Sunday Lunch Recipes for the Whole Family

We often get caught up in busy work schedules, which is why it's so important to slow down and enjoy a meal with loved ones. From pasta to roast beef, these dishes are the perfect dinner for family and friends.

How to Cook - Sunday Dinner Recipes for the Whole Family

Tomato sauce with meat and meatballs in a slow cooker

Free up your weekend! No more standing over the stove and overseeing Sunday lunch. This sauce, made with pork, beef, sausage, and meatballs, is sure to become a family tradition. You'll save time and be able to enjoy your weekend.

Recipe: Sunday dinner of meatballs with meat sauce in a slow cooker

Slow Cooker Roast

Tender and juicy shoulder roast is best served in a rich gravy made from the meat juices and herbs that remains after braising.

Recipe: Pot roast in a slow cooker

Baked Chicken with Lemon and Garlic

Ina puts a twist on the classic dish by baking the chicken under a layer of bacon. She then adds a head of garlic and sliced lemon to the sauce to enrich the flavor.

Recipe: Chicken baked with lemon and garlic

Ginger Glazed Salmon

Save some of the ginger marinade; when the fish is pan-fried, Molly basts it with the mixture as a sauce.

Recipe: Pan-fried salmon with ginger glaze

Pork with Provencal potatoes

This elegant yet simple recipe cooks everything in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. After cutting, keep the potatoes in water to prevent discoloration while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Recipe: Pork loin with potatoes in a cast iron skillet, Provencal style

Tetrazzini with chicken

Giada's hearty and comforting casserole has earned a 5-star rating and nearly 1,200 reviews. Its multifaceted flavor comes from a mushroom sauce with onions and garlic, as well as a creamy sauce—both blended with tender shredded chicken and pasta. For a delightful texture, Giada tops the casserole with a breadcrumb-cheese mixture, which is crisped in the oven.

Recipe: Tetrazzini with chicken and mushrooms

Meatballs "Hedgehogs"

Beef, uncooked rice, onions, and Italian seasoning combine for a simple weeknight dinner. Where does the name come from? When the meatballs bake, the grains of rice protrude, much like the spines of a hedgehog. Simmer the meatballs in a quick homemade tomato sauce for a delicious family-friendly meal.

Recipe: Meatballs with gravy "Hedgehogs"

Fried chicken in breadcrumbs with white gravy

Double-breaded chicken tenders are deep-fried to a beautiful crisp and served with a peppery white gravy, a traditional dish of the American South. To keep the first batch of chicken warm, keep it in a warm oven while you fry the remaining tenders.

Recipe: Fried chicken in breadcrumbs with white gravy

Chicken Cacciatore

Rea's classic cacciatore recipe features egg noodles served with juicy, crispy chicken thighs and a selection of roasted vegetables.

Recipe: Hunter's-style chicken noodles

Pork tenderloin stuffed with peppers, cheese and spinach

Giada's succulent pork tenderloin displays the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green. Inside the boneless meat are layers of tender provolone, roasted bell peppers, and colorful spinach, creating a stunning combination.

Recipe: Tricolor pork roll

Valencian rice

"My family always makes this Filipino version of Spanish paella for holidays and other get-togethers," shares recipe author Maya Ferrante, "and it's certainly easy to make any day of the week. Ingredients vary across the Philippines. Some add clams, chorizo, chicken liver, or pork, but my family always makes it this way—simple, vibrant, and delicious."

Recipe: Valencian rice

Baked beef tenderloin with peppers

A garlicky cream sauce adds a special flavor to Ree's wonderful beef tenderloin.

Recipe: Pepper-crusted beef tenderloin in the oven

Chicken stew with savory buns

A special dinner doesn't have to be fancy. In fact, a dish like Aina's chicken stew with buns (a sort of simplified version of a pie) embodies the essence of Sunday dinner: delicious food and the comfort of sharing with your loved ones.

Recipe: Baked stew with chicken and buns

Braised pork tenderloin with apples

The combination of fresh apples and natural non-alcoholic apple cider makes this dish the perfect fall dinner, all cooked in one pot! Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples are best for this recipe. They have the perfect balance of tart and sweet, and they hold their shape beautifully during simmering without turning into mush.

