Food and Recipes Dinner 55 Easy Sunday Dinner Ideas The Whole Family Will Love By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 17, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Many of our fondest memories are made with the family, gathering around the table on Sundays for quality time and comforting food. Whether cooking for a crowd or just a few, the Sunday dinner ideas in this collection will satisfy the appetites of kids and adults alike—and make great leftovers for the week. These Sunday supper recipes include one-pot and sheet-pan dinners for minimal cleanup, budget-friendly chicken and pork options to cover a crowd, and comforting Southern dishes your family will love. Start scrolling and saving recipes for this Sunday, and the next and next—we've got you covered for the year. 01 of 55 King Ranch Chicken Southern Living This casserole is one of our all-time favorite go-to recipes for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal that'll start the week on a tasty note. The warm dish is full of smoked chicken, sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, green chiles, chili powder, roasted peppers, and toasted cumin. Get The Recipe 02 of 55 Fried Pork Chops With Peas And Potatoes Greg DuPree Here's a classic meal for the ages. This well-rounded supper gives you crispy pork chops, hearty roasted potatoes, and tender petite green peas topped with a lighter sauce. A lovely gravy made with wine and chicken stock gets drizzled over top. Get The Recipe 03 of 55 Chicken Fajita Casserole Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Fajita night has never been more fun. Mixed together in one dish, this casserole-style supper is sure to spice up your quiet Sunday dinner. You could even indulge in a pitcher of summer cocktails. Get The Recipe 04 of 55 Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox All the flavor, minimal work. Besides decreasing your active time, the slow cooker also infuses this soup with flavor, especially the sweetness and richness of caramelized onions. Get The Recipe 05 of 55 Garlicky Roasted Spatchcock Chicken Alison Miksch Try spatchcocking chicken to evenly cook every part of the bird. This sheet pan supper is full of garlicky, roasted flavor with crispy chicken, red new potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. You can shred leftover chicken for lunch salads topped with any lingering roasted veggies. Get The Recipe 06 of 55 One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp With Orzo Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Expect big flavor from this family-style garlic-butter shrimp. This 30-minute main doesn't require fussing with multiple skillets: The shrimp cooks directly over the orzo, making cleanup a breeze. Get The Recipe 07 of 55 Pan-Seared Flank Steak With Herb Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley While this quick steak recipe is simple enough to make any night feel special, there's something about cutting into steak on a Sunday that just feels right. The bright, herbaceous sauce is inspired by chimichurri, which is typically served with steak in Argentina. Get The Recipe 08 of 55 Buffalo Ranch Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis The taste of your favorite ranch-dunked Buffalo wings just got an elevated suppertime makeover. The tang of the hot sauce pairs with the melty Cheddar and tender carrots to create a casserole that will keep you coming back for more. Get The Recipe 09 of 55 Tortellini Mac And Cheese Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Creamy and rich, this cheese-on-cheese recipe proves you can never have too much of a good thing. The tortellini holds it own, though—you'll be sure to enjoy the fluffy noodle as a base. Get The Recipe 10 of 55 Instant Pot Pulled Pork Chili Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Chili and BBQ combine to make the ultimate mashup. While this recipe calls for an Instant Pot, it can also be adjusted to cook on low in your slow cooker. Just remember to get it started in the morning. Get The Recipe 11 of 55 Beef Stroganoff Antonis Achilleos The ultimate comfort food that still feels like a special occasion dish, this Beef Stroganoff recipe is a surefire family favorite. Beef tips cook for an hour until tender; then the dish is enriched with sherry and sour cream. Get The Recipe 12 of 55 Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly With the help of a Dutch Oven, most of this bake's cooking time is effortless. The cheese-filled tortellini and chopped pecan topping will become guaranteed family favorites. Get The Link 13 of 55 Pulled Pork Mac And Cheese Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely There are never too many variations on mac and cheese. Dijon mustard and extra-sharp Cheddar add a needed tang to balances out the richness of pulled pork and creamy sauce. Instead of mixing barbecue sauce into