35 Best Sunday Dinner Ideas The Whole Family Will Love

Before I made food my full-time passion, I lived by a corporate calendar. Sunday dinner was my non-negotiable reset button. It was that one sacred slice of time that reminded me what all the hustle was for.

That’s why I’ve gathered all our family’s favorites right here. Whether you need a quick meal for a hectic weekend, a classic feast to impress the in-laws, or a healthy option that doesn’t skimp on flavor, you’ll find the perfect, tested solution in this list of 35 Sunday dinner ideas.

Our Top Sunday Dinner Recommendations

Looking for quick inspiration? Here are a few of our handpicked, signature Sunday dinners that are true crowd-pleasers.

1. Classic Roast Chicken

The quintessential Sunday meal. A crispy, golden-brown skin with unbelievably juicy meat, it’s a simple, perfect meal that feels like the greatest luxury and a forever family favorite.

2. Slow Cooker Pot Roast

The ultimate set-it-and-forget-it comfort food. The beef becomes fall-apart tender after simmering for hours, creating a rich, savory meal with almost no effort.

3. Classic Beef Lasagna

The ultimate dish for bringing everyone to the table. Layers of rich beef sauce, creamy ricotta, and generous handfuls of mozzarella create a bubbling masterpiece of pure comfort.

4. Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Chicken with Veggies

The savior of a busy Sunday. A complete, vibrant, and healthy meal on a single pan means maximum flavor with minimal cleanup, giving you more time with your family.

Explore by Theme: Find Your Perfect Sunday Dinner

Classic & Comforting Sunday Dinners: The dependable, soul-warming meals that everyone at the table agrees on.
Quick & Easy Sunday Dinner Ideas: Delicious dinners from kitchen to table in under an hour.
Healthy Sunday Dinner Recipes: Packed with vegetables, lean proteins, and incredible flavor.
Sunday Dinner Ideas for Family: Tried-and-true, kid-approved, crowd-pleasing recipes.
Sunday Dinner Ideas for Two: Perfectly portioned and feel a little extra special.
Slow Cooker Sunday Dinner Recipes: Let your slow cooker do all the work!
Budget-Friendly Sunday Dinners: Create a beautiful dinner without breaking the bank.
Sunday Dinner Desserts: The perfect sweet treat to end your meal on a high note.

Our Complete Collection: 35 Sunday Dinner Ideas for Every Taste

Below is our handpicked library of tried-and-true Sunday dinner recipes. Whether you’re craving a grand centerpiece roast, a comforting classic, or a quick skillet meal, you’ll find your next family favorite right here.

The Unforgettable Roasts & Centerpieces

Roast Chicken

For me, the scent of rosemary and garlic from a roasting chicken is pure time travel. It instantly takes me back to my childhood kitchen, watching my mom. This is the recipe that taught me a simple, perfect meal can be the greatest luxury. A crispy, golden skin and unbelievably juicy meat make this a forever favorite—it’s the first recipe I recommend to anyone looking for that ‘I did it!’ feeling.

Style: Classic, Centerpiece, Guest-Worthy
Why you’ll love it: Show-stopping results with simple techniques; incredible aroma; a forever family favorite.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Roast Turkey Breast

Get that Thanksgiving flavor without having to cook a whole bird. It’s perfect for a smaller family gathering and roasts up juicy and delicious.

Style: Classic, Holiday-Style, Centerpiece
Why you’ll love it: All the flavor of a big feast with less work; perfect for smaller groups; juicy and tender results.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Roast Beef with Gravy

A classic for a reason. A perfectly roasted joint of beef, sliced thin and served with a rich, homemade gravy.

Style: Classic, Traditional, Hearty
Why you’ll love it: The ultimate centerpiece; deeply savory flavor; creates an amazing gravy.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Pork Roast with Apples and Onions

A beautiful combination of sweet and savory. The apples and onions cook down to create a delicious, natural sauce for the tender pork.

