Quick Sunday Dinner Ideas for the Family

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Struggling with ideas on what to make for dinner on Sunday? Here are some quick Sunday dinner ideas that the whole family will love!

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Best Sunday Dinner Ideas

Sunday evenings are a time for relaxation and spending quality time with your family. After a long day of running errands and taking care of daily chores, cooking dinner can be the last thing on your mind.

But, with some planning and quick and easy recipes, you can enjoy a delicious and stress-free Sunday dinner with your loved ones.

Soup

How to Simplify Sunday Dinner

When it’s time to prepare dinner, things can get hectic and overwhelming. Especially when you’re tired after a long day of work or running errands, spending hours in the kitchen is probably the last thing you want. However, you can make things easier by choosing recipes that require fewer ingredients, less prep time, and shorter cooking times.

In addition, you can also take advantage of innovative kitchen appliances like slow cookers, pressure cookers, and air fryers. These modern gadgets have transformed how we cook and make dinner time simpler, faster, and easier.

Slow Cookers

Slow cookers are a great option for busy days when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. With a slow cooker, you can throw all of your ingredients in the pot in the morning, set it to cook on low heat for the day, and come home to a delicious, tender meal that’s ready to be served.

Whether it’s a hearty beef stew, a creamy chicken curry, or a vegetable soup, slow cookers are perfect for creating meals that are rich in flavor and require minimal effort. Plus, they are great for meal prepping and can save you time throughout the week.

I don’t have a separate slow cooker but I have a slow cooker lid for my Instant Pot to save on appliance space.

Pressure Cookers

Pressure cookers are another great option for simplifying dinner time and for a variety of cooking methods, such as sautéing and steaming. These appliances work by trapping steam inside a sealed pot, which helps cook food faster than traditional methods.

This means that you can make soups, stews, and even whole meals in a fraction of the time it would take using a conventional stove. Not only do pressure cookers save time, but they also help retain the nutrients in your food, making it a healthier option.

I have an 8 Quart Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

Air Fryers

Air fryers are a great option if you want to indulge in some of your favorite fried foods without the added unhealthy oils. These work by circulating hot air around the food, which creates a crispy exterior while keeping the interior moist and tender.

From chicken wings to french fries, air fryers can cook all your favorite fried foods with just a fraction of the oil, making it a healthier and more convenient option. Plus, they are easy to clean and require minimal effort to use.

I don’t personally have an air fryer, but I have many friends that love them!

Quick Sunday Dinner Ideas

When it comes to quick Sunday dinner ideas, the possibilities are endless. Some of my favorite go-to recipes include:

Pressure-Cooked Pot Roast: This classic Sunday dinner dish is a family favorite for a reason. With just a few simple ingredients and a slow cooker, you can have a delicious and hearty meal that everyone will love. And if you want to mix things up with your leftovers, you can grab some ideas here: Leftover Pot Roast Recipes – How to Stretch a Roast.
One Pot Chicken and Rice: This one-pot chicken and rice meal is quick and easy and loaded with protein and fiber, making it a healthy dinner option. And with the convenience of the Instant Pot, you can have a nutritious meal on the table in under 30 minutes. For this you can just toss 2lbs of cubed chicken breasts, 4 cups of chicken broth, 2 cups of rice, and your favorite herbs and spices into your pressure cooker. Cook on high for 15 minutes.
3-Ingredient Mac and Cheese: The 3-ingredient mac and cheese is a simple yet delicious dish that requires minimal effort to prepare. This dish consists of only macaroni pasta, cheese, and cream, making it the perfect quick and easy meal.
Anything With Noodles: Most noodle and pasta meals are super simple and quick to whip up. 5 Minute Spaghetti Sauce and Alfredo Sauce are some of our favorites.
Breakfast for Supper. Always a hit and a great thing to serve on Sundays! We like Cornmeal Griddlecakes with sausage, omelets, or any other hearty dish that takes no time to prep.