the pasta, we opted for a little drizzle on top of the buttery panko breadcrumbs. Get The Recipe 14 of 55 Creamy Kale And Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez This creamy bake comes together in only half an hour. The tender kale and cheesy sauce makes a crowd-pleasing main dish with a healthy side. You can pair it with roasted chicken if you prefer, but it's more than filling on its own. Get The Recipe 15 of 55 Barbecue-Pork Pizza Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Ditch the pepperoni. Pulled pork and barbecue are the unexpected heroes of this tasty pizza. Get The Recipe 16 of 55 Creamy Rice with Scallops Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Impress company and family alike with the creamy savoriness of creamy rice and scallops. This risotto-like dish combines bacon, corn, and scallops for the ultimate Sunday dinner. Get Te Recipe 17 of 55 Mama's Fried Chicken Southern Living Nothing says Sunday in the South quite like fried chicken. This deliciously crispy and juicy recipe will make sure you never venture back to that bucket-style fried chicken again. Soak your chicken in buttermilk at least two hours before frying. Get The Recipe 18 of 55 Chicken And Cornbread Dumplings Iain Bagwell This hearty chicken and dumpling recipe is comforting for any Sunday evening, and you won't have to watch the stove since it's prepared in the slow cooker. The cornbread dumplings give this classic an even more Southern twist. Get The Recipe 19 of 55 Quick And Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Greg DuPree This full-bodied meat and vegetable sauce will set you up for success in just 25 minutes. You can make extra to freeze or simply pack up the leftovers for when you're facing mid-week craziness. Get The Recipe 20 of 55 Sheet Pan Shrimp And Vegetables With Rice Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Any quick sheet pan supper is a favorite in our book, but especially recipes that diverge from our usual chicken and pork chops. Summer veggies, fresh shrimp, and basmati rice make for a fresh, light Sunday meal. Get The Recipe 21 of 55 One-Hour Brunswick Stew Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Shredded chicken, okra, and beans add body and texture to this Southern favorite that'll be ready quicker than ever before. Our Test Kitchen calls this recipe "The best version of Brunswick stew we have had around here in a while." Get The Recipe 22 of 55 Chicken Thighs With Tomato-Caper Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley You can always count on a chicken thigh for juicy, bone-in flavor. Pair with grits and a homemade Tomato-Caper Sauce and Sunday supper will never be the same. Much like polenta, the grits soak up the Italian flavors of this dish. Get The Recipe 23 of 55 Creamy Salmon Fettuccini And Spring Vegetables Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This recipe hits all the marks of an incredible seafood supper—asparagus, green peas, salmon, and fettuccine. The creamy sauce is made from just two ingredients: Boursin and starchy pasta water. Lemon zest and dill add some excitement to the dish. Get The Recipe 24 of 55 Chicken Nachos Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This sheet pan dinner is made ridiculously easy to assemble and quick to clean up. Plus, it's easily customizable for your family's preferences. Bring these comforting nachos to your Sunday dinner table in less than a half hour. Get The Recipe 25 of 55 Mushroom And Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Easy enough for a weeknight but elegant enough to reserve for Sunday supper, this chicken and rice casserole gets additional flavor from Fontina cheese, mushrooms, and fresh thyme. Get The Recipe 26 of 55 Sheet Pan Hanger Steak And Vegetables Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Easy to assemble, this quick sheet pan dinner—featuring two veggies and a protein—will satisfy everyone's desire for a Sunday night steak. We've provided a recipe for an herbal compound butter for a special touch. Get The Recipe 27 of 55 Instant Pot Spaghetti And Meatballs Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This speedy spaghetti recipe makes 16 delicious meatballs—enough to feed the whole family and then some. Uncooked pasta, homemade meatballs, and marinara all pressure cook together, making this an obvious winner when you don't want a lot of cleanup. Get The Recipe 28 of 55 Spaghetti Casserole Jennifer Davick For us, spaghetti casserole is the epitome of a comforting, always-hits-the-spot dish. Assemble this slow-cooker recipe around lunchtime so it will be ready for dinner. Get The Recipe 29 of 55 One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Tex-Mex flavor and penne pasta are a match made in heaven. Mix it all up in a cast-iron skillet and then brown the pepper Jack cheese under the broiler. Serve this all-in-one-meal