35+ Easy Sunday Dinner Ideas That Keep Things Simple
Sundays are one of those days when I want a really good dinner, but I don’t necessarily want to spend hours making it. By the time the weekend is coming to an end, anything that keeps the cooking and washing up to a minimum is a win for me.
These easy Sunday dinner ideas are exactly that. There are plenty of crockpot dinners you can get going earlier in the day, along with sheet pan meals, casseroles and other simple dinners that don’t need loads of prep.
I’ve included a real mix too, so whether you fancy chicken, pork, beef, pasta or just some proper comfort food, there should be something here that works. Hopefully you’ll find a few new Sunday favourites to add to your usual rotation.
Why You’ll Love These Recipes
- They’re genuinely easy. Most of these are crockpot, sheet pan or casserole recipes, so there’s no need to spend half of Sunday standing over the stove.
- There’s plenty of choice. Chicken, beef, pork, pasta, casseroles and a few really good comfort food options are all in here.
- A lot of them are proper throw-it-together dinners. Ideal for those Sundays when you want something nice but really can’t be bothered with loads of prep.
- They work all year round too. There are cozy dinners for colder days, but plenty of lighter options for warmer Sundays as well.
- Most are really family-friendly, without feeling like you’re making the same boring dinner every week.
1. Pot Roast Crock Pot Recipe
This is such a good one for a Sunday because you can get everything in the slow cooker earlier in the day and pretty much forget about it. By dinner time, the beef is lovely and tender and you’ve got a proper comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
GET THE RECIPE2. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops
This is an easy one to get going in the morning, then you can leave the slow cooker to do all the work while you get on with your Sunday. The sweet, garlicky sauce makes it feel a bit more special than a basic pork chop dinner without adding loads of extra effort.
GET THE RECIPE3. Air Fryer Whole Chicken
A whole chicken might sound like more effort than you want on a Sunday, but the air fryer makes it surprisingly simple. You still get lovely crispy skin and juicy chicken, without having to keep checking on it in the oven.
GET THE RECIPE4. Easy Crockpot Chicken Casserole
If you’re after something warm and comforting without much work, this is a great one to have bubbling away in the crockpot. It’s the sort of simple, hearty dinner that’s just right for a lazy Sunday at home.
GET THE RECIPE5. Lazy Lasagna
Some Sundays just call for something cheesy, comforting and really easy, and this ticks all three boxes. You get all those lovely lasagna flavors without all the layering and messing around that usually comes with making one.
GET THE RECIPE6. Sheet Pan Mississippi Chicken and Potatoes
Anything that cooks the main and the potatoes together on one pan is always going to make Sunday dinner easier. There’s loads of flavor in this one too, with hardly any washing up afterwards.
GET THE RECIPE7. Crockpot Chicken Alfredo Ravioli
Creamy pasta is always a good idea when you want something comforting at the end of the weekend. This one takes hardly any effort but still feels like a proper Sunday dinner.
GET THE RECIPE8. Crockpot Marry Me Chicken Ravioli
This is one of those dinners that looks like you’ve made much more effort than you actually have. It’s creamy, filling and all done in the crockpot, so it’s perfect when you want a nice Sunday dinner without loads of work.
GET THE RECIPE9. Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
There’s not much better than tender chicken covered in plenty of gravy when you fancy a proper comforting dinner. Just get it all into the crockpot and leave it to cook while you enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
GET THE RECIPE10. Crockpot Dr. Pepper Pork Chops
If you fancy doing something a bit different with pork chops, this is a really easy one to try. The slow cooker does most of the work and you end up with tender pork in a sweet, sticky sauce that’s great for a Sunday dinner.
GET THE RECIPE11. Crockpot Italian Meatloaf
Meatloaf is great comfort food for a Sunday, and making it this way means you don’t have to keep an eye on the oven. The Italian flavors make it a little different from the usual version, but it’s still really simple to put together.
GET THE RECIPE12. Crockpot Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice
For a Sunday when you really don’t fancy much prep, this is a lovely simple option. The chicken, rice and fresh herby flavors all cook together in the crockpot, so you’ve got a complete dinner without loads of pots and pans.
GET THE RECIPE13. Crockpot Mississippi Beef and Noodles
This is a great one for a lazy Sunday when you want something really filling without doing much cooking. The beef cooks away in the crockpot until it’s lovely and tender, then you just add the noodles towards the end.
GET THE RECIPE14. Crockpot Pineapple Brown Sugar Chicken
If you like that sweet and savory combination, this is a really easy one to throw together on a Sunday. You can’t tell me pineapple doesn’t belong on a savory dish! Everything goes into the crockpot and cooks away until the chicken is tender and full of flavor.
GET THE RECIPE15. Crockpot Steak Bites and Tortellini
Steak and pasta feels like a bit of a treat for a Sunday, but this one is actually really simple to make. The crockpot does most of the work, then the tortellini goes in near the end for an easy, filling dinner.
GET THE RECIPE16. Crockpot Turkey Pot Pie
This is a nice way to use turkey when you fancy something a bit different for Sunday dinner. It’s warm and comforting, but because it’s made in the crockpot there’s really not much for you to do.
GET THE RECIPE17. Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
You get all the flavours of stuffed cabbage here without having to actually sit and roll individual cabbage leaves. Everything goes into one dish, which makes it a much easier option for a relaxed Sunday dinner.
GET THE RECIPE18. Keto-Friendly Chicken and Mushroom Casserole
Not every Sunday dinner needs to be loaded with carbs to feel like proper comfort food. This one is creamy, filling and easy to put together, with plenty of chicken and mushrooms in every serving.
