Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Family friends around for dinner Saturday night- can i do a roast?

164 replies

hmmmwhattoeat · 04/03/2026 21:55

I will start with the fact i love a good roast, and i know logically you can have one any time,BUT it seems odd to eat one on a Saturday night for some reason.

Apart from the fact i like a roast, another benefit it brings is that i can prepare most of it in advance so it still enables me to drop kids to and from their clubs and I know they will also eat it!! Win win

Would you think its a strange choice if you went around for an evening dinner and were served a roast dinner???

Unreasonable- you can not serve a roast for saturday night dinner
Reasonable- stop being silly thats perfectly fine

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/04/2026 18:26

From experience, a roast invariably goes down well, whatever day it is. Tonight we’re having the roast leg of lamb that was originally intended for Easter Sunday, only Sod’s Law intervened. 2 dds will be helping us to eat it.

Empress13 · 11/03/2026 23:11

I want to know if OP actually did the roast and was it a success but I’m guessing she’s checked out

Forestgreenblue · 09/03/2026 08:25

ErlingHaalandsManBun · 05/03/2026 10:30

I am actually going to do these next week. They sound well lush!!! 😍

Show quote history

Make sure you test squash a potato before draining the lot!

I use the underside of a glass as the potato doesn’t stick as much - but sometimes additionally lightly graze them with a fork too to get a few extra ‘edges’ on the tops.

Also - baking paper underneath is a game changer and stops you having to scrape bits of crispy potato off the tray. Enjoy!

scobe · 06/03/2026 19:35

I wouldn’t love a roast on a Saturday night, especially if I’d already bought meat for the Sunday/had roast plans with my family. Wouldn’t want it two days in a row. Definitely not the end of the world though!

Gardenquestion22 · 06/03/2026 19:17

Perfect.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 06/03/2026 18:55

I like a roast but would be disappointed. Sorry.

yorkshiretoffee · 06/03/2026 18:11

If you have nice friends, go for it.
If you have the type who are likely to be complaining whatever you did, then sack them off and do the roast just for your family.

I might err towards a chicken though, that's a bit less Sunday for those traditionalists out there.

Thelankyone · 06/03/2026 18:02

I often do roast beef, chicken or pork when I have guests for dinner, I don’t say it’s a Sunday roast, I just say it’s roast beef, no one has ever looked at me askance and said we can’t eat that on a Saturday.

Aluna · 06/03/2026 18:00

ConstanzeMozart · 06/03/2026 17:38

What is a full on roast? I don’t eat red meat or Yorkshire pudding…
I'd say a full on roast involves red meat (or chicken/other poultry) and Yorkshire pudding!

Show quote history

But you can have a roast without any of those things.

AgnesMcDoo · 06/03/2026 17:53

Have roast if you want one

Applespearsandpeaches · 06/03/2026 17:52

Did a roast yesterday (Thursday) here - really don’t see the big deal, it’s just a normal dinner. I very rarely do one on a Sunday.

If the people involved will enjoy eating it, and it’s convenient for you to cook it, I have no idea why the fact it’s the “wrong” day of the week would stop you.

Tryagain26 · 06/03/2026 17:44

I would love it if I went to dinner and was given a roast.
Do many people still have roasts every Sunday and only in Sunday?
I don't know anyone who does that anymore

ConstanzeMozart · 06/03/2026 17:38

Aluna · 06/03/2026 17:35

Lasagne is one of the heaviest meals Ime

What is a full on roast? I don’t eat red meat or Yorkshire pudding…

Show quote history

What is a full on roast? I don’t eat red meat or Yorkshire pudding…
I'd say a full on roast involves red meat (or chicken/other poultry) and Yorkshire pudding!

Aluna · 06/03/2026 17:35

ConstanzeMozart · 06/03/2026 15:54

I do think pasta is a lighter dinner than a full-on roast, and a stew probably too. Pie not so much maybe.
It's the fat content, I think – potatoes done in oil or goose fat or whatever people use, gravy with the pan juices etc.

Show quote history

Lasagne is one of the heaviest meals Ime

What is a full on roast? I don’t eat red meat or Yorkshire pudding…

ConstanzeMozart · 06/03/2026 15:54

Comtesse · 06/03/2026 14:59

I know right - how does this compute?? Why is a roast dinner more difficult to digest than a stew or a pie or pasta? I just don’t get it!

Show quote history

I do think pasta is a lighter dinner than a full-on roast, and a stew probably too. Pie not so much maybe.
It's the fat content, I think – potatoes done in oil or goose fat or whatever people use, gravy with the pan juices etc.

Comtesse · 06/03/2026 14:59

Aluna · 06/03/2026 12:57

Roast chicken is too heavy but lasagne is not - really??

Show quote history

I know right - how does this compute?? Why is a roast dinner more difficult to digest than a stew or a pie or pasta? I just don’t get it!

Superscientist · 06/03/2026 13:01

A roast can be any day of the week although depending on the time of the meal maybe a tad too late as it can be a heavy meal before bed.

What bits of the roast would you want the most?
Could you do a slimmed down roast? Most people would be happy with some form of meat, potato, veg and gravy combination if eating out and it is a tiny step from that to a roast!!

WinterFrogs · 06/03/2026 13:00

I'm very curious, after reading a few posts, why a roast is boring on a Saturday but not on a Sunday

God MN is fun 😁

Aluna · 06/03/2026 12:57

SexyFrenchDepression · 06/03/2026 07:46

Too heavy if you're drinking also, plus surely its not really the easiest thing to do when hosting. Lasagne, chilli, curry are all easy to prep in advance, or pasta/fajita dishes are nice and quick.

Roast chicken is too heavy but lasagne is not - really??

ConstanzeMozart · 06/03/2026 12:10

itsthetea · 05/03/2026 08:29

I love the advice to avoid a roast by doing a roast with different carbs and veggies as somehow not a roast and so magically lighter

I think people are largely talking about a very traditional British roast with roast potatoes, gravy etc, which is heavier IMO than, say, quinoa and a yoghurt sauce.

Screamingabdabz · 06/03/2026 08:38

I wouldn't mind a roast (veggie-fied) but your reasons for doing it don’t sound great. ‘So you can prepare ahead’ - what bits of a roast are you preparing ahead? It all needs to be freshly cooked to be delicious. And so ‘the kids will eat it’ - so you are catering more for children than the adults?

It sounds like a nice enough dinner but not special enough or guest-orientated for a dinner party.

Mulledjuice · 06/03/2026 08:31

Ophy83 · 05/03/2026 07:42

I'd roast the meat but serve with a few interesting salads, probably middle Eastern inspired e.g. roast cauliflower with a tahini sauce and pomegranate, carrots with cumin, a good green leaf salad and some small potatoes roasted in their skins alongside some garlic cloves. All can be made ahead (just pop the potatoes back in the oven when the meat is resting)

This - with a spice rub on the meat.

CheddarCheeseAndCrispSandwich · 06/03/2026 08:29

I’d be very happy to turn up at your house, and find a lovely roast dinner waiting for me 👌🏻👍🏻👌🏻

LoftyPlumLion · 06/03/2026 08:04

stop being silly it’s fine.

the downside of a roast is it’s very heavy.

we sometimes do salmon and roast potatoes with some veggies- it’s slightly lighter, you can prep beforehand and it’s toast potatoes that are the star.

SexyFrenchDepression · 06/03/2026 07:46

Too heavy if you're drinking also, plus surely its not really the easiest thing to do when hosting. Lasagne, chilli, curry are all easy to prep in advance, or pasta/fajita dishes are nice and quick.