Are you getting away for the weekend this fall to enjoy a slower pace, see the autumn colors, and just relax with your family? Sounds heavenly…unless you’re in the kitchen the whole time. We’ve put together a meal plan full of the delicious food you want to enjoy, without a tremendous amount of effort. This is the menu we’d plan for a locked-in cabin weekend where we just focus on the essentials—playing cards, reading books, going for hikes, spending time together, and yummy, cozy meals.
I have a lot of tips below on making some of these items ahead of time (the key to that relaxed vibe you’re going for), which means you’ll need food storage containers to transport them. An insulated casserole carrier (like this double-decker one that carries twice as much) is a smart way to keep your food safe if you have a long drive. A casserole dish with an air-tight lid that you can take straight from the fridge to the oven is best for the baked goods below, including the pizza sliders if you wanted to make those ahead of time, too. And for the meatballs, I freeze them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet, then transfer to a silicone freezer bag for easy storage without the microplastics.
Friday Night — Afternoon arrival
On your first night, you’re going to want to explore the cabin, enjoy the views, and curl up on the couch together. So focus on a dinner that’s easy to cook and easy to eat in your laps in case everyone wants to gather around a movie or board game. The Baked Sage Chicken Meatballs with Parmesan Orzo at The Original Dish is one of my kids’ favorites, so it’s on my list for arrival night. I’ll prep and freeze the meatballs at home, so it’s a breeze to pull together when we get there.
Saturday Morning
I saw these Apple Butter Swim Biscuits at The Country Cook online today, and it’s what inspired me to start thinking about this menu. These scream “special occasion,” and they are perfect for a weekend away in the mountains or at a lake. If you’re the type who likes to wake up to a sleeping house and putter around in the kitchen with your coffee before everyone else wakes up, make these from scratch in the morning. Or, prep this before you leave home so it’s ready to go in the oven when you wake up. In fact, you might want to double the recipe.
It’s hard for me to go a week without making a recipe from Halfbaked Harvest, and my family totally supports this. So, instead of packing frozen pizzas for lunch, I’d make a tray of these Pull-Apart Roasted Garlic Pizza Dip Sliders. I love how this is so easy for everyone to munch on as they get hungry throughout the afternoon. Pair it with a veggie tray and dip, and you’ve got a great snackable lunch.
Is it really fall break if you don’t have your inaugural pot of chili for the season? A crowd favorite is always Tastes Better from Scratch’s Taco Soup rather than plain chili. Fritos, cheese, and some diced avocado are the perfect accompaniment.
That said, a top favorite of mine is this Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup at Peas and Crayons. It is so delicious and flavorful, and I promise you won’t miss the meat at all. Give it a try.
If you have access to a fire pit, s’mores are a must, right? Up your game with Kit Kat bars, Dubai chocolate, or Andes mint candies instead of plain chocolate. If you don’t have a fire pit, you can still get your s’mores fix with these S’mores Brownies at My Baking Addiction.
Sunday Morning — Departure
We’ll want an easy one-dish breakfast to savor while we enjoy our final hours together, and these Blueberry Lemon Sweet Rolls at Sally’s Baking Addiction are divine. These are another dish you can prep before you arrive and keep in the fridge until it’s time to bake them, making your final morning easy without feeling rushed or overlooked.
