Sunday lunch ideas needed

[Namingthings]

Just me and 2 older DCs today.
I have defrosted mince & thought about shepherds pie but that means buying potatoes/ready mash.

I also have:
Butternut squash
Kale
Carrots
Courgettes
Mushrooms
plus loads of other veg

Chicken breast chunks in freezer

Rice/risotto rice

Gahhhh shall I just go & buy a chicken to roast?

Not sure I fancy a Sunday roast.

What are you all having?

You could make meatballs and have them with pasta and tomato sauce, with roasted veg or put some of the veg in the sauce so it all cooks on the hob. You can cook the meatballs in the tomato sauce.

Had meatballs yesterday - it's the other half of the mince from a big pack!

Think I might have to go shopping again. Also short of pasta, was thinking about roast veg lasagne.

Chilli? Do you have kidney beans and chilli and tinned tomatoes? Mostly store cupboard staples. Or a tray bake with chicken and roast veg. I do usually hsve potatoes for baking.

Kofte with roasted veg cous cous? On the basis you have a reasonably well stocked spice cupboard, garlic, onions etc

To be honest when I make Bolognese I start off with diced bacon, carrots,courgettes, mushrooms, onion and garlic so it reads like a Bolognese to me, but if you had pasta yesterday you might not want it again today

I would make a harissa type Shepard’s pie with the butternut squash and carrots mashed on top.

loads of veggies could go in/on the side.

Aha! You could cook the mince today so you can put together a shepherd's pie really quickly later in the week when you do have potatoes or mash. Roasted veg lasagne sounds good. I'm doing what I often do, roasting all the vegetables in the fridge that respond well to that sort of treatment and having them with rice and chicken drumsticks I found at the bottom of the freezer. I have some yoghourt that needs using up so will probably marinate the drumsticks with yoghourt and tandoori spice.

Shepherds pie with a butternut squash mash instead of mashed potatoes.

Second harissa shepherds pie. I put ras el hanout in mine and switch white potatoes for sweet. It works really well but you could use any root veg on top.

Yes @FanofLeaves the ras Al hanout is lovely in it.

I'd put those veg together and make a veggie chilli and have with rice. Or add the mince and have it with rice today, and leftovers with wedges another day - presuming you are going to buy in potatoes at some point.

Shepherds pie is a bit winter food for me . I’d do something g like chilli with wraps and roasted veg. Taco style.

Smash burgers
Dirty rice
Keema

I'd cook the mince to use tomorrow or the day after. If you've got time to go to the shops, I'd get something else.
Only because I wouldn't fancy mince 2 days in a row.
A mushroom or butternut squash risotto would be my choice but not the dcs so I'd do something with the chicken.

Just a tray bake for me - whatever of the veg roasted on a tray, put the chicken in it too, use whatever flavour (jar of pest? Jar of harrissa? Some 5 spice or whatever from the cupboard) amd a cup of wine, stock or water in a moderate oven for 40 mins. Hardly any washing up,always a bit random but roasted veg are delicious and forgiving. With bread or whatever for soaking up.

I’ve just looked a recipe for dirty rice with beef mince. Looks great. I’m adding it to my recipe collection. Plus chicken instead of mince works too it seems. Cajun style cooking looks great for a quick supper.

Mince can be pimped with Asian spices and honey to get crispy and served over noodles etc.