Have you ever been asked the dreaded question “What’s for dinner?” and struggled to come up with a clever, funny response? When hunger strikes, it can be challenging to think on your feet and deliver a witty quip about the night’s meal.
In this blog post, I’ll provide you with funny responses to “What’s for dinner” so you always have a hilarious comeback ready to go.
Whether your fridge is empty or you just ate but someone demands to know what you’re making next, it’s the perfect time to have some fun. With these examples of silly, absurd, and ironic answers, you can turn the question “What’s for dinner?” into an opportunity for laughs.
From pretending you’re eating fancy meals to exaggerating how bad the food is, these ridiculous responses will get a chuckle out of anyone asking the dreaded dinner question.
With some clever puns, fake foreign dishes, and outrageous meal descriptions, you can take the conversation from boring to funny in an instant. So next time someone inquires “What’s for dinner?” be ready with a witty retort that’s guaranteed to get some laughs.
The examples below will give you plenty of ideas for funny replies that turn the question into a chance for comedy.
20 Funny Responses to “What’s for Dinner”
Here are 20 funny responses to “what’s for dinner”:
- Leftovers from 3 nights ago that have achieved sentience.
- Dehydrated ice cubes sautéed in regret.
- We’re having air sandwiches – they’re light and refreshing!
- Marshmallows and gravy. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
- Surprise! It’s whatever we have left in the pantry.
- I ordered us a pizza. It should be here in 3-5 business days.
- Takeout from the fancy restaurant down the street. Oh wait, we can’t afford that. Nevermind.
- Beans and toast cut into fun dinosaur shapes!
- Cereal again. But this time, with water instead of milk!
- Grass clippings seasoned with dirt from the garden.
- Leftover scrambled eggs from yesterday’s breakfast…for the 5th night in a row.
- Canned tuna and saltines served on fine china.
- Surprise meatloaf made with ingredients from the fridge. Let’s hope it’s edible!
- I tried a new recipe – burnt offerings with a side of regret.
- Mac and cheese, hold the cheese.
- Crust from the bread bag sautéed in olive oil. Bon appétit!
- I’ll flip you for it. Heads we order pizza, tails we starve.
- Frozen fish sticks that expired 6 months ago. Yum!
- We’re going out! To the garden to forage for berries and dandelions.
- Mystery casserole made with all the leftovers from the past week. Let’s cross our fingers!
1. Leftovers from 3 nights ago that have achieved sentience.
This humorous response plays on the idea that the leftovers have been in the fridge so long they’ve come to life. It’s a creative way to emphasize the age of the food while adding a fantastical element.
This response is great for lightening the mood or making a joke about not having fresh food to cook.
Usage example:
When asked about dinner plans, Jake replied with a grin, “Leftovers from 3 nights ago that have achieved sentience. I’m hoping they’ll be kind enough to march into the microwave themselves!”
2. Dehydrated ice cubes sautéed in regret.
This response is a playful way to say there’s nothing to eat, using the absurdity of “dehydrated ice cubes” (which would be just water) and humorously adding “sautéed in regret” to imply remorse over the lack of preparation.
It’s perfect for a humorous acknowledgment of a kitchen fail.
Usage example:
Sarah sighed and announced, “Dehydrated ice cubes sautéed in regret,” when she realized she forgot to go grocery shopping.
3. We’re having air sandwiches – they’re light and refreshing!
“Air sandwiches” is a whimsical way of saying there’s nothing to eat, suggesting that dinner will consist of nothing but air.
It’s a lighthearted response that can bring a smile in a situation where there’s little to offer for a meal.
Usage example:
When the kids asked what was for dinner, Dad cheerfully said, “We’re having air sandwiches – they’re light and refreshing!“
4. Marshmallows and gravy. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
This response combines two unlikely foods, marshmallows and gravy, creating a humorous and bizarre pairing.
It’s great for eliciting laughs or showing a playful approach to meal improvisation.
Usage example:
“Tonight’s gourmet dish is marshmallows and gravy. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!” Mark joked, as he looked at the random assortment of food left in the pantry.
5. Surprise! It’s whatever we have left in the pantry.
This response turns the uncertainty of pantry contents into a “surprise” meal, humorously suggesting that dinner will be an unpredictable combination of whatever is available.
It’s a fun way to approach the challenge of cooking with limited ingredients.
Usage example:
Molly declared with a flourish, “Surprise! It’s whatever we have left in the pantry,” as she began pulling out various cans and boxes to see what she could concoct.
6. I ordered us a pizza. It should be here in 3-5 business days.
This response humorously exaggerates the delivery time for a pizza, suggesting it could take as long as a parcel to arrive.
It’s a playful way to comment on slow delivery services or to jest about not actually having ordered anything for dinner.
Usage example:
Kevin, realizing he forgot to prepare dinner, quipped, “I ordered us a pizza. It should be here in 3-5 business days,” earning a round of laughter from the family.
7. Takeout from the fancy restaurant down the street. Oh wait, we can’t afford that. Nevermind.
This response starts with the exciting prospect of fancy takeout, only to comically retract the offer due to budget constraints.
It’s a humorous way to acknowledge financial realities while keeping the mood light.
Usage example:
Lisa teased her partner by saying, “Takeout from the fancy restaurant down the street. Oh wait, we can’t afford that. Nevermind,” before diving into the freezer for something to cook.
8. Beans and toast cut into fun dinosaur shapes!
This response adds a whimsical twist to a simple meal by suggesting the food will be presented in dinosaur shapes.
