Need a Reason to Party? Celebrate September Food Holidays with These 5 Easy Dinner Ideas

Love food holidays? Here’s a meal plan inspired by some of the best ones September has to offer. Make a peanut curry, eat a hoagie, dig into classic nachos, and more! Dinner is a great reason to celebrate!

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
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Updated September 01, 2021
Sara Bir
"What's for Dinner" captioned over Zucchini Breakfast Casserole.

People love food holidays, but ever wonder what the point is? You know what I’m talking about: National Pecan Cookie Day. National Mushroom Month. International Bacon Day.

Optimally, the point is fun. Yes, most food holidays are contrived and arbitrary, brainstormed by a marketing board or social media consultant. (Like why is National Strawberry Cream Pie Day on September 2, when strawberries are totally out of season?) But they give us an excuse to celebrate the foods we love. And who isn’t hungry for a reason to celebrate?

No, this meal plan does not sync the recipes with the actual dates of the holidays—otherwise, we’d have you eating milkshakes, crème de menthe, and cream-filled donuts for dinner three days in a row. Our meal plan is simply inspired by September food holidays. National I Love Food Day falls on September 9, and I’m sure we’ll all be observing, whether we know it or not.

  • Chicken Peanut Curry

    Chicken Peanut Curry
    Elise Bauer

    September 13 is National Peanut Day! Sear curry-dredged chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breast and then stew it quickly with aromatics and peanut butter for this West African-style dish. It's quite flexible: Make it in advance if you’d like or add extra vegetables like eggplant or zucchini. Plus, it works with whatever peanut butter is in your pantry. Serve over hot rice.

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  • Italian Sub Sandwich

    Side view of an italian sandwich on a platter that is cut into slices. Meat, cheese and toppings are layered on the sandwich.
    Nick Evans

    National Eat a Hoagie Day is September 14 and we’ve got a hoagie just for you! What makes it special? A zingy relish of tomatoes, banana peppers, and olives, plus all your deli counter favorites, like Provolone, salami, and pepperoni. What’s the difference between a sub and a hoagie? Geography, partly: Around Philadelphia, that’s what they call a sub. For crunch and lightness, make a shaved vegetable salad for the side. Or keep it simple with pickle spears!

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  • Shrimp, Lemon, Spinach Linguine

    Shrimp Lemon Linguine
    Elise Bauer

    Hat tip to the long pasta that’s narrower than fettuccini and flatter than spaghetti: September 15 is National Linguini Day. Linguini’s network of noodles is great for gripping onto creamy sauces, ensuring you get flavor in every bite. This shrimp linguine is bright from the lemon and healthy from spinach.

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  • The Best Nachos

    How to Make Nachos at Home
    Marta Rivera

    The obvious way to observe National Guacamole Day (September 16) is with nachos. And who can say no to a giant pile of nachos for dinner? A platter of nachos makes any night a party, literally bringing loved ones together. This recipe will give you the meltiest, toastiest, beefiest nachos possible. Serve a big bowl of perfect guacamole on the side!

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    Continue to 5 of 5 below.

  • Zucchini Breakfast Casserole

    Zucchini Breakfast Casserole
    Elise Bauer

    It’s National Breakfast Month, and September 26 is Better Breakfast Day. One way to make breakfast better? Eat it again for dinner! This meatless breakfast casserole is slightly lighter and more elegant than its sausage-and-cheese-laden cousins, but it’s still plenty satisfying. Bonus: You can assemble this up to eight hours before baking it. It makes a great freezer meal, too.

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