Style: Elegant, Flavorful, One-Pot
Why you’ll love it: A perfect sweet-and-savory balance; impressive but easy to make; naturally delicious sauce.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Glazed Ham

A beautiful centerpiece for a holiday or any special Sunday. The sweet and sticky glaze creates a delicious crust.

Style: Holiday, Centerpiece, Crowd-Pleaser
Why you’ll love it: Feeds a large group; deliciously sweet and salty; fantastic leftovers.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Rack of Lamb with Herbs

Feels fancy, but it’s surprisingly simple to make. An herb crust of rosemary, thyme, and garlic makes it elegant and flavorful.

Style: Elegant, Restaurant-Quality, Quick-Cooking
Why you’ll love it: Impresses guests; cooks much faster than other roasts; incredibly tender and flavorful.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Heartwarming American Comfort Classics

Classic Meatloaf

Don’t underestimate a great meatloaf! It’s hearty, flavorful, and the sweet and tangy glaze on top is what makes it a classic comfort dish.

Style: Comfort Food, Budget-Friendly, Classic
Why you’ll love it: The ultimate comfort food; easy to make ahead; delicious sweet and tangy glaze.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Southern Fried Chicken

Crispy, crunchy, and perfectly seasoned on the outside, with incredibly moist meat inside. Serve it with mashed potatoes for a true Southern-style feast.

Style: Comfort Food, Southern Classic, Indulgent
Why you’ll love it: Unbeatable crispy crust; perfectly juicy interior; a true crowd-pleaser.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Shepherd’s Pie

A savory filling of ground lamb (or beef for a Cottage Pie) and vegetables, topped with a fluffy blanket of mashed potatoes baked until golden.

Style: Casserole, Comfort Food, All-in-One Meal
Why you’ll love it: A complete meal in one dish; rich and savory filling; topped with cheesy mashed potatoes.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Chicken Pot Pie

A creamy, savory filling of chicken and vegetables under a flaky, golden pie crust. It’s a hug in a bowl.

Style: Comfort Food, Classic, Hearty
Why you’ll love it: Creamy, savory, and satisfying; uses a flaky, buttery crust; a true one-dish wonder.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

A real-deal, from-scratch mac and cheese with a creamy sauce and a crunchy breadcrumb topping. The ultimate side dish or main event.

Style: Side Dish, Comfort Food, Kid-Friendly
Why you’ll love it: Ultra-creamy cheese sauce; crispy, crunchy topping; loved by all ages.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Chicken and Dumplings

Soft, fluffy dumplings simmered in a creamy chicken and vegetable stew. It’s the ultimate one-pot comfort meal.

Style: One-Pot, Comfort Food, Stew
Why you’ll love it: A hug in a bowl; soft and pillowy dumplings; rich and creamy stew.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Salisbury Steak

Essentially a mini meatloaf smothered in a rich mushroom and onion gravy. It’s simple, savory, and always a hit.

Style: Comfort Food, Budget-Friendly, Skillet Meal
Why you’ll love it: Quick and easy to make; rich and savory gravy; a nostalgic family favorite.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Swiss Steak

A budget-friendly cut of steak made incredibly tender by slow simmering in a tomato-based sauce with onions and peppers.

Style: Budget-Friendly, Slow-Simmered, Comfort Food
Why you’ll love it: Makes a tough cut of meat incredibly tender; rich, savory tomato sauce; a hearty and satisfying meal.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Chicken and Rice Casserole

A true one-dish wonder. Creamy, cheesy, and comforting, it’s a simple bake that the whole family will love.

Style: Casserole, One-Dish, Kid-Friendly
Why you’ll love it: Easy to assemble; creamy, cheesy, and comforting; minimal cleanup.[Get the Full Recipe →]

An Italian-American Sunday Feast

Classic Beef Lasagna

If there is one dish that truly says ‘Sunday,’ this is it. For me, layering the rich beef sauce, creamy ricotta, and generous handfuls of mozzarella is a calming ritual, and the reward is simply unmatched.