It’s a playful idea that can make a basic dinner sound more appealing, especially to kids or those young at heart.
Usage example:
“To spice things up, tonight we’re having beans and toast cut into fun dinosaur shapes!” exclaimed Tom, trying to make the simple meal more exciting for his kids.
9. Cereal again. But this time, with water instead of milk!
This response humorously suggests serving cereal with water—a less-than-appetizing alternative to milk—implying that the meal situation is dire.
It’s a funny way to comment on running out of essentials while keeping things light-hearted.
Usage example:
Jen, looking at the empty milk carton, shrugged and said, “Cereal again. But this time, with water instead of milk!” as a way to make light of the situation.
10. Grass clippings seasoned with dirt from the garden.
By suggesting a meal made from garden refuse, this response humorously implies that there’s absolutely nothing to eat.
It’s an exaggerated way to poke fun at having to make do with whatever is at hand, even if it’s inedible.
Usage example:
“Tonight’s specialty is grass clippings seasoned with dirt from the garden,” joked Alex, hinting at the need to go grocery shopping.
11. Leftover scrambled eggs from yesterday’s breakfast…for the 5th night in a row.
This response humorously acknowledges the monotony of having the same meal repeatedly, using the image of scrambled eggs—a typical breakfast food—being served for dinner multiple nights in a row.
It’s a lighthearted way to comment on the lack of variety in recent meals.
Usage example:
With a sigh, Carla announced, “Leftover scrambled eggs from yesterday’s breakfast…for the 5th night in a row,” highlighting the urgent need for a grocery run.
12. Canned tuna and saltines served on fine china.
This response contrasts the simplicity of a meal consisting of canned tuna and saltines with the elegance of serving it on fine china, humorously elevating a basic meal to a gourmet experience.
It’s a playful take on making the best of what’s available.
Usage example:
Dave, setting the table, declared, “Canned tuna and saltines served on fine china,” as he tried to add a touch of class to their simple dinner.
13. Surprise meatloaf made with ingredients from the fridge. Let’s hope it’s edible!
This response playfully suggests creating a meatloaf from random fridge ingredients, acknowledging the uncertainty of its edibility with humor.
It’s a fun way to approach cooking with a sense of adventure and optimism.
Usage example:
“Tonight’s menu features surprise meatloaf made with ingredients from the fridge. Let’s hope it’s edible!” Emily joked as she began mixing what she found.
14. I tried a new recipe – burnt offerings with a side of regret.
This humorous response admits to a cooking mishap with self-deprecating humor, suggesting that the meal didn’t turn out as planned and might be burnt.
It’s a lighthearted way to acknowledge a kitchen failure while keeping spirits high.
Usage example:
After a mishap at the stove, Greg confessed, “I tried a new recipe – burnt offerings with a side of regret,” making light of the dinner disaster.
15. Mac and cheese, hold the cheese.
This response humorously suggests serving macaroni without its key ingredient, cheese, highlighting the absence of essential components in a meal.
It’s a playful way to note the need to make do with what’s available, even if it means missing out on key ingredients.
Usage example:
When asked about dinner, Sarah quipped, “Mac and cheese, hold the cheese,” indicating they were out of cheese yet again.
16. Crust from the bread bag sautéed in olive oil. Bon appétit!
This response takes a humorous approach to making the most out of minimal resources, suggesting the idea of cooking the often-discarded bread crusts as a gourmet meal.
It’s a playful nod to culinary creativity under constraints.
Usage example:
Looking at the nearly empty bread bag, Mike joked, “Crust from the bread bag sautéed in olive oil. Bon appétit!” as he tried to bring some humor to their sparse dinner options.
17. I’ll flip you for it. Heads we order pizza, tails we starve.
This response humorously suggests leaving dinner to chance with a coin toss, indicating either the possibility of a treat like pizza or the acceptance of having nothing at all.
It’s a lighthearted way to address indecision or the lack of dinner plans.
Usage example:
When neither could decide on what to eat, Jenna suggested, “I’ll flip you for it. Heads we order pizza, tails we starve,” bringing a playful gamble into the dinner decision.
18. Frozen fish sticks that expired 6 months ago. Yum!
This response jokingly offers an unappetizing and potentially unsafe meal option, highlighting the desperation or neglect in checking food expiry dates.
It’s a humorous way to comment on the need to clean out the freezer or the lack of fresh food.
Usage example:
As they scavenged the freezer for anything edible, Ron quipped, “Frozen fish sticks that expired 6 months ago. Yum!” to make light of their less-than-ideal dinner prospects.
19. We’re going out! To the garden to forage for berries and dandelions.
This response creatively suggests an alternative to traditional dining by humorously proposing to gather food from the garden, implying a return to nature or survivalist tactics.
It’s a playful way to suggest making an adventure out of necessity.
Usage example:
In response to the empty fridge, Lisa excitedly proclaimed, “We’re going out! To the garden to forage for berries and dandelions,” as if planning a mini expedition for their meal.
20. Mystery casserole made with all the leftovers from the past week. Let’s cross our fingers!
This response humorously suggests combining all leftover food into a single dish, acknowledging the unpredictable result.
It’s a lighthearted way to deal with excess leftovers and the challenge of repurposing them into something edible.
Usage example:
Facing a fridge full of various leftovers, Dan declared, “Mystery casserole made with all the leftovers from the past week. Let’s cross our fingers!” hoping to create a palatable meal from the assortment.