It’s not just us grown-ups who love a good takeaway – they’re great fun for all the family. Whether you’re having a family movie night or you just don’t have the energy to cook a big family dinner, your local takeaway is the answer. If you have a big family, you’ll know that it’s not always easy finding food options that everyone agrees on, but you’ll have loads of inspiration with these favourite family-friendly takeaways.
Italian
The ultimate crowd-pleaser, pizza is a takeaway choice that’s sure to go down well with everyone in the family. Made to be divided up, they’re easy to share between children of different ages so that each person has just the right amount. With so many delicious toppings to choose from, they also make it easy to cater to fussy eaters and different tastes. Why not order a meat-loaded pizza for the carnivores in the family and a vegetable one for the more health-conscious – or insist that everyone has some of each!
For the perfect family Italian takeaway night, add a family-size portion of dough balls as a starter and don’t forget the garlic bread. Of course, there’s more to Italian cuisine than pizza, so if anyone in the family prefers pasta then you might well find your local Italian can deliver that too. You could even add some delicious creamy gelato to your order for dessert.
Indian
Get the younger members of your household appreciating world cuisine from early on by ordering an Indian takeaway for the whole family. With plenty of mild curries to choose from – such as chicken korma, butter chicken or pasanda – there are lots of delicious Indian dishes that are suitable for children. For teenagers and grown-ups with a taste for the hot and spicy, throw in a madras or vindaloo or two. Kids will love starting the meal with a few poppadoms, so don’t forget those – and order a couple of different rice and naan options so everyone gets to try a bit of each.
Chicken
What kid doesn’t love chicken and chips? You can’t beat a family-size bucket of chicken for a takeaway that’ll go down well with family members young and old. For a bit of variety, add some barbecue chicken wings or spicy chicken strips to your order so that the older ones can enjoy a bit of heat. Don’t forget to stock up on tomato ketchup and mayonnaise to go with the chips!
Mexican
Another family favourite, and one that makes food fun, is Mexican. With so many delicious wrap-based dishes – fajitas, burritos, tacos, quesadillas – a Mexican feast is sure to be appreciated by everyone in the family on takeaway night. The great thing about Mexican is that there’s so much room for personal preference in the fillings: dial down the spiciness for younger members of the family, go veggie for the non-meat eaters and customise each person’s wrap with their own choice of sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese and other favourites. Get the feast off to a great start with a family-sized order of fully loaded nachos, plonked into the middle of the table so that everyone can dig in.
Burgers or hot dogs
Burgers or hot dogs are always a safe bet when feeding kids of any age. Perfect for an alfresco feast without the hassle of firing up the barbecue, burgers are a takeaway choice that’s easy to adapt to each person’s requirements. Veggie in the family? They can go for a delicious veggie burger. Carnivores galore? Make it double beef burgers with extra bacon. Whether you go for the fast-food version or gourmet burgers, a loaded dirty burger or a classic hamburger, a burger takeaway is sure to go down a treat.
Chinese
Whether it’s noodles, rice or Dim Sum, Chinese is a great choice for a family takeaway. Get the kids involved with all the fun of assembling crispy duck pancakes with lashings of rich plum sauce, cucumber and spring onions. Even better, with plenty of healthy options to choose from, such as stir-fries and steamed veg sides, a Chinese takeaway will help them hit their five a day.
Chinese takeaway is the perfect way to get everyone in the family trying new dishes – try ordering a few different dishes to share so that you can all have a bit of each. Sides such as spring rolls make great finger food, too, so if you’re eating your takeaway in front of a movie, it’s great for snacking.
If we’ve whetted your appetite with these family-friendly takeaway suggestions, it’s time to get everyone’s orders in! Head to ChefOnline and see what takes your fancy. A feast for all the family is just a few clicks away!
