19 Sunday Dinner Ideas to Start Your Week Off Right

One-Pot Barbecue Chicken Pot Pie

Pot pie has to be one of the best Sunday dinners of all time. But if you're looking for something a little more unexpected, try this saucy barbecue chicken version. Use store-bought piecrust to speed up the prep time. After the easy savory pie assembly and hands-off bake time, you can scoop up buttery crust, veggies, and juicy chicken thighs.

Classic Roast Chicken

If you're at a loss for what to make, we suggest you make a juicy roast chicken. This traditional Sunday dinner recipe keeps things super simple with just four ingredients. Of course, simple doesn't mean boring—this recipe will be the star of the show, and just might convince you to skip the rotisserie chicken at the supermarket.

Crispy Ricotta Meatballs with Sheet-Pan Tomato Sauce

Spaghetti and meatballs are great for a Lady and the Tramp-inspired date night or a crowd-pleasing Sunday family dinner. To give this sauce the taste of a slow and low all-day simmer, try ours time-saving trick: Simply roast fresh and canned tomatoes, garlic, and herbs for 20 minutes before tossing in cooked noodles and cheesy homemade meatballs.

Pulled Pork Skillet Chili

Enjoy the best flavors of a summer barbecue year-round with this stove-top southern Sunday dinner recipe. Braise a pork shoulder in broth, barbecue sauce, beans, and a zesty blend of spices to bring the unique chili recipe to life. During the final 10 minutes, crown the bubbly chili with mounds of the cornmeal batter, cover with a lid, and bake the dumplings to fluffy, fork-tender perfection.

Double Pepper-Pepperoni Pizza Pasta

It's not delivery, it's … a deliciously cheesy, easy Sunday dinner recipe that you'll want to make every week. The Dutch oven creation combines in one simple dish everything you love most about pepperoni pizza and baked ziti. The mini pepperonis, pizza sauce, fun wagon wheel pasta, and cheese will lure everyone to the table, while the health-minded diners will go wild for the surprising amount of vegetables in the mix.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 5-Quart Cast-Iron Dutch Oven with Lid ($70, Target)

Sunday Beef Rib Roast

If you ask us, a tender, juicy roast is the quintessential Sunday dinner. This succulent roast beef entrée goes into the oven under a blanket of rosemary and bacon. And you don't have to worry about making separate sides—carrots and red potatoes roast right alongside the meat, and we've included instructions for a quick spinach and butter bean salad.

Buy It: Calphalon Roaster with Rack ($70, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Loaded Cheeseburger Skillet Pizza

Is half your family on Team Pizza and the other half firmly on Team Burger? No need to pick a side. This cast-iron skillet Sunday dinner idea mashes up both of these kid-friendly concepts into one recipe that adults will also love. Start with purchased pizza dough, or make your own—either will taste delightful under layers of ground beef, ketchup, mustard, pickles, onion, bacon, and two types of cheese.

Best Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

Craving a classic southern Sunday dinner? Macaroni and cheese is tough to beat. And when it comes to entrée-worthy mac and cheese, this four-cheese recipe reigns supreme with a satisfying, crispy bread-crumb topping. The vegetarian dish comes in several variations to spice things up, including pumpkin, butternut squash, bacon-blue cheese, and truffle.

Warm Sweet Potato and Kamut Salad with Salmon and Walnuts

Unless you live near a big body of water, you might not immediately consider seafood entrées for Sunday dinner. But this simple, wildly nutritious meal will convince you to dive right in. This recipe bakes in just 10 minutes and can be made with fresh or thawed frozen salmon. Serve it with a Kamut (or farro) and sweet potato salad on the side.

Honey-Glazed Pork Roast

Give pork a fresh makeover by brushing it with a honey-lime glaze and pairing it with roasted peppers. One of our favorite showy, yet healthy, Sunday dinner ideas, this easy roast takes less than a half hour of prep before it's popped in the oven. Then you can enjoy the rest of your weekend evening as it slow-roasts and fills your home with mouthwatering savory aromas.

Braised Beef Shanks with Mushrooms and Olives

In fall and winter we return time and time again to this braised beef dish. It's a hearty meal in one pot, and a topping of fresh parsley, garlic, and lemon zest adds a welcome burst of freshness. To round out the meat and potatoes feast, feel free to boil a package of gnocchi. The pillowy gnocchi are ideal to capture every drop of the tomato-mushroom broth that flavors this lazy Sunday dinner.

Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables

Although chicken breasts might feel more like a weeknight dinner staple, this easy balsamic chicken is worthy of a spot on our list of go-to summer Sunday dinner recipes. Even better news: The colorful chicken dish is ready in just 30 minutes. While it's best with fresh seasonal veggies, you can absolutely make it any time of year with frozen or canned vegetables. Italian dressing makes a tangy topper.

French Onion Beef Short Ribs

These tender short ribs are simmered slowly in broth, garlic, fresh herbs, and onions. And what goes best with beef broth? Crusty baguette slices to soak it up, of course. Instead of serving the bread on the side, we recommend placing a generous chunk right in the bowl with the broth and all the umami, herb-infused juices.

Ratatouille Cassoulet

Channel your inner Julia Child and assemble this showstopping summer Sunday dinner. It works wonderfully as a satisfying side dish or vegan main dish. Beans add plenty of protein, while heart-healthy olive oil and an earthy za'atar spice blend permeate every ounce of the thinly-sliced vegetables. Eggplant, summer squash, tomatoes, bell pepper … the summer garden's all here.

Oven-Fried Chicken

Shake up your Sunday dinner routine with this low-fuss, extra-crispy chicken. For an easy and less messy twist on classic fried chicken, try oven-frying it instead. This method will cut calories, while allowing the seasoned cornflake coating to shine, rather than hiding it behind oil.

Spice-and-Honey Roasted Carrots

Roasted vegetables are a Sunday supper staple. No matter what you're serving as the main course, these spiced carrots will add a flavorful, vitamin-rich element to your meal. For extra crunch and some nuttiness to complement the sweet heat of the carrots, garnish with toasted hazelnuts.

Crispy Seasoned Fish and Chips with Green Olive Tartar Sauce

Like a grownup twist on fish sticks, everyone will be asking for seconds of this Sunday family dinner. The dish offers a double dose of healthy comfort food. Whitefish is low in fat, and both the chips (fries) and fish are baked instead of fried. Panko bread crumbs are the secret to making the fillets extra crispy and delicious.

Rosemary Chicken with Vegetables

If you've got a jam-packed weekend and don't have time to wait on a roast, turn to this easy Sunday dinner idea. With fresh vegetables from your garden or local farmers market, along with pantry staples, such as pasta and dried rosemary, you can create this flavorful dinner in just 30 minutes. It checks all the boxes for us: easy, tasty, healthy, and speedy to make.

Classic Crab Cakes

These fully-loaded, light-on-filler crab cakes will make you feel like you're vacationing on the East Coast. Our homemade chipotle sauce adds a bit of pizzazz to Maryland's signature dish. Serve it with a crisp green salad for a refreshing—and surprisingly budget-friendly—addition to your Sunday dinner.