Jump to Recipe
My Good Friday meals include easy recipes for your day of fasting without any beef, chicken, pork, or other meat. These seafood, shellfish, and vegetarian dinners are all within the traditional Good Friday fasting guidelines. With so many delicious choices, you won't miss meat at all!
Pair your Good Friday dinner with a few easy vegetable side dishes or a loaded baked potato for a heartier meal.
Jump to:
- 1. Garlic Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta
- 2. Pan Seared Swordfish
- 3. Tomato Rice Soup
- 4. Margherita Sheet Pan Pizza
- 5. Steamed Artichokes with Cheese Sauce
- 6. Greek Pasta Salad
- 7. Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- 8. Tofu Stir-Fry
- 9. Baked Monkfish
- 10. Baked Eggplant Parmesan
- 11. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- 12. Sopa de Legumes
- 13. Creamy Seafood Pasta
- 14. Seafood Chowder with Smoked Salmon
- 15. Crab Egg Drop Soup
- 16. Frozen Veggie Stir-Fry
- 17. Baked Steelhead Trout
- 18. Corn Soup
- 19. Salmon with Dill Sauce
- 20. Poached Lobster Tails
- 21. Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche
- 22. Grilled Branzino
- 23. Cream Cheese Pasta
- 24. Air Fryer Tilapia
- 26. Caprese Flatbread
- 27. Crab Risotto
- 28. Pasta alla Norma
- 29. Southern Shrimp and Grits
- 30. Crab Cakes
- 31. Spinach Lasagna
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Best Good Friday Meals: 31+ Easy Meat-Free Recipes For Your Day Of Fasting!
- IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric
- Instructions
- Notes
- 💬 Reviews
If you aren't familiar with Good Friday, it's a Christian holiday that honors the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Traditionally, only one full meal is eaten, and no meat is allowed to respect the solemn nature of the day.
Many Christians forgo eating chicken, pork, beef, or any meat other than seafood. So in preparation for this upcoming Good Friday, I've decided to share my most popularvegetarian and seafood recipesso you can plan your dinner in advance!
1. Garlic Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta
After a long day of fasting, a big bowl of Parmesan angel hair pasta with crispy garlic bread will hit the spot. It's an easy recipe to customize by adding extra veggies or some quick air fryer frozen shrimp for protein.
Garlic Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta
My easy garlic Parmesan angel hair pasta recipe is rich, buttery, and the ultimate dinner for any garlic lover!
Check out this recipe
2. Pan Seared Swordfish
Swordfish is a meaty white fish that pan-sears to perfection in no time, and it has a firm texture that makes for a satisfying bite (it's one of my daughter's favorites). Follow my step-by-step guide to pan-searing fish for the best results.
Pan Seared Swordfish
My quick and easy pan-seared swordfish is exactly what you need for a simple but delightfully tasty weeknight seafood dinner!
Check out this recipe
3. Tomato Rice Soup
Warm and hearty tomato rice soup is a perfect vegetarian comfort food. I like to serve it with crusty French bread or garlic bread for dipping.
Tomato Rice Soup
Tomato rice soupis a delicious recipe that combines the flavors of canned tomatoes, veggies, and tender rice in one warm and hearty bowl.
Check out this recipe
4. Margherita Sheet Pan Pizza
Pizza night is perfectly acceptable for Good Friday if you keep the pizza toppings vegetarian or pescetarian-friendly. My Margherita sheet pan pizza, loaded with fresh basil and juicy tomatoes, is the perfect example.
Margherita Sheet Pan Pizza
I love the simplicity of thisMargherita sheet pan pizzafor being an all-around crowd-pleaser that can also feed the whole family!
Check out this recipe
5. Steamed Artichokes with Cheese Sauce
Artichokes are surprisingly 'meaty' for a vegetable, with tender flesh on each leaf waiting to be savored. Paired with my quick and easy cheddar cheese sauce for dipping, even the kids will want to get in on the artichoke action.
Steamed Artichokes with Cheese Sauce
Steamed artichokes with cheese sauceare an easy vegetable appetizer or side dish that anyone can make at home!