Style: Italian-American, Classic, Crowd-Pleaser
Why you’ll love it: The ultimate make-ahead meal; layers of rich, cheesy goodness; leftovers are even better.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Spaghetti and Meatballs

A simple, satisfying meal that kids and adults adore. The secret is in the slow-simmered tomato sauce and tender, flavorful meatballs.

Style: Italian-American, Kid-Friendly, Classic
Why you’ll love it: A timeless family favorite; simple ingredients, big flavor; fun to make and eat.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Baked Ziti

All the wonderful flavors of lasagna but with half the work. Ziti pasta is baked in a hearty meat sauce with layers of ricotta and mozzarella.

Style: Italian-American, Casserole, Easy
Why you’ll love it: Lasagna flavor with less effort; perfect for a crowd; wonderfully cheesy.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Chicken Parmesan

A crispy, breaded chicken cutlet topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Serve it over spaghetti for a restaurant-quality meal at home.

Style: Italian-American, Restaurant-Quality, Classic
Why you’ll love it: Crispy chicken, savory sauce, and melted cheese; a satisfying classic; surprisingly easy to make at home.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Chicken Cacciatore

A rustic “hunter-style” dish where chicken is braised in a flavorful sauce of tomatoes, onions, herbs, and bell peppers.

Style: Italian, One-Pot, Rustic
Why you’ll love it: A rich, flavorful, and healthy dish; incredibly aromatic; chicken becomes fall-off-the-bone tender.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Effortless Slow Cooker & One-Pot Meals

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

This is the ultimate comfort food. The beef becomes fall-apart tender after simmering for hours in a rich, savory broth with potatoes and carrots.

Style: Slow Cooker, One-Pot, Comfort Food
Why you’ll love it: Set it and forget it; makes the whole house smell amazing; incredibly tender results.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

So easy and so versatile. The pork becomes incredibly tender and shreds easily to be piled onto buns for sandwiches.

Style: Slow Cooker, Crowd-Pleaser, Versatile
Why you’ll love it: Practically foolproof; perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or salads; feeds a crowd easily.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

Fall-off-the-bone tender ribs without firing up the grill. The slow cooker makes them practically foolproof.

Style: Slow Cooker, BBQ, Easy
Why you’ll love it: Tender, fall-off-the-bone meat; no grill required; smothered in your favorite BBQ sauce.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Hearty Beef Chili

Perfect for a cool evening. It’s thick, rich, and can be customized with all your favorite toppings like cheese, sour cream, and jalapeños.

Style: One-Pot, Comfort Food, Make-Ahead
Why you’ll love it: Deep, rich flavor that gets better overnight; endlessly customizable with toppings; perfect for a crowd.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Beef Stroganoff

Tender strips of beef and mushrooms in a tangy cream sauce, traditionally served over egg noodles. A retro classic that never goes out of style.

Style: Skillet Meal, Comfort Food, Classic
Why you’ll love it: A rich, tangy, and creamy sauce; an elegant yet quick meal; a beloved retro classic.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Quick & Easy Sheet Pan & Skillet Dinners

Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Chicken with Veggies

This is my secret weapon for a truly hectic Sunday. An entire, vibrant meal on one pan means more time for you. The first time I made this, my husband said, ‘This tastes like you spent all day on it,’ and my son literally licked the lemon-herb juices off his plate.

Style: Quick & Easy, One-Pan Meal, Healthy
Why you’ll love it: Minimal cleanup; perfectly balanced meal; fresh and vibrant flavors.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers

So simple and colorful. Italian sausage, bell peppers, and onions are roasted together until caramelized and tender.

Style: Quick & Easy, One-Pan Meal, Italian-American
Why you’ll love it: Only 5 minutes of prep time; sweet and savory flavors; incredibly simple and satisfying.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Roasted Salmon with Asparagus and Potatoes

A healthy, elegant, and easy meal. Everything roasts together on one sheet pan for minimal cleanup.

