Weekend Plans: Just You, a Fork, and 18 Wildly Random Recipes to Try

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Clear your schedule, because this weekend isn’t for errands—it’s for eating like you’ve got your own cooking show. We’re talking Feel Good Spicy Ramen with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Shallots that’ll make your takeout drawer feel personally attacked, Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados that scream “I brunch harder than you,” and Garlic Butter Steak Bites so juicy they should come with a warning label. Then there’s Greek Olive Pesto and Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas—a.k.a. the Mediterranean vacation your mouth deserves—and the Vegan Risotto with Miso and Spring Vegetables, which proves plants can absolutely party. Throw in BBQ Chicken Tacos, because you’re not a monster, and finish with Slow Roast Leg of Lamb if you really want to feel like royalty who owns at least three Dutch ovens. This slideshow is chaotic in the best way—just like your weekend should be!

Feel Good Spicy Ramen with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Shallots.

overhead photo of Feel Good Spicy Ramen with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Shallots
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

Warm up with this Feel Good Spicy Ramen featuring sweet potatoes and crispy shallots. This one-pot ramen is a healthy, quick, and delicious meal that’s even better than restaurant ramen. Perfect for cold days!
Get the Recipe: Feel Good Spicy Ramen with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Shallots.

Greek Olive Pesto and Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas w/Marinated Feta + Garbanzo Beans.

Greek Olive Pesto and Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas w/Marinated Feta + Garbanzo Beans | halfbakedharvest.com
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

These Greek-inspired pita sandwiches are packed with flavor, featuring a homemade olive pesto, crispy fried zucchini, marinated feta, and garbanzo beans. Perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner, these pitas are easily customizable to be vegan or vegetarian. Prepare for a Mediterranean-inspired feast that’s both healthy and satisfying!
Get the Recipe: Greek Olive Pesto and Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas w/Marinated Feta + Garbanzo Beans.

Vegan Risotto with Miso and Spring Vegetables

Bowl of spring vegetable risotto seasoned with vegan parmesan and miso
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

This vegan risotto is fancy but secretly easy, featuring just 8 ingredients! Arborio rice is cooked to creamy perfection with miso, white wine, and spring vegetables like asparagus and peas. Top with vegan parmesan cheese for a truly decadent dish.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Risotto with Miso and Spring Vegetables

Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados

Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados foodiecrush.com
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

These Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados are a light and healthy meal that’s perfect for brunch, lunch, or a light dinner. The creamy crab salad is made with crabmeat, émé fraiche, celery, red onion, and fresh herbs, all served in a ripe avocado. Top with mint and pistachios for a flavorful and satisfying dish.
Get the Recipe: Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados

Chicken Enchiladas

chicken enchiladas on plate with fork.
Photo credit: Two Peas and Their Pod

These easy Chicken Enchiladas are always a dinnertime favorite! Corn tortillas are filled with shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, and cheese, then baked to golden perfection. Customize with your favorite toppings like sour cream, avocado, or cilantro for a crowd-pleasing meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Garlic butter steak bites in a pan.
Photo credit: Downshiftology

These garlic butter steak bites are a surefire way to a delicious and quick meal, ready in under 30 minutes! Tender and juicy, they’re perfect as a fast dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer. The simple yet flavorful combination of garlic, butter, and fresh herbs elevates these steak bites to a restaurant-quality dish.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Best Goulash Recipe

Easy goulash on white plates.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

This Best Goulash Recipe is the perfect one-pot meal for a busy weeknight. It’s packed with ground beef, tender macaroni, and a rich tomato sauce, all topped with cheddar cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, this hearty and comforting dish is sure to be a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Best Goulash Recipe

Pesto Chicken Salad

Presenting a delicious Pesto Chicken Salad
Photo credit: Two Peas and Their Pod

This Pesto Chicken Salad is a breeze to whip up with just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes! Perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack, it’s a versatile dish that everyone will love. It’s also gluten free.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Chicken Salad

BBQ Chicken Tacos

Finished BBQ chicken tacos topped with vegetables, beans, cilantro, and creamy dressing, ready to serve.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

