20 Restaurant Dishes You're Better Off Making at Home

Eating out can be fun but also pricey and unhealthy, and the food they serve is sometimes stale. Fortunately, there are many restaurant foods that you can cook at home without the need for fancy utensils or appliances. This article features 20 everyday dishes you’re better off making in your kitchen.

1. Mac and Cheese

Ronmar Lacamiento on Pexels

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned mac and cheese. Making this at home lets you avoid the grease and preservatives that restaurants often serve. You can also blend your choice of cheeses. We recommend adding breadcrumbs for added texture.

2. Pizza

Cats Coming on Pexels

When you order pizza at a restaurant, it’s often hit or miss. Homemade pizza allows you to customize it to your heart’s content. You can choose what cheese to use, which toppings to put on it, and the thickness of the crust.

3. Guacamole

RDNE Stock project on Pexels

Fresh guacamole is a fan favorite. However, it can be pretty pricey when you order it at a restaurant. To avoid the extra expense, make it at home. Use ripe avocados, fresh lime juice, and a hint of garlic to make the flavors burst with freshness and flavor.

4. French Toast

Lorilee E Pexels

Restaurant-quality French toast is good, but it’s often too sweet and packed with calories. If you decide to make it in your kitchen, you can control the sweetness, texture, and overall flavor.

5. Pancakes

Ash Craig on Pexels

Like French toast, pancakes ordered from a restaurant can be overly sweet. They can also be too small or too big. Luckily, you can make your stack at home. You can make fluffier and tastier pancakes with just a few ingredients, like eggs, flour, milk, and baking powder.

6. Caesar Salad

julie aagaard on Pexels

Don’t you like it when a restaurant serves you a Caesar Salad that’s just lettuce with a lot of dressing and stale croutons? If you do, make one at home with just a few ingredients, such as olive oil, romaine lettuce, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Bonus tip: Cook homemade croutons to add an extra texture. 

7. Mashed Potatoes

Nadin Sh on Pexels

You can easily create smoky, smooth mashed potatoes at home, which is better than getting them from a restaurant. You only need potatoes, salt, butter, and milk or cream.

8. Burrito Bowls

Nourishment DECODED on Pexels

If you’re cutting back on salt, avoid ordering burrito bowls. Making them yourself enables you to create a healthier bowl overall. You can replace white rice with brown rice and add lean protein and fresh veggies.

9. Poke Bowls

Valeria Boltneva on Pexels

Surprisingly, poke bowls made at a restaurant are loaded with salt and less than fresh fish. To ensure high-quality, healthy ingredients, create your poke bowl at home.

10. Pasta Alfredo

Engin Akyurt on Pexels

Restaurant-quality Alfredo sauce can be heavy and packed with calories. You can make a lighter sauce if you use half-and-half and Greek yogurt for the base. This makes it healthier without sacrificing the creaminess of the sauce.

11. Smoothie Bowls

Madison Inouye on Pexels

Making smoothie bowls in your kitchen allows you to use the natural sweetness from fruits, which is the healthier option. This is because restaurant smoothie bowls tend to be sweetened with syrup and sugary toppings.

12. Stir-Fry

Clem Onojeghuo on Pexels

Have you ever ordered stir-fry that’s just too greasy? When you make it at home, you can decide the amount of oil and even use fresh vegetables for better flavors.

13. Avocado Toast

Wendy Wei on Pexels

For such a simple dish, avocado toast can be quite expensive when ordered. So go ahead and make one yourself. Experiment with different toppings to create the best avocado toast.

14. Omelets

Annushka Ahuja on Pexels

Omelets at restaurants tend to be too oily and filled with unhealthy ingredients. When made at home, you get the chance to make one with fresh and healthy ingredients.

15. Sushi Rolls

Stanisław Pionersky on Pexels

Sushi rolls are one of the more expensive items on the menu. On the plus side, they’re pretty easy to make at home. Experiment with different types of fish and vegetables.

16. Grilled Cheese

Lisa Fotios on Pexels

Why order grilled cheese when it’s so easy to make one yourself? Plus, you can choose the cheese and even blend it with other cheeses.

17. Nachos

RDNE Stock project on Pexels

Nachos can sometimes be greasy and stale when ordered. To avoid this, bake tortilla chips and add fresh guacamole and lean protein for a healthier snack.

18. Salsa and Chips

Los Muertos Crew on Pexels

At restaurants, salsa can be too salty, spicy, or bland. On the other hand, homemade salsa allows you to select the level of spiciness and avoid preservatives. Pair it with baked tortilla chips, and boom, you have a delicious and healthy snack.

19. Tacos

Vinícius Caricatte on Pexels

Homemade tacos are excellent because you control what you put in them. Choose lean meats, fresh veggies, and whole-grain tortillas. It’s a fresher and healthier version of a favorite meal.

20. Brownies or Chocolate Cake

JÉSHOOTS on Pexels

If you’re trying to cut back on calories, avoid ordering brownies or cake. Instead, bake a fresh batch right in the comfort of your kitchen. This allows you to control the sweetness and quality of the chocolate.

• Tags:
• Kitchen
• Cooking
• Restaurant
• Dish
• food