family-style at the table. Get The Recipe 30 of 55 Our Best Lasagna Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless A homemade Bolognese sauce is always worth the effort for Sunday dinner. Otherwise, we kept this lasagna recipe recognizable and simple. Sprinkle fresh basil and parsley on top to dress it up. Get The Recipe 31 of 55 Quick Chicken And Barley Stew Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This chicken stew is filled with good-for-you vegetables and whole grains, so you'd never guess it takes just 30 minutes to prepare. Bacon adds a smoky richness to the stew, but you can make the dish lighter by omitting it. Get The Recipe 32 of 55 Simple Pan-Seared Fish Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This restaurant-worthy pan-seared fish cooks in no time, and can be prepared with any white fish from from grouper to cod to red snapper. We've paired it with a vibrant pea salad with radishes and honey-mustard vinaigrette, but feel free to get creative based on what's in season. Get The Recipe 33 of 55 Pork Tenderloin With Farro Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall A favorite flavor combo gets a healthy twist in this 20-minute recipe. Apple cider-maple vinaigrette elevates this pork and apple dish from delicious to something to rave about. Hearty farro soaks up the vinaigrette's flavors before getting tossed with apples and arugula. Get The Recipe 34 of 55 Beef Stew With Buttery Garlic Bread Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Made in a cast iron Dutch oven, this hearty stew requires 40 minutes of hands-on cooking time, then a low and slow simmer that makes the meat meltingly tender. No need to pre-heat the oven; the Buttery Garlic Bread takes two minutes in a skillet. Get The Recipe 35 of 55 Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast Hannah Zimmerman Traditionally cooked in a slow cooker, we've speeded up the process of preparing pepperoncini pot roast by using the Instant Pot. We find the salad peppers and ranch seasoning add a bit of zest to a traditional Sunday supper. Get The Recipe 36 of 55 Chicken-And-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole Hector Sanchez Here's a special-enough-for-Sunday version of the old-school chicken and rice dish. Nutty wild rice, country ham, chopped veggies, and a splash of dry sherry make the meal exceptional. Dress it up with a garnish of sliced almonds and parsley. Get The Recipe 37 of 55 Chicken Fricassee With Spring Vegetables Greg DuPree Somewhere between a stew and a saute, this fricassee has a velvety pan sauce featuring leeks and mushrooms. Sprinkle the asparagus over top so it can stay tender-crisp. Serve it over egg noodles or with soft dinner rolls. Get The Recipe 38 of 55 Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi With Peas Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling Torie Cox Once you've tasted gnocchi sautéed in butter until toasty brown you'll want to serve it every Sunday. This easy pasta dish gets its flavor from simple ingredients like garlic and lemon zest. It's also ready in under 30 minutes, which makes it a winner. Get The Recipe 39 of 55 Mini Meatloaves Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Who can resist a classic Sunday supper miniaturized into adorable individual servings? A muffin tin is the secret to cooking the loaves, and allow them to brown nicely without drying out. We like them served over mashed sweet potatoes with a side of Buttery Peas. Get The Recipe 40 of 55 Southern Bangers And Mash Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely The pub classic gets a Southern spin with hickory-smoked sausage (we like Conecuh) and spicy mixed greens. Choose your favorite mashed potatoes recipe to complete your plate. Get The Recipe 41 of 55 Honey-Garlic Chicken Victor Protashio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely The sticky honey glaze in this chicken recipe will make it a hit with the whole family. We've paired it with Bacon-Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, but the slight Asian flair of the dish would make bok choy just as appropriate on the side. Get The Recipe 42 of 55 Slow-Cooker Ham Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke If you've got a crowd coming for Sunday dinner, this fool-proof recipe is certain keep them happy. A smoked ham cooks in a sweet-and-tangy base flavored with apricot preserves and whole grain mustard. Send leftovers home with the guests or use them in sandwiches and casseroles all week long. Get The Recipe 43 of 55 Chicken Tetrazzini With Prosciutto And Peas Photo: Jennifer Davick This dish combines all you love about old-school tetrazzini with updates like creamy Alfredo sauce and salty prosciutto. It's a great way to use leftover chicken for a fancy-looking dish that comes together fast. Get The Recipe 44 of 55 Smoky Sausage-And-Collard Stuffed