40 Sunday Dinner Ideas That Are Short on Stress and Fuss
Because Sunday dinner doesn't have to be complicated to be comforting!
CAITLIN BENSEL
There's nothing like a cozy dinner with friends and family to soothe a case of the Sunday scaries, but nobody wants to spend the last hours of the weekend bogged down with dinner prep and dishes.
Lucky for you, we rounded up a slew of easy Sunday dinner ideas that don't leave a mess in your kitchen.
This list has something for everyone, from pasta and pie to sheet pan suppers, stir-fries, and skillets. The common thread is they're easy to whip up and execute, and don't leave you with a pile of pots, pans, and dishes to clean. Pick one for your next Sunday dinner.
Skillet Chipotle-Pork Enchiladas
Victor Protasio
Enchiladas typically involve lots of filling, rolling, and baking, but this recipe significantly cuts those prep tasks. Instead, slice the corn tortillas into wedges and mix them into the sauce and filling, similar to chilaquiles. This one-skillet recipe's shortcuts allow you to serve this comforting Mexican favorite after just 25 minutes of hands-on work.
Everything Salmon Skewers With Sriracha Aïoli
Victor Protasio
This recipe puts that everything bagel seasoning to good use by seasoning tender pieces of salmon on a skewer. Between the fish chunks are slivers of crisp bok choy and pungent scallions poised for a nice char on a grill pan (or on the grill, of course). Finish with homemade spicy mayo and white rice in just 40 minutes.
Almond-Crusted Chicken With Arugula Salad
Almond flour stands in for panko on these crispy chicken cutlets, while sesame seeds add a pop of flavor and crunch. On the side is a lemony arugula-and-Brussels sprouts salad that pairs perfectly with the juicy protein. To transform this into a kid-approved Sunday dinner, simply slice the cutlets into strips and serve with ketchup.
Soy-Glazed Salmon Sandwiches With Watercress
This recipe coats salmon filets with a glaze made from chili sauce, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. They get a quick sear before they're served atop fluffy brioche burger buns next to a crisp watercress salad. Within just 25 minutes, you have a delicious, healthy meal for four.
Roasted Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Broccoli pulls double duty in this pasta recipe as both a pesto component and a veggie that mingles with your choice of whole-grain pasta. Arugula, another co-mingler, adds micronutrients while almonds give the pesto its creamy texture and a dose of protein.
Red Lentil Soup With Lemon and Dill
Victor Protasio
In this chunky soup, creamy red lentils, fire-roasted tomatoes, and carrots are flavored with citrusy notes from lemon and sumac (a Middle Eastern spice made from dried ground berries). You'll hardly believe the depth of flavor this soup develops in just 30 minutes.
Roasted Root Veggie Quinoa Bowls
Victor Protasio
Cut butternut squash, parsnips, red onions, and Brussels sprouts are the veggie stars that add color and flavor to these grain bowls. Roasted with a little olive oil and salt, they're joined by quinoa, spinach, and a dollop of hummus. The whole thing comes together courtesy of a punchy mustard vinaigrette.
Orzo With Shrimp and Olives
Fred Hardy
This mash-up of a Greek salad and pasta salad is a hassle-free Sunday night meal option that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Sweet peppers, plump sun-dried tomatoes, and toothy orzo mingle with the shrimp, while lemon, olives, and a sprinkle of fresh oregano deliver flavor. For a richer dish, add a dollop of store-bought tzatziki.
Fettuccine With Dairy-Free Bolognese
Victor Protasio
Skip the milk and add umami-rich nutritional yeast to create this scrumptious dairy-free Bolognese. Start by browning ground beef before cooking down the mirepoix, and then cook the mixture with a glug of red wine and crushed tomatoes until thickened slightly. Ladle over a plate of freshly cooked pasta and serve to delighted dinner guests.
Pho-Inspired Vegetable Noodle Soup
Fred Hardy
If you love pho, this pho-inspired soup is right up your alley. It's a meat-free dish packed with umami-rich shiitake mushrooms, tender tofu, sweet carrots, and vermicelli rice noodles. A sliced serrano chile, star anise, and plenty of fresh cilantro add a ton of flavor.