Lazy Sunday Dinner Ideas

If you’re looking for lazy Sunday dinner ideas that require minimal effort, here are a few of my favorites:

Slow Cooker Steak and Carmelized Onions: Slow Cooker Steak and Caramelized Onions is a delicious and easy recipe that can be prepared in a crockpot, making it a convenient and fuss-free meal. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to develop and the steak to become tender, while the caramelized onions add a touch of sweetness and depth of flavor. Short ribs are another really easy meal to make in the slow cooker with almost no prep work.
Cheeseburger Casserole: Casseroles are the ultimate lazy Sunday dinner dish. You can prepare them ahead of time and pop them in the oven when you’re ready to eat. This cheeseburger casserole is the perfect dinner go-to on any Sunday.
Slow Cooker Chili: There’s nothing quite like the comforting taste of classic slow cooker meals; this dish is no exception. Perfect for lazy Sundays, this meal is both easy and satisfying. With just a little bit of preparation, you can have a delicious and hearty meal that’s sure to warm you up from the inside out. Just put your favorite chili recipe in the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours. We do 1lb ground beef (cooked), 1 chopped onion, 3 (15oz) cans of diced tomatoes, 2 (15oz) cans of black beans, and 1 Tablespoon chili powder. You can add toppings when you serve it.
Sheet Pan Supper: We love this one at our house! You can add almost any kind of veggie and meat combo, just make sure they will cook the same amount of time. Our favorite is chicken thighs, green beans, and sweet potatoes.

Basil

How to Elevate Simple Suppers

Sometimes meals cooked in the slow cooker or pressure cooker can be rather bland and boring. Here are some ideas on how to take these basic, easy meals and make them a little fancier. You can also follow some of my tips on How to Make Frugal Food Fancy for more ideas!

Use fresh herbs. Fresh herbs always help a meal feel extra special. If you grow fresh basil, parsley, or anything else in your garden or home, this is an easy thing to do!
Bump up the flavor. Adding a little lemon juice, a special sauce, extra garlic, butter, or a topping like sour cream or mustard bumps the flavor without adding any time to your cooking.

Easy Sunday Dinner Side Dishes

No Sunday dinner is complete without delicious side dishes. Here are a few easy ideas to get you started:

Roasted Vegetables: Roasting vegetables is an easy and healthy side dish that pairs well with almost any Sunday dinner dish. Simply toss your favorite veggies in the oven, drizzle them with your cooking oil of choice, and roast until tender!
Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes: Slow cooker scalloped potatoes make for an excellent Sunday dinner side dish that is both simple and delicious. This classic comfort food is made even easier with the use of a slow cooker, as it allows you to set it and forget it while the scalloped potatoes cook to perfection.
Avocado Corn Salsa: Avocado Corn Salsa is a versatile and tasty side dish that is perfect for any quick Sunday dinner. With its fresh and flavorful ingredients, it’s sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection.
Mashed Potatoes: We either use instant mashed potatoes, which I always keep in my stockpile or we use Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes.

Easy Sunday Dinner Ideas and Recipes You’ll Love

If you’re looking for quick and easy meal ideas that won’t take up too much of your time or energy, then you’ve got to check out 30 Days of Skillet Meals. I’m telling you, this ebook is a game-changer! It’s an instant download, so you can get your hands on it immediately and start planning your meals for the next 30 days.

The best part? With 30 Days of Skillet Meals, you can make delicious meals in just one skillet! Yup, you heard that right – no more spending hours in the kitchen washing a ton of dishes. This ebook is perfect for busy parents, college students, or anyone who wants to simplify their mealtime routine. From savory stews to spicy stir-fries, there’s something for everyone, and every recipe is designed to be cooked in a single skillet.

Sunday supper is more than just a meal; it’s a cherished tradition for many families. It’s a time to slow down, unwind, and enjoy the company of loved ones over a delicious feast. These quick and easy Sunday dinner recipes will help you create a stress-free meal that will leave everyone feeling satisfied and full.

More Meal Ideas

What are some quick Sunday dinners that you make in your home? I’d love to hear about them, so make sure you leave a comment below.

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Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple life since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to the 100-acre farm on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.

This post on Quick Sunday Dinner Ideas was originally published on Little House Living in July 2023.