21 Hearty Thai Recipes That Beat Takeout

Aug 05, 2023

Is winter the ultimate season to order warm, cozy takeout meals? 100% yes. But is it really already time to break your New Year's financial goals? Maybe not. If you still want to hold true to your resolutions to save some cash, but can't stop yourself from feeling intense takeout cravings, it's likely time to consider some cooking options that will abide by both of your wishes.

Now is the perfect time to make a homemade, hearty Thai dish that will warm you up, fill you up, and won't break the bank (curse you, delivery fees). Thai food is the best cuisine for cold weather — dishes are always served piping hot, with a generous dash of spices that'll clear your sinuses up, too. Who could ask for more, especially when it's freezing out? These hearty Thai recipes only require a fraction of your day to prepare, they're packed with healthy veggies and protein, are full of flavor, plus they'll yield the right amount of food to save for later. Leftovers... score! We've got some vegetarian and vegan Thai dishes on deck, too. Try your hand at these delicious dishes this winter, and you might just confuse yourself for your fave takeout restaurant's cook.

If you've never made curry at home, this year is your chance to try it out and get creative in the kitchen. The fish in this recipe is delicately cooked in the curry sauce, making every single bite soft and flavorful. (via The Endless Meal)

All of the staple Thai flavors really shine in this hearty noodle soup. Prepare yourself for a stunning mouthful of tangy lime, sweet coconut milk, and spicy Thai curry. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Spend the 30 minutes you would normally be spending waiting for takeout to arrive at the front door to prep this Thai drunken noodle dish. You'll get a hearty fix of vegetables, plus you can customize this dish with the exact amount of spice you desire. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Dinner can be as simple as throwing a handful of your fave veggies in a pan! This stir fry recipe is made for those busy weeknights when you really don't feel like cooking for too long, but still want a filling meal. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Buffalo flavors boring you out? Don't fret. This chicken wing recipe is chock-full of unique Thai spices that mix together perfectly with sweet peanut notes. Bye, bye, typical wings. (via The Endless Meal)

Save some money on delivery fees and make this pad Thai with ease at home. This dish that's bursting with healthy veggies and filling protein is sure to leave you satisfied. Pro tip: top your noodles with some chili garlic sauce to warm up! (via A Spicy Perspective)

This is one of our favorite Thai recipes because brings you the sweet, spicy flavors of traditional Thai lemongrass soup that we all know and love, thanks to our local takeout spot! If you want to enjoy this hearty soup for days on end, you might be better off making it at home, with tons of leftovers to be eaten. (via Chef Bai)

Spicy. Garlic. Honey. Butter. That's all that needs to be said about this dish. Oh yeah, and that it's also extremely easy to make! Your home will soon be filled with the decadent aromas of yellow curry, ready in only 30 minutes. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Spice up your dinnertime with this filling soup recipe! Its flavors are super bold, all while filling you with all of the good, healthy stuff. (via A Spicy Perspective)

This low-carb dish is super eye-catching from all of the vegetables included, plus it's a super healthy vegetarian Thai food option. (via Brit + Co.)

Adding pineapple to a spicy fried rice dish just seems like the right thing to do. You'll be entranced by the complex flavors that it brings, plus, a dish has got to be healthy if it has fruit in it, right? (via A Spicy Perspective)

Subbing zoodles for your typical rice noodle adds a bite of freshness into this hearty Thai chicken soup. (via The Endless Meal)

Any basil fanatic is going to dig this Thai recipe. Done in under an hour, this recipe produces a lot of leftovers that you know you're going to devour for lunch the next day. (via A Spicy Perspective)

These fresh Thai meatballs are heavenly over a bed of rice or noodles. They'll absorb the flavor and moisture of the curry they're boiled in, leaving each bite super tender, cozy, and warm. (via Rachel Mansfield)

Try this twist on coconut shrimp that adds curry into the mix. It's only going to take you half an hour to make, and you seriously won't regret it after that first bite. (via Salt & Lavender)

This healthy soup is going to be your #1 recipe to reach for during soup season. The squash brings ultimate creaminess to your bite and there's also a pinch of spice to keep things interesting, all while remaining a bomb vegan recipe. (via Rachel Mansfield)

It's truly mind-blowing how simple this vegan noodle soup is — 15 minutes and it's steaming hot, ready to enjoy! Rice noodles are arguably the best part of a Thai soup dish, so make sure you throw some thin noodles in your pot. (via Feel Good Foodie)

This one's for all the vegans out there. Immerse yourself in flavorful red curry flavors and prepare to feel warmed from the inside out. You won't want to eat anything else on a cold winter day. (via The Endless Meal)

Ramen is always the way to go when you need a quick, filling meal. Opt out of the microwavable packets and its gross lingering after-effects, and make your own homemade ramen! This recipe uses all whole ingredients to make sure your next bowl doesn't leave you feeling bloated. (via Chef Bai)

Curry will leave you so warm from the inside out. It's not good unless the spice has opened your sinuses, in our opinion. This recipe will deliver the best on all fronts, plus it's vegetarian with a stellar vegan option! (via Live Eat Learn)

You won't be able to stop spooning this delicious soup into your mouth. This vegetarian and vegan udon noodle soup is delicately balanced with savory and spicy notes, and is all-together super addicting. (via The Endless Meal)

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Creative Assistant, Meredith Holser, is B+C's resident food writer, photographer, and TikTok taker. Meredith writes about a range of topics for B+C, but she's adopted food writing in all its many facets for the last year. You can see her work published in Do214, Advocate Magazine, WFAA, and North Texas Daily. Meredith's passion for photography began after sneaking her mom's iPhone to take pictures of flowers on vacation, eventually evolving from a passion to a professional career. Outside of work, you can catch Meredith hiking, trying new recipes, and dreaming about having a yummy little treat.