Style: Quick & Easy, Healthy, One-Pan Meal
Why you’ll love it: A complete, healthy meal on one pan; salmon is perfectly cooked and flaky; an elegant weeknight-style dinner.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Shrimp Scampi with Pasta

A quick and elegant meal. Plump shrimp are tossed in a garlic, butter, and white wine sauce with fresh parsley.

Style: Quick & Easy, Italian-American, Elegant
Why you’ll love it: Restaurant-quality taste in under 30 minutes; bright, garlicky flavor; light yet satisfying.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Scallops with Lemon Butter Sauce

A restaurant-worthy dish that takes just minutes to cook. The sweet scallops are perfect with the simple, bright lemon butter sauce.

Style: Quick & Easy, Elegant, Seafood
Why you’ll love it: Incredibly fast to cook; feels luxurious and special; a simple, perfect sauce.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Tender chicken breasts in a decadent, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic. It feels indulgent but comes together quickly.

Style: Quick & Easy, Skillet Meal, Indulgent
Why you’ll love it: A rich and decadent cream sauce; packed with flavor from sun-dried tomatoes and spinach; a one-skillet wonder.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Swedish Meatballs

More than just an IKEA classic! These small, spiced meatballs are served in a rich, creamy gravy and are delicious with egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Style: Comfort Food, Skillet Meal, European Classic
Why you’ll love it: A unique, savory-spiced flavor; rich, creamy gravy; surprisingly easy to make from scratch.[Get the Full Recipe →]

The Sweet Finale: Unforgettable Desserts

Classic Apple Pie

The perfect ending to a traditional meal. A flaky crust filled with sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples.

Style: Dessert, Classic, Baking
Why you’ll love it: The ultimate nostalgic dessert; a perfect flaky crust; a warm and comforting filling.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Chocolate Lava Cakes

Warm, individual chocolate cakes with a molten, gooey center. The perfect special-occasion dessert.

Style: Dessert, Indulgent, Quick
Why you’ll love it: A molten chocolate center; perfectly portioned; feels incredibly fancy but is easy to make.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Fudgy Skillet Brownie

A giant, warm, fudgy brownie baked in a cast-iron skillet and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pure happiness.

Style: Dessert, Easy, Crowd-Pleaser
Why you’ll love it: Warm, gooey, and shareable; a perfect vehicle for ice cream; minimal dishes.[Get the Full Recipe →]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a traditional American Sunday dinner?

Traditionally, it refers to a substantial, home-cooked family meal that takes time to prepare, centered around a roasted meat. A typical combination often includes:
Main Course: A centerpiece roast like chicken, beef, or pork.
Starchy Sides: Mashed potatoes with gravy, roasted potatoes, or macaroni and cheese.
Vegetables: Cooked vegetables like green beans and carrots, or a fresh salad.

What can I cook on a lazy Sunday?

A one-pan meal or a slow cooker recipe is your best bet! They require minimal active cooking time, allowing you to relax. Our Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Chicken is a fantastic choice, or any of our Slow Cooker recipes where the appliance does all the work.

How can I make Sunday dinner feel special without a lot of effort?

Focus on presentation and atmosphere! Use your nice plates, light a candle, or make a simple but delicious dessert like our Fudgy Skillet Brownie. It’s about creating a special moment, and that doesn’t always require a complicated recipe.

Your Table, Your Magic

You don’t need to be a chef to create these moments of connection—you just need a recipe you can trust. And I promise, every single one on this list is built for your success, tested and loved in my own kitchen.

What are your family’s favorite Sunday dinner traditions? Is there a recipe you grew up with that you still make today? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Be sure to bookmark this page for when you need inspiration! I truly love hearing your stories, so please leave a comment below and tell me which recipe you’re excited to try. Happy cooking!