In our fast-paced world, convenience is often valued, especially for meals. Surprisingly, with food delivery services and promotions, certain meals are cheaper when ordered than made at home. If you’re considering a night off from cooking, here are ten meals that are cheaper delivered.
1. Pizza Night: Delivery Deals vs. DIY Costs
Pizza is the perfect lazy girl dinner. While it can be tempting to make your own, think of the cost of ingredients. You have to buy crust, cheese, meat, veggies, and anything else you can think of that goes on pizza. After counting it all up, you might as well find a promotional deal for your favorite pizza chain and place an order.
2. Sushi at a Steal: When It’s Cheaper to Order Out
Preparing fresh sushi at home can be a costly endeavor. Sushi-grade seafood, a crucial ingredient, can be challenging to source and often comes with a hefty price tag. Additionally, you’ll need specialized tools to roll the sushi properly. Instead of investing time and money in gathering these expensive components, ordering sushi from a restaurant can be a more cost-effective and satisfying option. For the cost of making a single roll at home, you can indulge in a few rolls from a reputable sushi restaurant.
3. Burgers and Fries: Fast Food Combos That Beat Home Cooking
I love a good hamburger with home-cooked fries. However, meat these days is going for about $5 to 6 dollars for a pound. Unless you’re buying store-brand buns, the buns could be just as expensive. I know homemade is often better, but there are several chains with value meals and fast food combos you can get for just five dollars. That alone makes burgers cheaper delivered.
4. Taco Tuesdays: How Delivery Saves You Time and Money
Tacos are indeed delicious, but their cost can quickly add up unless you take advantage of promotions like “buy one, get one free.” This is especially true for individuals like me who require low-carb bread, as it often makes taco preparation more expensive than dining at my neighborhood Mexican restaurant. At the restaurant, I can indulge in a satisfying taco salad or another meal for less than 10 dollars, eliminating the need to purchase individual taco components.
5. Chinese Takeout: A Surprisingly Affordable Option
Growing up, Chinese was my favorite. Although it’s possible to recreate these dishes at home, the flavors never quite match those of a restaurant. Despite my best efforts, I’ve yet to master the art of making a perfect pot of fried rice. Even prepackaged Chinese products fail to capture the authentic taste I crave. Rather than purchasing pricey premade Chinese meals, I find them cheaper delivered.
6. Salads with a Twist: When It’s Worth Letting Someone Else Prep
Bagged, premade salads offer a convenient and cost-effective option, ranging from simple shredded lettuce to fancier varieties such as bacon Caesar salad. However, crafting a gourmet salad at home requires a significant investment in ingredients and dressings, mimicking viral recipes found online. For those who prefer convenience and affordability, ordering a gourmet salad from a reputable restaurant can be a good choice compared to purchasing and preparing all the necessary ingredients individually.
7. Pasta Perks: Delivery Promotions that Save Big
Pasta dishes are great because they’re delicious and can feed a lot of people. They offer a convenient meal solution for families, often resulting in leftovers. However, as the number of people to feed increases, so does the cost of purchasing the necessary ingredients. Consider pasta restaurants like Olive Garden and Fazoli’s, which provide family meal bundles at a lower cost than preparing the meal at home. These options are cheaper delivered.
8. Wings and Things: How Delivery Specials Make It Cheaper
Making wings at home can be costly. It’s challenging to find a pack of whole or regular wings under 20 dollars. In contrast, some of my favorite restaurants offer juicy wings that are either competitively priced or slightly more affordable than store-bought options. When dining at my preferred restaurant, I am guaranteed a generous portion of delicious wings at a lower cost than preparing them myself. Additionally, my meal includes satisfying sides and refreshing beverages, enhancing the overall dining experience.
9. Breakfast All Day: Affordable Options from Local Diners
Many diners offer affordable breakfast delivery, which can be cheaper than buying multiple breakfast items yourself. We already know inflation is making everything high and that is true for breakfast items as well. Eggs have been going up since the Avian flu last year, bacon is routinely over $10 a pack, and sausages are no better. When you start adding up what you need to buy enough to make one dish, you’re spending more than what you would at your local waffle house, IHOP, or other diner.
10. Desserts Delivered: Indulge Without the Baking Hassle
From cookies to cakes, dessert delivery deals often make indulgence cheaper than buying baking supplies. This is because delivery services can purchase ingredients in bulk, reducing the overall cost per serving. Additionally, they can often bake in larger quantities, which also reduces the cost per unit. As a result, consumers can often get a better deal on their favorite desserts by ordering them for delivery than by making them at home.
Food Delivery Can Be Convenient & Cost Effective
While preparing meals at home is often seen as more economical, the convenience and cost-effectiveness of food delivery are undeniable, especially with available deals. Next time you’re too exhausted to cook, keep in mind that some meals are more affordable when delivered. So, take a break from the kitchen and let someone else take care of the cooking for you.