17 Sunday Dinners Your Family Will Love

Crowd-pleasing recipes that will impress everyone at the table.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published March 01, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Platter of Spaghetti and Meatballs With a Piece of Toasted Bread and Topped With Fresh Basil Leaves, and in the Surroundings, a Burgundy Table Napkin, a Bowl of Parmesan, Bite Size Bread Pieces Scattered on the Table, and a Plate With More Spaghetti and Meatballs

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Sunday night dinners will always hold a special place in my heart. Growing up, my family always made time to sit down and have our meals together, but on Sunday nights, we'd typically do something special.

My grandpa would fire up the grill or my grandma would get the slow cooker going first thing in the morning, then it would be all hands on deck to pull together some sides and set the table before dinner. It was an ideal way to wrap up the weekend and charge up for the week ahead.

Whether you have a Sunday night dinner tradition or not, here are 17 great meal options that range in effort but are sure to impress whoever grabs a seat at your table.

  • Mom's Classic Pot Roast

    Overhead view of a plate of pot roast with carrots, onions and noodles next to a form on a napkin, a cup of gravy and a drinking glass

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    Contributor Stephanie A. Ganz says, "Only use chuck roast for this recipe. The fat from the chuck roast keeps the beef juicy and tender throughout the long cooking process."

  • Chicken Marbella

    Chicken marbella on a white plate
    Elise Bauer

    If you can plan ahead, get your chicken marinated the night before to make this hands-off, crowd-pleasing, and super juicy chicken Marbella to wind down the weekend.

  • Mom’s 5-Ingredient Barbecue Meatloaf

    Overhead shot of a sliced up meatloaf on a white serving plate, with three slices turned on their side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Contributor Ivy Manning says, "Mom usually tucks her meatloaf into her well-worn meatloaf pan, but I find that baking the meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet is quicker and tastier. Using a sheet pan also allows for more air circulation during baking, which equals more browned bits around the edges."

  • Baked Spaghetti

    a portion of baked spaghetti being lifted to serve out of the casserole dish

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    Somewhere between spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna, this baked spaghetti is a one-dish meal with sausage, mushrooms, and plenty of cheese tucked through the strands of spaghetti.

    Continue to 5 of 17 below

  • Mom’s One-Pot Chicken and Rice

    Side vew of a cast iron pot with a chicken and rice dish

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    Contributor Stephanie Burt says, "Feel free to make this dish with any boneless, skinless chicken you have on hand, but the convenience of frozen, bagged tenders means they can go straight from the freezer to the boiling pot."

  • Foolproof Fillet of Beef

    Sliced Oven Roasted Fillet of Beef on a Plate, and in the Surroundings, the Carving Utensils on the Green Kitchen Towel, Two Glasses of Water, and a Stack of Plates

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

    A perfectly-cooked fillet of beef is no easy feat, but this recipe breaks it down and will give you the confidence to pull it off. Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetable for a lovely Sunday night steak dinner at home.

  • Chicken Adobo

    Chicken Adobo in a Bowl With a Spoon, Surrounded by a Table Setting With a Bowl of Rice, a Glass of Water, and More Utensils on the Counter

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    This savory chicken stew is the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. Author Elizabeth Ann Quirino says, "I am sharing the very first adobo recipe I learned, when I was practically still a child."

  • Shepherd's Pie

    A casserole dish with a piece of shepherd's pie removed.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    Made with beef instead of the traditional lamb, this comforting casserole is special enough for a Sunday meal with the family and makes great leftovers for the busy week ahead.

    Continue to 9 of 17 below

  • Arroz con Pollo

    A pan of cooked arroz con pollo

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "This is my mother's basic arroz con pollo recipe, which she adjusts depending on her mood and what she has on hand," says author Elise Bauer. "It's an easy, stove-top, one pan dish, great for family meals."

  • Classic Bolognese Sauce

    Pasta with bolognese sauce on a white plate.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Founder Elise Bauer says, "Bolognese sauce is traditionally served with fresh tagliatelle pasta, but you can also serve it with fettuccine, pappardelle, penne, or other pasta."

  • Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos

    Pulled pork tacos on a plate, topped with cilantro, avocado, radishes, and cabbage

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Arguably, Sundays are even better for tacos than Tuesdays, especially if you're going to slow-cook some real-deal pulled pork filling for them. After this fragrant pork mixture cooks all day in the slow cooker, everyone at the table can make their taco just the way they like it.

  • Guyanese Chicken Curry

    Guyanese Chicken Curry in a Baking Dish

    Simply Recipes / Alica Ramkirpal-Senhouse

    Author Alicia Ramkirpal-Senhouse says, "I grew up eating this at least once a week, my mom always made the best chicken curry in the family. Now, I cook it for my family once a week as well."

    Continue to 13 of 17 below

  • Spring Lamb Stew

    A large Dutch oven filled with spring lamb stew is ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This recipe is ideal for you if you have plenty of time to spend preparing a homey, hearty stew for your Sunday evening meal. Don't worry though, the effort will pay off for days to come.

  • Chicken Cordon Bleu

    Classic Chicken Cordon Bleu on a plate with mashed potatoes and butter

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera

    Everyone loves cheese and ham-filled chicken cordon bleu, and it's not as difficult to make as you might think.

  • Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Platter of Spaghetti and Meatballs With a Piece of Toasted Bread and Topped With Fresh Basil Leaves, and in the Surroundings, a Burgundy Table Napkin, a Bowl of Parmesan, Bite Size Bread Pieces Scattered on the Table, and a Plate With More Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Spaghetti and meatballs are a classic choice to end the weekend with and the whole family is sure to love it. Author Elise Bauer says, "This recipe was given to us by Rick Mindermann of our local Italian grocery store Corti Brothers."

  • Risi e Bisi (Italian Rice and Peas)

    A bowl of risi e bisi ready to eat.

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Contributor Hank Shaw says, "Can’t find prosciutto? Use any ham. Virginia ham is an excellent substitute."

    Continue to 17 of 17 below

  • Smothered Pork Chops

    A gluten free smothered pork chop with a pile of mashed potatoes covered in gravy on an ivory plate with a striped linen nearyby and a side salad.

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera

    Tender pork with a rich gravy, this Sunday dinner will impress in 40 minutes or less. Serve with mashed potatoes or an easy green salad.

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