GET THE RECIPE19. Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner
Sheet pan dinners are always handy when you want to keep things simple, especially on a Sunday. You can cook the chicken, sausage and veggies all together, then there’s only one pan to deal with afterwards.
20. Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
Chicken thighs are perfect for an easy Sunday dinner because they stay lovely and juicy without needing much attention. Add some potatoes and green beans and you’ve got a simple dinner that doesn’t need much else with it.
Servings: 5
Ingredients:
- 5 small bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
- 1 pound small red potatoes, halved
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease or line a large sheet pan if needed.
- Arrange the chicken thighs, potatoes, and green beans on the prepared sheet pan in an even layer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, basil, oregano, thyme, and black pepper until well combined.
- Drizzle the lemon herb mixture over the chicken and vegetables, then toss the potatoes and green beans gently to coat. Leave the chicken skin-side up.
- Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, the potatoes are fork tender, and the green beans are just tender with a slight bite.
- Serve straight from the oven and enjoy.
21. Crockpot Brown Gravy Pork Chops
Pork chops and gravy are one of those combinations that just work when you fancy a proper Sunday dinner. They cook slowly until they’re nice and tender, with plenty of gravy for spooning over mashed potatoes.
GET THE RECIPE22. Crockpot Cheesy BBQ Bacon Chicken Tortellini
This is definitely one for the days when you fancy something cheesy and a bit indulgent. With chicken, bacon, BBQ sauce and tortellini all in there, you really don’t need to make much else to go with it.
GET THE RECIPE23. Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
If you’ve got some ham to use up, this is a really easy way to turn it into a filling Sunday dinner. The potatoes cook right in the crockpot with the creamy sauce and ham, so there’s not much you need to do once it’s all in there.
GET THE RECIPE24. Chicken Fajitas Crockpot
Fajitas don’t have to mean standing over a hot pan cooking everything at the last minute. Pop the chicken, peppers and seasoning in the crockpot and you can pretty much leave it alone until you’re ready to eat.
GET THE RECIPE25. Chicken Marsala Crockpot
You can have all those lovely rich Marsala flavors without spending ages cooking at the stove. Everything simmers away in the crockpot until the chicken is tender, making this a really easy option for Sunday dinner.
GET THE RECIPE26. Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken
For something a bit brighter than the usual Sunday dinner, the sweet and savory flavors in this are a nice change. The chicken and veggies all roast together, so it’s really simple but still feels like a proper meal.
GET THE RECIPE27. Sheet Pan Sausage and Pierogies
Pierogies make this feel really filling without needing to add loads of sides. Throw in the sausage and veggies and it all cooks together for a really easy Sunday dinner.
GET THE RECIPE28. Sheet Pan Philly Cheesesteaks
Cheesesteaks might not be the first thing you think of for Sunday dinner, but they’re a good option when you fancy something a bit different. The steak, peppers and onions cook together in the oven, then you just pile everything into rolls and add plenty of cheese.
29. Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
Sometimes a big tray of steak, peppers and onions is exactly what you fancy on a Sunday. Add some warm tortillas and your favorite toppings and everyone can just help themselves.
GET THE RECIPE30. Meatball Ravioli Casserole
This is basically comfort food with very little effort, which is always a win on a Sunday. With meatballs, ravioli and plenty of sauce all baked together, you don’t really need much else with it.
GET THE RECIPE31. Sausage and Tortellini Sheet Pan Dinner
When you don’t want to spend half of Sunday in the kitchen, this is a nice easy dinner to fall back on. The sausage and tortellini make it filling enough on its own, with some veggies thrown in there too.
GET THE RECIPE32. Crockpot Honey Bourbon Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs work so well in the crockpot because they end up really tender without you having to do much at all. The honey bourbon sauce gives them loads of flavor and makes this feel a bit more special for a Sunday.
GET THE RECIPE33. Crockpot Swamp Potatoes
If you’re after something hearty but don’t want to make a big Sunday roast, this is a good one to try. You’ve got potatoes, sausage and green beans all cooking together, so it’s a proper filling dinner without loads of work.
GET THE RECIPE34. Tater Tot Casserole
This is one of those dinners that’s really easy to put together but still feels like proper comfort food. It’s cheesy, filling and topped with crispy tater tots, so there’s not much not to like.
GET THE RECIPE35. Tater Tot Chili Casserole
Chili is always good when you want something warm and filling, and adding crispy tater tots on top makes it even better. It’s an easy one to put together and then just leave in the oven until dinner.
36. Crockpot Apricot Brown Sugar Chicken
The apricot might sound a bit unusual with chicken, but it works really well with the brown sugar and gives you a lovely sticky sauce. It’s also really easy to get going earlier in the day and then forget about until dinner.
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- ½ cup brown sugar
- â…“ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions:
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and sear for 2–3 minutes per side, until lightly golden (the chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked).
- Place the seared chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of your slow cooker.
- In a bowl, whisk together the apricot preserves, brown sugar, chicken broth, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Once cooked, spoon the sauce over the chicken. You can either shred the chicken or leave it whole, depending on your preference.
- For a thicker glaze, remove the lid during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking.
37. Crockpot Creamy Ranch Beef and Noodles
Beef and noodles is the sort of dinner I always think works well on a Sunday. The creamy ranch sauce makes it really tasty and filling, and it can be left cooking while you get on with the rest of your day.
GET THE RECIPEI hope you’ve found a few new ideas to try for Sunday dinner. There are plenty of easy options here for those Sundays when you want something good to eat but really don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
I’ll keep adding more recipes as I make them, so there’ll be even more to choose from.
