5 Fakeaway Recipes That Beat the Takeaway on Price
The Friday Night Dilemma: Pizza or Purse?
Let's be honest — after a long week, the temptation to tap Deliveroo is real. But with the average UK takeaway now costing £25–£35 for a family of four, that "quick treat" quickly becomes an expensive habit.
The good news? You can recreate your favourite takeaway dishes at home for a fraction of the price — often better tasting and definitely better for your wallet. These five fakeaway recipes use simple supermarket (or surplus food shop) ingredients and cost under £2 per portion. Yes, really.
1. Fakeaway Chicken Tikka Masala
Takeaway price: £9.50–£12.00 per portion
Homemade cost: £1.80 per portion
Saving: 80–85%
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 500g chicken thighs (or swap for chickpeas to go veggie) — £2.50
- 1 jar tikka masala sauce or 200g passata + spices — £0.80
- 200g basmati rice — £0.60
- 1 onion, garlic, ginger — £0.50
- Naan bread (optional) — £0.80
Method
- Marinate chicken in yoghurt and tikka spices for 30 minutes (or overnight if you're organised).
- Brown the chicken in a pan, then set aside.
- Fry onion, garlic, and ginger until soft. Add sauce or passata with garam masala, cumin, and coriander.
- Simmer chicken in sauce for 20 minutes.
- Serve over rice with warm naan.
Pro tip: Batch-cook double and freeze half. Future you will be grateful.
2. Fakeaway Loaded Nachos
Takeaway price: £8.00–£10.00
Homemade cost: £1.50 per portion
Saving: 80%
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 1 bag tortilla chips — £1.00
- 400g tin black beans or kidney beans — £0.50
- 200g grated cheese — £1.50
- Salsa (jar or homemade with tinned tomatoes) — £0.60
- Soured cream or Greek yoghurt — £0.50
- Jalapeños, spring onions — £0.50
Method
- Layer chips on a baking tray.
- Drain and rinse beans, scatter over chips.
- Top with cheese and bake at 200°C for 8–10 minutes until melty.
- Finish with salsa, soured cream, and jalapeños.
The upgrade: Add leftover roast chicken or minced beef for a heartier version.
3. Fakeaway Sweet & Sour Chicken
Takeaway price: £8.50–£11.00
Homemade cost: £1.60 per portion
Saving: 80–85%
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 500g chicken breast or thighs, diced — £2.80
- 1 pepper, 1 onion, cubed — £0.80
- 200g pineapple chunks (tinned works perfectly) — £0.60
- 4 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce — £0.40
- 200g rice — £0.60
Method
- Coat chicken in cornflour and shallow-fry until golden.
- Whisk ketchup, vinegar, sugar, soy, and a splash of pineapple juice for the sauce.
- Stir-fry peppers and onion for 3–4 minutes.
- Add chicken, pineapple, and sauce. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Serve over rice.
Why it works: The sauce is basically store-cupboard ingredients. No fancy imports needed.
4. Fakeaway Margherita Pizza
Takeaway price: £10.00–£14.00
Homemade cost: £1.20 per portion
Saving: 85–90%
Ingredients (makes 2 large pizzas)
- 500g strong white flour + yeast + salt — £0.80
- 200g passata — £0.40
- 250g mozzarella — £1.80
- Dried oregano, olive oil — £0.30
Method
- Mix flour, yeast, salt, and warm water. Knead 5 minutes, prove 1 hour.
- Roll out dough, top with passata, torn mozzarella, and oregano.
- Bake at 240°C (or as hot as your oven goes) for 10–12 minutes.
The cheat: Use flatbreads or tortilla wraps as a base for a 10-minute version. Still beats Domino's on price.
5. Fakeaway Doner Kebab
Takeaway price: £7.00–£9.00
Homemade cost: £1.40 per portion
Saving: 80%
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 500g lamb mince (or beef/pork mix) — £3.00
- Garlic, onion, cumin, paprika, oregano — £0.40
- 4 pitta breads — £0.60
- Lettuce, tomato, onion, chilli sauce — £0.80
- Garlic yoghurt (yoghurt + crushed garlic) — £0.40
Method
- Blitz mince with grated onion, garlic, and spices in a food processor.