Check out this recipe
6. Greek Pasta Salad
My Greek pasta salad is filled with the bright Mediterranean flavors of olives, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and artichokes. Toss with your favorite Greek dressing and bowtie noodles and chill in the fridge to let the flavors marry until dinnertime.
Greek Pasta Salad
Greek pasta saladcombines farfalle pasta, kalamata olives, red onion, tomatoes, artichokes, feta cheese, and Greek dressing!
Check out this recipe
7. Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
This 20-minute shrimp pasta with garlic and lemon is well within the meat-free guidelines of Good Friday. It's perfect for a last-minute meal if you have work during the daytime!
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Lemon garlic shrimp pastais an easy-to-make dish that combines al dente pasta with succulent, tender shrimp and a deliciously rich sauce!
Check out this recipe
8. Tofu Stir-Fry
Crispy tofu and your choice of mixed vegetables pan-fried with my homemade stir-fry sauce is an easy meatless meal. Serve over white rice or noodles for a classic takeout experience.
Tofu Stir-Fry
Thistofu stir-fryis a delicious 20 minute vegetarian recipe that tastes fabulous on top of rice or noodles!
Check out this recipe
>>>See All OfMy RecipesHere!<<<
9. Baked Monkfish
Monkfish tastes like lobster, making it a delicious option for seafood lovers looking to try something new. If you aren't familiar with this type of fish, you can learn all about it in my guide to monkfish!
Baked Monkfish
This baked monkfish is easy-to-cook, nutritious, and sure to impress all of your dinner guests with how delicious it is!
Check out this recipe
10. Baked Eggplant Parmesan
For a vegetable, eggplant is hearty and satisfying with a bite similar to meat, so you won't miss it in this casserole. The crispy breaded eggplant, melted cheese, and savory marinara sauce are delicious over spaghetti or alone.
Baked Eggplant Parmesan
With a few tips and tricks, you can make a crispybaked eggplant Parmesanso delicious you will prefer it to chicken!
Check out this recipe
11. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Twice-baked sweet potatoes are a satisfying vegetarian entree with your favorite toppings mixed right in. You could also opt for classic twice-baked potatoes if you prefer them to sweet potatoes.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Thesetwice baked sweet potatoesare baked until tender, loaded with your favorite toppings, and then baked again until perfect!
Check out this recipe
12. Sopa de Legumes
If it's still cold weather where you live, a warm pot of sopa de legumes will hit the spot. This veggie-forward soup is loaded with root vegetables, squash, and white kidney beans for a creamy and savory soup that is surprisingly filling.
Sopa de Legumes
Sopa de legumes(or Portuguese vegetable soup) is a rich, flavorful, and delicious veggie-based soup for any occasion!
Check out this recipe
13. Creamy Seafood Pasta
My creamy seafood mix makes an excellent pasta sauce with heavy cream, cheese, and simple seasonings. Boil penne or your favorite pasta variety and toss to combine for an easy pasta dinner.
Creamy Seafood Pasta
Thiscreamy seafood pastais an impressive yet easy-to-make main course you can enjoy any night of the week!
Check out this recipe
14. Seafood Chowder with Smoked Salmon
This hearty seafood chowder has fish, scallops, clams, and flaky smoked salmon with tender russet potatoes to keep you feeling full. Elevate your soup even further by serving it in a homemade bread bowl!
Seafood Chowder with Smoked Salmon
This easy-to-make Seafood Chowder with Smoked Salmon features tender pieces of white fish, bay scallops, clams, and rich smoked salmon in every bite!
Check out this recipe
15. Crab Egg Drop Soup
This tasty twist on the classic Chinese takeout recipe is one of my favorite soups. It's savory and satisfying, with sweet buttery chunks of lump crab meat in every bite!
Crab Egg Drop Soup
Thiscrab egg drop soupis a delicious and easy upgraded version of the popular Chinese restaurant egg drop soup!
Check out this recipe
16. Frozen Veggie Stir-Fry
Grab a bag of your favorite frozen mixed veggies and a bottle of your favorite stir-fry sauce, or try making homemade stir-fry sauce! It's a quick 15-minute meal that is perfect for Good Friday.
Frozen Veggie Stir Fry
Thisfrozen veggie stir fryis a quick and easy vegetarian recipe you can serve over rice or noodles or enjoy on its own as a side dish!