Coconut Chicken Cutlets With Mango Chutney Slaw
Fred Hardy
These crispy coconut-coated chicken cutlets prove that dinner can be stress-free and exciting. The breading process is a simple quick dip in mayonnaise instead of the usual flour-and-egg combo. While the chicken cooks stovetop, you have more than enough time to prepare a zesty mango slaw.
One-Pot Chicken Sausage and Beans
Chicken sausage and beans layer flavors in this simple one-pot dish inspired by a classic French cassoulet. The recipe—which also features soft onions, juicy tomatoes, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping—serves eight and takes only 40 minutes.
Seared Fish Tacos With Marinated Peppers
Since the fish takes less than 10 minutes to cook, these tacos come together in no time. The recipe pairs the paprika-seasoned cod (or grouper) with a zingy salsa made with a jar of roasted red peppers. Finishing touches include slices of ripe avocado and briny, salty feta.
Sheet Pan Pierogies With Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Shallots, and Mustard Dressing
This meal cooks on a single sheet pan and stars frozen pierogies, making it a stress-free dinner on multiple levels. Shallots and Brussels sprouts roast alongside the cheese and potato bites, so the whole meal is done at the same time.
Skillet Polenta in Creamy Tomato Sauce
Grab a tube of plain polenta at the store to make this inventive, comforting recipe that's perfect for a chilly evening. In a single skillet, nestle polenta slices and white beans in a rich tomato sauce with Italian spices, simmer, and then broil for a complete vegetarian meal.
Free-Form Enchilada Verde
Enchiladas are a great way to feed a crowd, and these free-form ones come together in a single baking dish with no mess involved. Filled with butternut squash, salsa, beans, and cheese, these meat-free enchiladas are hearty and packed with flavor.
Chicken Thighs with Couscous and Olives
This one-skillet meal comes together in no time, and its combination of crispy chicken skin and tender couscous is irresistible. Shower with fresh cilantro and pomegranate seeds to make each plate look like a party.
Peanut Butter Ramen
Made with peanut butter, soy sauce, chili sauce, and sesame oil, you're going to want to eat this dish's sauce on its own! The recipe breathes new life into instant ramen noodles, and takes just minutes to prepare.
Mushroom White Pizza
The trick to pulling off pizza night without a big fuss is store-bought dough. This recipe uses it as a foundation for an elegant vegetarian pizza topped with ricotta, mushrooms, and fresh parsley.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup
We're big fans of the slow cooker when it comes to entertaining. This recipe uses it to cut prep down to 10 minutes hands-on, leaving you with a vibrant, party-ready soup. Set out some shredded cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce for your guests to dress up their bowls.
Quick Spring Lamb and Vegetable Stew
This freezer-friendly, one-pot stew is hearty and rich, exactly what you want to tuck into after a long day. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving for a little brightness.
Shrimp Lo Mein
This untraditional lo mein incorporates an assortment of veggies, such as shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and bell pepper. From start to finish, this noodle dish takes only 25 minutes to prepare.
Summer Nachos
You may not think of nachos as health food, but these vegetarian nachos are covered in good-for-you ingredients: corn, red cabbage, and zucchini, to name a few. The recipe only calls for a bowl, sheet pan, and blender (or food processor) to whip up a creamy avocado-yogurt sauce that's well worth an appliance to clean.
Cheesy Pasta With Sausage and Brussels Sprouts
Something feels so right about a big baked pasta for Sunday dinner. This one includes bites of sweet Italian pork sausage and charred Brussels sprouts, all coated with a Worcestershire-spiked cheese sauce. It's decadent, comforting, and easy to scale up to feed a big group.
Sheet Pan Salmon With Potatoes and Broccolini
Keep things simple with this nourishing weeknight meal that's special enough to take center stage at Sunday dinner. Just before serving, drizzle a quick vinaigrette of lemon, shallot, and mustard on the salmon and vegetables for a bright, flavorful finish.
Steak With Gnocchi and Green Beans
This easy steak preparation only calls for a few dishes and a handful of ingredients. The gnocchi-green bean side comes together in just a few minutes with a final sauté in butter with shallots, parsley, and capers. Serve with crusty bread to sop up every last bit of that buttery goodness.
Fettuccine With Asparagus, Leeks, and Mint
Perfect for a spring dinner, this lemony pasta is full of verdant, spring produce that tastes delicious and looks beautiful on the plate. Finish with a sprinkle of shaved Parmesan and crushed red pepper flakes for a little pizzazz.
