Having super last-minute dinner guest who eats a TON - easy things to make?

[Anonymous]

I am not at all feeling creative today. I have my BIL coming over tonight for dinner around 7, and I will get home around 615. Any thoughts on extremely easy, satisfying food for a guy who is a big eater? All I can think is pasta with meat sauce, and I'm really not in the mood for that.

I have most of the standard pantry items, plus some leftover short-ribs in tomato sauce...

[Anonymous]

Chili

[Anonymous]

Couscous. Add you short ribs on top. Add any veg you have, peppers, scallions etc. pour on some good olive oil and enjoy. If you have a can of chickpeas add that too.

[Anonymous]

Can you just order in?

[Anonymous]

Thank you PPs! Great ideas! As for ordering in--it's a thought, but we don't seem to have great delivery options at our place. I'll run it by him though. Maybe he prefers mediocre pizza or Thai?

[Anonymous]

I'd stick to homemade if you can. That way it's not obvious you're catering to him, it's just what you have. But that's my style and may not be yours.

[Anonymous]

I would pull together whatever I already had or ask if he prefers pizza.

[Anonymous]

And most classy last minute guests won't expect you to go out of your way. Pasta and salad.

[Anonymous]

I thought of chili immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And most classy last minute guests won't expect you to go out of your way. Pasta and salad.

But he's close family. I'm classy as hell (or not, whatever) but when I'm at my SIL's and brother's house, well, they have said "make yourself at home" so many times that I totally would feel free to open the fridge after dinner and ask "Can I have one of your yogurts?" if I were still hungry. When you're close, you often dispense with formalities. If I were at a friend's or colleague's house, I'd just go home hungry and eat a snack at home.

[Anonymous]

If you have a grill, quickly marinade some chicken, make burgers, or grill some steak or fish.

Canned soup - throw in some canned beans and shaved parmesan on the top

Scrambled eggs - throw in vegetables, serve with a side of rice and sauce

[Anonymous]

I do breakfast burgers for last minute meals. Always have Bubba Burgers in freezer.

Burger topped with bacon, fried egg, cheese and avocado.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And most classy last minute guests won't expect you to go out of your way. Pasta and salad.

But he's close family. I'm classy as hell (or not, whatever) but when I'm at my SIL's and brother's house, well, they have said "make yourself at home" so many times that I totally would feel free to open the fridge after dinner and ask "Can I have one of your yogurts?" if I were still hungry. When you're close, you often dispense with formalities. If I were at a friend's or colleague's house, I'd just go home hungry and eat a snack at home.

Good point. With our family, we say help yourself.

[Anonymous]

Grab a salad kit, some wine, and stuff for ice cream sundaes for dessert then order mediocre pizza! I think that would be fun for a weeknight with family.

[Anonymous]

Make a pan of cornbread then count how many pieces he eats. Bonus points if he eats the piece your husband was saving for later.