Shells Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch These stuffed shells stand out from the pack due to the sausage-and-collard filling and a rich and smoky Gouda and Alfredo sauce. We used healthier Italian turkey sausage, but you can use your favorite pork sausage or make it vegetarian by substituting a plant-based version. Get The Recipe 45 of 55 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This dish is a labor of love, and that comes through when you take your first bite. A refrigerated pie dough will save you time. You also can substitute rotisserie chicken and chicken broth if you don't have an hour to poach a broiler chicken. Get The Recipe 46 of 55 Ground Beef Vegetable Soup With Gnocchi Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero This vegetable soup gets real substance once you add the gnocchi (use refrigerated, which is lighter and puffier than the vacuum-sealed kind). You can customize easily by adding your favorite vegetables. Get The Recipe 47 of 55 Baked Ziti With Sausage Southern Living A steaming casserole of baked ziti is sure to make everyone's eyes light up at the dinner table. This version uses pancetta, ground Italian sausage, and fresh torn basil to pack in the flavor. You can also prepare it ahead of time and bake when ready. Get The Recipe 48 of 55 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Greg DuPree Layers of pasta and chicken, pesto and spinach, and Alfredo sauce bake together into gooey goodness in this casserole. Other than the pasta, no cooking is required before assembly. You'll be thrilled to pull something so good out of the oven after so little effort. Get The Recipe 49 of 55 Ham And Noodle Casserole Jen Causey Baby carrots and asparagus are tucked into this cheesy casserole for a complete and satisfyingly rich meal. You can use glazed ham or chop up a ham steak for the mixture. Croutons make a nice, crispy topping. Get The Recipe 50 of 55 Turkey With Shallot-Mustard Sauce And Roasted Potatoes Your family and guests will love the classic herb blend of thyme, rosemary and sage on a turkey breast braised in the slow cooker until savory and tender. You can put the fingerling potatoes in the oven to roast about 30 minutes before dinnertime. Get The Recipe 51 of 55 Kentucky Slow Cooker Burgoo Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This old-fashioned Kentucky stew is a big-batch recipe meant to be shared with the family. Our version includes pork shoulder and sausage plus loads of corn, carrots, cabbage, and potatoes. Dump it all in the slow cooker and come back for dinner at the end of the day. Get The Recipe 52 of 55 Oven-Fried Pork Chops With Sweet Potatoes And Green Beans Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Every sheet pan supper is a dream come true in our book, and this one won't disappoint. A mustard vinaigrette adds more sparkle to the roasted green beans, sweet potatoes, and shallots. Pro tip: Dredge just one side of the pork chops so the bottoms don't get soggy. Get The Recipe 53 of 55 Pulled Pork-Stuffed Zucchini Boats Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Traditionally, stuffed zucchini boats are filled with Italian-inspired meats, but the pulled pork in this recipe is even better. In 40 minutes, you'll have a rich and tangy main course the whole family can enjoy. Get The Recipe 54 of 55 Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This one-pan shortcut for shrimp boil will feed your crowd without the mess, and they may even like it more than the original. The ingredients have a more intense flavor from roasting in butter and Old Bay, plus the shrimp has a more succulent texture. Get The Recipe 55 of 55 Chicken-And-Biscuit Cobbler Alison Miksch A casserole topped with biscuits is an easy winner in our book, especially when a savory vegetable and herb mixture lies underneath. You can save some time with the shredded chicken with a rotisserie chicken from the store or a bird from your local barbecue joint. Get The Recipe Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between Sunday dinner and supper? Both terms refer to the largest or main meal of the day, but there are a few reasons why you might refer to this meal as dinner or supper. There is a generational divide causing most younger people to refer to this meal as dinner rather than supper. Additionally, farmers in the 17th and 18th centuries preferred larger meals around midday, making modern-day lunchtime the "dinner" so they could continue working throughout the afternoon. Where does the term "supper" originate? Supper is related to the German word for soup, "suppe," which supports using this phrase for the last meal of the day as individuals consumed hot soup in the evenings. According to Dictionary.com, supper's word origins are from the Old French word "souper," which translates to "evening meal." Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit