishes like orange chicken and Mongolian beef can also be adapted: cook the meat in the sauce on low until tender, then thicken with a cornstarch slurry during the last 30 minutes. Crispy recipes like egg rolls, crab rangoon, and General Tso’s are best in the air fryer.
What’s the fastest recipe on this list? The Instant Pot Orange Chicken cooks in 5 minutes at high pressure, and the Air Fryer Chinese Donuts take just 5 to 7 minutes. The Panda Express Beijing Beef is ready in about 20 minutes total.
How do I make a takeout-style combo plate? Pick one entrée, like the Beijing Beef or Sesame Chicken, add a scoop of the Pei Wei Fried Rice, and serve a few egg rolls or crab rangoon on the side.
Can I make these recipes ahead? Yes. Fried rice, Mongolian beef, and egg drop soup reheat well. Egg rolls and potstickers can be frozen before cooking and air fried straight from frozen.
Are these healthier than takeout? Usually, yes. Air frying uses far less oil than deep frying, and making your own sauce lets you control the sugar and sodium.
Save this list for your next takeout craving. Your wallet and your family will thank you.