Check out this recipe
17. Baked Steelhead Trout
Steelhead trout becomes flaky, flavorful, and tender, topped with butter and lemon and baked in a foil packet. See what to serve with fish for my favorite side dish suggestions, just be sure to avoid anything with meat.
Baked Steelhead Trout
Juicy, flaky steelhead trout is a delightfully easy main course, especially when baked in a foil packet with tasty garlic butter sauce!
Check out this recipe
>>>See All OfMy RecipesHere!<<<
18. Corn Soup
Corn soup is creamy and savory, with a subtle sweetness from the corn kernels. A slice of buttered rustic bread is my go-to side for soaking up every last drop of this delectable soup.
Corn Soup
Thiscorn soupis a creamy and sweet comfort food that can easily be enjoyed at a moment's notice any time of the year!
Check out this recipe
19. Salmon with Dill Sauce
This elegant salmon dinner consists of white wine and dill sauce worthy of any upscale seafood restaurant. For side dish suggestions, see what to serve with salmon!
Salmon with Dill Sauce
Thissalmon with dill saucerecipe is so incredibly flavorful and easy to make, that it’s a dinner worth sharing with your family tonight!
Check out this recipe
20. Poached Lobster Tails
Poached lobster tails are always a treat, and Thankfully, they are perfectly suitable for anyone honoring Good Friday. Serve them with drawn butter for dunking or drizzling and some of my popular lobster side dishes.
Remember to reserve the shells for homemade lobster stock!
Poached Lobster Tails
Thispoached lobster tailsrecipe is an incredibly easy way to make a delicious seafood main course any night of the week!
Check out this recipe
21. Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche
Many still eat eggs on Good Friday, so vegetable quiches like my sun-dried tomato or asparagus mushroom quiche are a great dinner option. Follow the tips and tricks in my guide 'How To Make Quiche' for perfect results every time!
Sun Dried Tomato Quiche
Sun-dried tomato quicheis a savory dish that combines the rich flavors of sun-dried tomatoes with the creamy texture of eggs and cheese!
Check out this recipe
22. Grilled Branzino
While observing Good Friday, Branzino's delicate texture and rich taste offer a satisfying and fulfilling alternative to meat. Preparing this fish on the grill makes it ultra-tender and flaky with a delectable flame-kissed flavor.
Grilled Branzino Recipe
Grilled branzino(or European bass)is an easy & tasty fish dinner that will be on your table and ready to enjoy inless than 15 minutes!
Check out this recipe
23. Cream Cheese Pasta
Cream cheese pasta is comforting and creamy, and it can be on the table in under 20 minutes. Mix in cooked veggies, seafood, or shellfish to create your signature pasta dish for Good Friday!
Cream Cheese Pasta
Mycream cheese pastais an easy-to-make quick side dish perfect for weeknights and can be dressed up for weekends!
Check out this recipe
24. Air Fryer Tilapia
Air fryer tilapia is a quick and healthy option for Good Friday, giving you a flavorful dish dinner without the need for excessive oil. Its lightness and simplicity make it ideal for observing the day's traditions.
Air Fryer Tilapia
Air Fryer Tilapiais fast and delicious. Air fry up plain tilapia fillets into tender, flaky portions that are an absolute delight!
Check out this recipe
25. Fish & Chips
Homemade fish & chips are a classic comfort food, with crispy battered fish and golden French fries. Pair it with ketchup, co*cktail, or tartar sauce and Southern coleslaw for a pub-style fish and chips dinner.
Fish & Chips
Thesefish and chipshave are wonderfully crispy coating made from a perfectly seasoned batter using seltzer water!
Check out this recipe
26. Caprese Flatbread
With its blend of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, Caprese flatbread is a light and flavorful dinner option for Good Friday. Italian pasta salad is a great side dish to round out the meal.
Caprese Flatbread
ThisCaprese flatbreadis incredibly tasty and only takes a few minutes to prepare, making it a fantastic appetizer or lunch option!
Check out this recipe
27. Crab Risotto
My crab risotto combines delicate flavors of crab meat with creamy rice, making it a perfect choice for a satisfying Good Friday meal. See my side dish suggestions for risotto to add a few tasty sides.