Sweet-and-Sour Tofu
All you need is a large, non-stick skillet to make this sticky stir-fry. Its sauce's surprising ingredient—ketchup—delivers a sweet tomato flavor. Throw some broccoli florets in the pan, and dinner's ready in minutes!
Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Filling and deeply satisfying, these chickpea-stuffed sweet potatoes are seasoned with cinnamon and cumin, and topped with a dollop of spiced yogurt. The best part is you likely already have everything you need to make this on hand.
Lemony Fish With Orzotto
This recipe is a lesson in pan-searing fish for crisp, golden skin and a supple, tender interior. Those filets—mahi-mahi or other white fish—are set atop creamy, lemony orzo "risotto" dotted with sweet peas.
Bulgogi With Cucumber Kimchi Salad
This bulgogi recipe (courtesy of Joanna Gaines) cooks quickly, but set aside 4 to 5 hours on Sunday afternoon to marinate the beef in a sugar-and-soy mixture to work its magic before hitting the grill. We love the contrast of the thinly sliced steak with steamed rice and crunchy, cooling, cucumber-kimchi salad.
Garlicky Hoisin Beef
Put the phone down! Skip the takeout and make your own Chinese-inspired dish, which probably tastes better and is certainly less expensive. Hoisin sauce—a thick, fragrant condiment popular in Cantonese cooking—features prominently in this recipe, coating the beef and veggies in a single wok or skillet.
Quick and Easy Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is the perfect Sunday dinner choice but can take hours to prep and cook with a mile-long list of ingredients. That's where this recipe comes in. It uses shortcuts of store-bought (or leftover) mashed potatoes and a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, resulting in a hearty, comforting, layered dish in just 20 minutes.
Broccoli, Spinach, and Three-Cheese Lasagna
Lasagna is a family favorite as a Sunday dinner, and this recipe is tweaked to deliver all those familiar flavors with a lot less stress: 1) It's meatless so there's no browning required, 2) It uses no-boil lasagna noodles, so leave your pasta pot on the shelf, and 3) It's packed with extra vegetables, and kids probably won't notice. You can easily double this four-serving recipe to accommodate extended family members.
Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
This twist on a meat-and-potatoes dinner pairs chicken quarters with sweet potatoes. They share the same sheet pan and roast together in a hot oven (450°F) for the same amount of time (20 to 25 minutes), so there's no juggling cookware and cook times. During the cook, toss a simple salad and this dinner's ready!
Deep-Dish Eggplant Parmesan
This crowd-pleasing, vegetarian casserole celebrates eggplant's meaty texture and distinctive flavor. It alternates layers of roasted eggplant rounds with jarred marinara and cheese (mozzarella and Parm), all topped with panko for a bit of crunch. Serve with mixed greens quick-tossed in a simple red wine vinaigrette.
Slow-Cooker Curried Chicken With Ginger and Yogurt
Curry is the perfect dish for feeding a crowd, and a slow cooker is perfect for developing the popular Asian dish's rich, deep flavors. This recipe cooks boneless, skinless chicken thighs low and slow as the aromatic curry spices develop. A dollop of Greek yogurt mixes with the chicken just before it's served over rice.
Sheet Pan Frito Pie
You don't often come across Fritos-anything as a Sunday dinner option, but hear us out! This layered casserole is a big hit with kids, and few adults would complain about seeing this on the table. It's a jiff to put together—whether you use canned chili or homemade—and goes great with the big game, movie night, or whatever else your Sunday brings.
Ham and Leek Quiche
Pick up a frozen pie shell at the grocers to make quick work of assembling this quiche. You'll fill it with sauteed chard and leek, ham, Gruyère (a hard Swiss cheese), buttermilk, and eggs, and then bake. In 45 minutes, you have a beautiful Sunday dinner centerpiece that's golden brown, cheesy, and delicious.
One-Pan Salmon With Roasted Cabbage and Olive Vinaigrette
"One-pan" is code for easy-to-cook and easy-to-clean, so this recipe is eminently qualified as a stress-less Sunday dinner option. What's more, it exemplifies clean eating, so it's easy on your digestive system, too. While the salmon and cabbage roast in the oven, pull together a quick vinaigrette with mustard, olives, and raisins for a unique finish.
Related: 38 Essential, Easy Chicken Recipes for Every Night of the Week
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