- Press into a loaf tin and bake at 180°C for 45 minutes.
- Slice thinly and crisp under the grill.
- Stuff into warm pittas with salad and sauces.
The secret: The loaf tin method gives you that classic kebab shop texture without a vertical rotisserie.
The Numbers Don't Lie: Cost Comparison
| Dish | Takeaway Price (family of 4) | Homemade Cost | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Tikka Masala | £38.00–£48.00 | £7.20 | £30.80–£40.80 |
| Loaded Nachos | £32.00–£40.00 | £6.00 | £26.00–£34.00 |
| Sweet & Sour Chicken | £34.00–£44.00 | £6.40 | £27.60–£37.60 |
| Margherita Pizza | £40.00–£56.00 | £4.80 | £35.20–£51.20 |
| Doner Kebab | £28.00–£36.00 | £5.60 | £22.40–£30.40 |
Total takeaway bill: £172.00–£224.00
Total homemade bill: £30.00
Total saving: £142.00–£194.00
That's not a saving — that's a holiday fund.
Why Fakeaways Win (Beyond the Price)
- Portion control: Takeaways often serve double what you need.
- Ingredient quality: You choose what goes in — less salt, better oil, actual meat.
- Leftovers: Most fakeaways reheat brilliantly for lunch tomorrow.
- Dietary needs: Gluten-free? Dairy-free? Vegan? Easy to adapt at home.
Where to Shop for Fakeaway Ingredients on a Budget
The best fakeaways start with affordable ingredients. Here's where to stock up:
- Surplus food shops (like Low Price Foods): Perfect for tinned tomatoes, passata, rice, spices, and snacks at 50–70% off supermarket prices.
- Aldi/Lidl: Excellent for fresh meat, cheese, and veg.
- Asian supermarkets: Bulk spices and sauces at fraction of mainstream prices.
- Your own cupboard: That jar of mango chutney from 2024? It wants to be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fakeaway?
A fakeaway is a homemade version of a takeaway dish — think curry, pizza, or Chinese — cooked from scratch using supermarket ingredients. The goal is to replicate the flavour and experience at a much lower cost.
Are fakeaways actually cheaper than takeaways?
Yes, significantly. The recipes above cost between £1.20 and £1.80 per portion, while the equivalent takeaway dishes range from £7 to £12. A family of four can save £30–£50 per meal by cooking at home.
What are the easiest fakeaway recipes for beginners?
Start with loaded nachos (no cooking required beyond melting cheese) or margherita pizza using flatbread as a base. Both take under 15 minutes and are nearly impossible to mess up.
Can I make fakeaways with surplus or short-dated food?
Absolutely. Tinned tomatoes, passata, rice, dried spices, and tortilla chips are all regularly available through surplus food retailers and work perfectly in fakeaway recipes. Always check best before dates — these indicate quality, not safety.
How do I make fakeaways taste like the real thing?
The secret is in the sauce. Takeaways rely on salt, sugar, and MSG for flavour. Recreate this at home with soy sauce, a pinch of sugar, garlic, and proper seasoning. A hot oven or grill also adds that takeaway-style char.
Can I batch-cook fakeaway recipes?
Most fakeaways freeze well, especially curries, sweet and sour sauce, and kebab meat. Pizza dough also freezes brilliantly. Cook double portions and freeze half for an even quicker fakeaway next time.
What's the cheapest fakeaway to make at home?
Margherita pizza made with homemade dough costs roughly £1.20 per portion — the lowest on this list. Using flatbread as a base drops it even further to around £0.90 per portion.
Ready to ditch the delivery apps? Stock your cupboard with the basics, pick a recipe, and see how much you save. Your bank account — and probably your waistline — will thank you.
This post was published on 2 December 2026 as part of the Low Price Foods Recipes & Meal Plans content pillar. For more budget-friendly cooking ideas, browse our recipe hub or explore surplus food deals to cut your grocery bill even further.