Recipe: Braised pork tenderloin with apples

The best chicken tikka masala

Chicken tikka masala is believed to have been invented in Glasgow by a Bangladeshi chef in the 1960s. It's a spicy tomato-based dish seasoned with garlic, ginger, fenugreek, and garam masala. In this recipe, we use fenugreek leaves, which impart a nutty and slightly minty flavor. If you can't find them, substitute dried mint and a pinch of ground fenugreek. Garam masala is a popular Indian spice blend, typically including black and white pepper, cloves, cinnamon, mace, cardamom, bay leaf, cumin, and coriander. It's available at grocery stores and most spice shops.

Recipe: The best chicken tikka masala

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Baked pork tenderloin with apple sauce

Pork and applesauce are always a winning combination, especially when they're this delicious. The pork is seasoned with warming spices like sage and thyme and roasted until tender. It pairs perfectly with homemade applesauce, a favorite among both kids and adults.

Recipe: Pork loin roast with applesauce

Spare ribs with rhubarb jam

While rhubarb is traditionally used in sweet dishes, it's a wonderful addition to Molly's short ribs recipe. It'll take a few hours for the spiced mixture to fully develop its flavor: cook the short ribs on Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Recipe: Beef ribs with rhubarb

Meatloaf in portions

In her recipe, Aina uses a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal to add texture and flavor.

Recipe: Cutlets in the oven

Oxtail Stew

This stew is inspired by a Jamaican dish featuring tender oxtails and lima beans seasoned with ginger, allspice, and spicy habanero peppers. The comforting brown sauce takes time: it simmers for several hours, developing a rich flavor and color. The stew is even more delicious the next day, as the beans have time to soften and the oxtails have more time to soak up the sauce. Serve with a dash of hot sauce for extra acidity and heat.

Recipe: Jamaican-Style Oxtail Stew

Vegetarian lasagna

With this vegetarian lasagna, you won't miss the meat: a rich sauce of tomatoes, onions, and carrots is paired with spinach and creamy ricotta. This classic, comforting dish will be a favorite with the whole family.

Recipe: Vegetarian lasagna

The best gumbo ever

Valerie fills the gumbo with sausage, chicken, and okra, then serves the dish with rice, green onions, and a little hot sauce.

Recipe: The best chicken gumbo ever

Baked shrimp with orzo pasta

The best thing about this simple shrimp salad from Aina? It only gets better with time, so you can make it ahead of time.

Recipe: Orzo pasta with baked shrimp

Sunday Baked Ribs

Ina complements the baked ribs with a mustard-horseradish sauce. For an impressive presentation, cut the dish at the holiday table.

Recipe: Sunday Baked Ribs

Vegetarian Enchilada

This easy-to-make enchilada is filled with beans, cheese, and spinach. Serve with rice.

Recipe: Vegetarian Enchilada

Chicken thighs with garlic sauce

This recipe is for true garlic lovers. Chicken thighs are braised until tender in a roasted garlic sauce, then topped with roasted garlic slices. There's even enough garlic paste to make bread while the meat cooks.

Recipe: Chicken and 40 cloves of roasted garlic

Fried chicken with pepper sauce

Trisha's mom calls this dish "company chicken"—it's perfect for sharing with guests. She prefers using chicken thighs, which have a more pronounced flavor than white meat.

Recipe: Fried chicken with black pepper gravy

Slow Cooker Meat Sauce

This recipe features tomatoes in three forms: sun-dried tomatoes add sweetness and volume, roasted tomato paste adds rich flavor, and pureed tomatoes melt into a rich sauce.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Sunday Gravy

Salmon with tender cherry tomatoes

Ina makes a simple but delicious cherry tomato sauce to go with her grilled salmon.

Recipe: Pan-fried salmon with melting cherry tomatoes

Slow Cooker Sunday Stew

Cozy up with a generous serving of Ree's Sunday Stew. Beef broth and buttery, lemon-infused noodles combine for a comforting dish sure to please.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Sunday Stew