Hi there,

If you are cooking meatless on Fridays, it can start to feel repetitive.

Fish sticks. Grilled cheese. Another bowl of plain pasta.

But it does not have to be that way.

Some of the most comforting restaurant meals are already seafood or vegetable-based. They are hearty, satisfying, and feel intentional, not like you are just “making do.”

So this week, I pulled together a few Lent-friendly favorites that still feel like a proper dinner.

• 🐟 Luby’s Baked White Fish - Flaky white fish topped with a buttery seasoned crumb and baked until tender. It is light but still comforting, and it comes together with simple ingredients.
• 🍤 Long John Silver’s Fish - Crispy batter on the outside, tender fish on the inside. If you are craving that classic fast-food fish basket, this one delivers without the drive-through.
• 🍆 Olive Garden Eggplant Parmigiana - Layers of breaded eggplant, marinara, and melted cheese baked until bubbly. It is hearty enough that no one will feel like they are missing meat.
• 🍲 Olive Garden Minestrone Soup - Vegetables, beans, and pasta simmered in a rich tomato broth. It is budget-friendly and perfect for chilly evenings.
• 🥥 Red Lobster Coconut Shrimp - Golden shrimp coated in sweet coconut and fried until crisp. This one feels a little special, which makes it perfect for a Friday night dinner.

🍳 In This Kitchen

Seafood turns out best with the right tools:

• Heavy skillet for even browning
• Wire rack to keep fish crisp
• T-fal Deep Fryer for perfect fried fish

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Whether you are observing Lent or simply looking for lighter meals to balance out winter comfort food, these recipes prove you do not have to sacrifice flavor.

Restaurant favorites are often easier to recreate than you think.

And when you cook them at home, you get all the comfort without the price tag.