Crab Risotto
Thisdecadent Crab Risottois a delicious way to serve a hearty and amazingly flavorful crab dinner!
Check out this recipe
28. Pasta alla Norma
Pasta alla Norma is a classic Italian pasta dish with eggplant, also known as aubergine, as the main ingredient. It's both hearty and vegetarian, which makes it a fabulous dinner choice for those abstaining from meat.
Pasta Alla Norma
Thispasta alla Normarecipe is a simple yet flavorful dish made with tender eggplant, sweet tomatoes, and ricotta cheese.
Check out this recipe
29. Southern Shrimp and Grits
Shrimp and grits is a classic Southern comfort food with cheesy grits as the base and juicy Caujun-seasoned shrimp on top. It's rich, cheesy, and satisfying, plus it tastes great with a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
Southern Shrimp & Grits
Southern shrimp & grits is the epitome of home-cooked comfort food that makes both your tastebuds and your soul happy!
Check out this recipe
30. Crab Cakes
A delicious blend of succulent crab meat, Ritz crackers, mayonnaise, and seasonings, perfect for a Lenten feast. It's light yet satisfying, making it a great choice for observing the tradition of abstaining from meat on this holy day.
Crab Cakes
Crab cakesare a quick and simple seafood appetizer or main dish that will impress and delight the whole family any night of the week!
Check out this recipe
31. Spinach Lasagna
My vegetarian lasagna with spinach is a great family dinner idea for Good Friday. It has all the classic lasagna ingredients minus the meat!
Sauteed Spinach Lasagna Recipe
Perfect layers of deliciousness! Vegetarian or not, this hearty lasagna is one you will love!
Check out this recipe
Are There Any Traditional Desserts For Good Friday?
Hot cross buns are a traditional Good Friday dessert and one I love to bake. These spiced sweet buns are marked with a cross on top that symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus.
Do People Eat Meat On Good Friday?
Many Christians do not eat meat on Good Friday as penance. Instead, they opt for seafood or vegetarian dishes.
What Are Some Kid-Friendly Good Friday Dishes?
These recipes are kid-friendly, depending on what your kid likes to eat! Try a fish stick sandwich, a cheesy tuna melt with sweet potato fries, or my easy white cheddar mac and cheese.
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media@Pinterest,Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
📖 Recipe Card
Print Recipe Leave A Comment
Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
5 from 2 reviews
Best Good Friday Meals: 31+ Easy Meat-Free Recipes For Your Day Of Fasting!
My Good Friday meals include easy recipes for your day of fasting without any beef, chicken, pork, or other meat. These seafood, shellfish, and vegetarian dinners are all within the traditional Good Friday fasting guidelines. With so many delicious choices, you won't miss red meat at all!
Author | Angela
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 337kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 8 oz angel hair pasta
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- â…“ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated or shaved)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (optional garnish, chopped)
Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela
Instructions
Bring a large, deep skillet or small stock pot to medium-high heat with the butter. Once the butter is melted add the garlic and saute until fragrant, stirring occasionally for about 1 minute.
Stir in the chicken broth, milk, angel hair pasta, salt, and pepper until the pasta is softened and completely covered with liquid. Bring to a boil then reduce your heat to low and simmer.
Simmer on low, stirring occasionally, for approximately 4-6 minutes or until your pasta is cooked fully. Remove from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted.
Serve immediately garnished with fresh, chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- If you LOVE garlic, you can use up to 1 tablespoon of minced garlic in this pasta dish.
- To thin your sauce (if needed) simply drizzle some milk or broth into the pot of pasta until you reach your desired consistency.
- Cooked pasta stores for up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator, but this tender pasta does not reheat well after a day or two in the fridge.
Nutrition
Calories: 337kcal (17%) | Carbohydrates: 46g (15%) | Protein: 13g (26%) | Fat: 11g (17%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg (9%) | Sodium: 682mg (30%) | Potassium: 298mg (9%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 425IU (9%) | Vitamin C: 8mg (10%) | Calcium: 191mg (19%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Garlic Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta, good friday meals, good friday recipes, one skillet, pasta side dishes
Course Pasta, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
bakeitwithlove.com/about/
