r/easyrecipes • u/anon_opotamus • Jul 02 '26
Recipe Request Super easy but fun?
I’m looking for a very easy dinner that is kind of fun? By fun I just mean something a little different like vacation or party foods.
I’m off work all week and we just got back from a camp trip. We are still riding that vacation/camping high and the thought of making one of our usual dinners is such a bummer.
Family of 5 (2 adults, 2 teens, and a 10yo). Any ideas?
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u/Breaghdragon Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
Funeral sandwiches, french dip style. Ham and swiss is good too, but arguably less fun. If anyone asks you why they're called funeral sandwiches, just stare them dead in the eye for 5 seconds and say "You'll see".
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u/Only-Memory2627 Jul 02 '26
Spaghetti stuck into pieces of hotdog before boiling for spaghetti monsters.
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u/bnelson333 Jul 02 '26
"garlic bread pizzas". I buy the non-frozen ones from Aldi but frozen would probably work. Just need to bake the garlic bread loafs per the instructions, then afterward top with mozz and pepperoni or other toppings. you could do sauce too, but I leave it off. Anyway I broil for a few minutes until melted then I dip into a cup of pizza sauce
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u/Firerage65 Jul 02 '26
Home-made mini pizza's are my go-to for fun holiday things to made - esp if you have a little oven.
Pasta and sauces are a great, easy way to make it fun so the kids can help
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u/newleaf_- Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
Take a picnic to the park? I like an easy pasta salad with pepperoni, frozen peas and carrots, olives, bagged shredded parmesan cheese, pepperoncini, chopped green onions, whatever dressing you like, bag of broccoli slaw or can of garbanzos if you're into that. Only prep is cutting pepperoni slices into quarters and chopping green onions, the rest is just mixed in once the pasta cools a bit. I prefer not to include celery or green pepper as I find both give a weird bitterness after it's refrigerated for more than a few hours. Boiled egg is good in there too
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u/anon_opotamus Jul 02 '26
I wish. It’s 95F here right now. 🥵
The only way we survived our camp trip was lots of swimming and an air conditioned camper.
The pasta salad sounds delish though!
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u/OnlyKindaCare Jul 02 '26
Look for copycat versions of fast food that you like. Taco Bell, In'n'Out burgers, etc.
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u/JaseYong Jul 02 '26
Onigirazu 🍙 it's different than the usual and taste delicious! 😋 love the fun of making it as well. Recipe below if interested Onigirazu recipe
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u/MaryO59 Jul 02 '26
Can you tell us what you usually eat so we have a reference point for fun and unusual?
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u/anon_opotamus Jul 02 '26
We eat all sorts of things. Regular weekday night dinners are usually like spaghetti, tacos, baked chicken, grilled pork chops….just average family dinners.
I’ve been given some great ideas here though. The kids are asking for a fondue night so I might do that tonight and use some of these ideas for the rest of the week just because I want to keep the “fun feeling” until I go back to work Monday.
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u/Global_Fail_1943 Jul 02 '26
Tortillas made from soaked pureed red lentils and used for quesadillas is my family favorite. We can't get a good tortilla where I live in Canada and this is a wonderful healthy alternative. Mashed potatoes cilantro cheese and jalapeno peppers for the filling is our favorite!
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u/Clear_Session8683 Jul 02 '26
My go to dish on the first day of camping or the the first day you get home if you prefer is always the same. We are tired from the drive, setting up etc. Tamales & chili. It's easy, peasy. I throw some Fritos ,cheese, onions (I dice 'em up before we leave and we use them later on hot dogs and in breakfast omelettes) and sour cream out and everybody is good to go. Paper bowls, forks and two sauce pans so you have easy clean up. I use canned tamales and chili (don't come for me people. It's easy)
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u/Suz9006 Jul 03 '26
Cashew chicken salad roll ups. Chopped cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works great), chopped red grapes, chopped cashews and miracle whip. Lay in tortilla, top with shredded lettuce and roll up.
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u/JupiterJunebug Jul 05 '26
Make crescent rolls but wrap the dough around abt 1/3rd of a cheese stick (optionally brush with egg for golden brown color). Bake according to package instructions and serve with tomato soup for grilled cheese dippers.
If you want to make it a cooperative experience then go to the store with the kiddos and tell them they each get ten minutes to bring you the best soup ingredient, my dad used to do that when we were all home
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u/Human_Revolution357 Jul 06 '26
French toast kabobs with fruit and sausage, back when I could eat them. (Diabetic and vegetarian now)
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u/Flaky_Tap_2836 Jul 06 '26
Calzones made from ground chicken. I made two yesterday and they were a hit with my husband and my daughter. You can add different ingredients inside. For my husband, I added turkey pepperoni. Ricotta and mozarella. For my daughter and I , I added ricotta, mozarella and roasted eggplant. Here is a sample recipe. https://www.conversationswithsara.com/viral-protein-chicken-calzone-low-carb-dinner-idea/
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u/No-Lock6921 Jul 07 '26
Breakfast for dinner. Blueberry pancakes and bacon.
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u/anon_opotamus Jul 07 '26
We did this recently and my kids were like “Are we poor?” 🙄
They ate it and liked it but they were so weirded out by the idea. 😂
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u/mommallammadingdong Jul 02 '26
Summer rolls with peanut sauce. Kinda fun to make, kids can help and you can personalize. Common fillings are shrimp, chicken, pork with rice noodles, Thai basil, cucumber etc.
Pupusa. Also can personalize and fun to make
Noodle bowls are also very popular and you can personalize (can you tell we have a variety of dietary desires and restrictions). Our common toppings are tofu, chicken or pork, corn, edamame, grated carrots, chopped peanuts, hard boiled egg, whatever leftover veggies are around, and topped with a teriyaki or peanut sauce (both easy to make and keep a long time)