These BBQ Chicken Tacos are a crowd-pleasing meal that are quick and easy to make! Featuring a flavorful BBQ-sauced chicken, fresh veggie mix, and a creamy cilantro sauce all served on charred tortillas. This recipe is sure to become a family favorite!
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Tacos

Crock Pot Cashew Chicken

Slow Cooker Chinese Cashew Chicken- this is the best cashew chicken I have ever tried! the chicken is incredibly tender, the sauce is wonderfully flavorful and the punch of buttery, creamy cashews is out of this world! Definitely a family favorite and so much heather than takeout!
Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

This slow cooker cashew chicken recipe is the perfect hands-off way to get a delicious and flavorful Asian-inspired meal. Tender chicken, a savory sauce, and crunchy cashews combine for an easy dinner that tastes like takeout. Serve over rice or noodles for a complete and satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Cashew Chicken

Slow Roast Leg of Lamb

showing how to serve roast leg of lamb by shredding lamb and serving it with gravy
Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

This Slow Roast Leg of Lamb recipe is incredibly easy and yields a supremely tender result. Roasting it low and slow ensures the lamb becomes pull-apart perfection, complemented by a flavorful garlic and rosemary-infused gravy. Perfect for a holiday gathering!
Get the Recipe: Slow Roast Leg of Lamb

Scoop It Up Kale Couscous Salad

A plate with kale salad containing pearl couscous, chickpeas, green olives, pickled red onions, and feta cheese, served with pita chips on the side.
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

This vibrant kale couscous salad by Ambitious Kitchen is packed with fresh herbs, feta, chickpeas, and olives, making it a delicious and satisfying meal. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick lunch, side dish, or meal prep. Enjoy this as a vegetarian option that bursts with flavor!
Get the Recipe: Scoop It Up Kale Couscous Salad

Fried Catfish

Deep fried catfish with hush puppies on a white surface with lemon wedges and parsley sprinkled on top
Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes

This Fried Catfish recipe delivers a taste of the South with perfectly seasoned and spiced cornmeal breading. The catfish fillets are fried until golden brown and tender, creating a delightful crispy texture. Serve with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, and hot sauce for a complete Southern experience.
Get the Recipe: Fried Catfish

Lentil Pasta

Lentil pasta in bowl with fork
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

This Lentil Pasta recipe is a hearty and delicious vegetarian meal that’s perfect for a cozy night in! It’s easy to make with pantry staples like dried lentils and tomato sauce. Top with parmesan cheese or vegan parmesan and fresh parsley for a complete dish.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Pasta

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air fryer chicken breasts on a plate with a fork
Photo credit: Downshiftology

This easy air fryer chicken breast recipe is a healthy dinner essential with results that are incredibly tender, juicy, and delicious! Simply season boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt, paprika, garlic powder, herbs, and pepper, then air fry to perfection. With just a touch of olive oil, this recipe delivers a quick, healthy, and flavorful meal.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Breast

BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe

The delicious and stuffed BBQ chicken sandwich, ready to be devoured.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

This BBQ Chicken Sandwich is so quick and easy to make, and it’s packed with flavor. Made with rotisserie chicken, BBQ sauce, avocado, and lettuce, it’s a healthy and satisfying meal that the whole family will love. Ready in just 15 minutes!
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Roasted Delicata Squash Kale Salad

Roasted Delicata Squash Kale Salad
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

This hearty Roasted Delicata Squash Kale Salad is the perfect reset after a weekend of indulgence. Packed with roasted vegetables, nutty farro, and sweet cranberries, it’s a delicious way to enjoy all the flavors of fall in one bowl. Plus, it’s both vegan and gluten-free!
Get the Recipe: Roasted Delicata Squash Kale Salad

Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Close up shot of our Spanish Quinoa Stuffed Peppers recipe with sliced avocados and red onion
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

These Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers are a delicious and healthy meal that’s easy to make. Filled with quinoa, black beans, corn, and salsa, they’re a flavorful and satisfying vegan and gluten-free option for lunch or dinner. Top with avocado, cilantro, and a drizzle of hot sauce for the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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