17 Sunday Dinner Recipes That’ll Have The Whole Fam RSVP-Ing Yes

A fancy-ish Sunday dinner can really elevate anything you’re celebrating, whether it’s a holiday, birthday, date night, or simply just making it to Sunday! And while we’ve all got plenty of weeknight dinners in our back pocket for any odd Tuesday, but what about those more special occasions? Plus, the weekends are often when we’ve got more time to really tackle a fun kitchen project with friends and family. Maybe this is the week you finally try to tackle a beef bourguignon? Whatever you’re in the mood for, get inspiration from our list of 50 Sunday dinner ideas that are sure to impress on a Sunday (or any day).

Wanna make sure the whole family RSVPs “yes”? Make sure your entree is extra impressive and impossible to deny. When we think of an impressive main dish, the first thing that comes to mind is roast meat, but we’ve also got plenty of hearty swaps for our plant-based friends out there. Not serving a crowd? Try one of our delicious meat dishes more fit for a smaller meal, like our coq au vin. It’s a famous recipe for a reason (and super-romantic, if that’s your thing).

Arroz Con Pollo

Arroz con pollo is the perfect weeknight dinner savior. It’s an easy one-pot meal that doesn’t taste like one (seriously, you just might be eating the rice straight out of the pan). The best part? It makes for incredible leftovers, so you can enjoy it all week long.

Get the Arroz Con Pollo recipe.

Monster Meatballs

Meatballs will forever be one of our favorite foods, but even we’ll admit that forming a million of them can be tedious. Enter: monster meatballs. This recipe only makes 4 giant ones, perfect over a plate of spaghetti for an easy dinner.

Get the Monster Meatballs recipe.

The Original Marry Me Chicken

This is the chicken dinner that we know will make jaws drop every time. In it, chicken breasts are seared until golden brown before being baked in a simple (but extremely satisfying) cream sauce that results in a chicken that’s packed with flavor in every bite.

Get the The Original Marry Me Chicken recipe.

Beef & Broccoli

A quintessential Chinese-American dish, beef and broccoli is a classic that graces the menu at almost every takeout spot across the country. In terms of popularity, it’s right up there with orange chicken, and for very good reason: The combination of tender, seared beef and broccoli tossed in a garlicky, velvety sauce is practically impossible to resist.

Get the Beef & Broccoli recipe.

Shrimp & Grits

Our recipe is extra-creamy due to a generous amount of cheese (in our book, no grits are complete without) and butter. We also took this recipe to the next-level by adding in crispy bacon. Not only does this amp up the texture of our dish, but cooking our shrimp in bacon fat adds heaps of flavor. The result is a rich and decadent weeknight dinner (or filling brunch!) we’ll happily dig into any time of year.

Get the Shrimp & Grits recipe.

Salmon Piccata

Rightfully exalted for its brazen, punchy, pull-no-punches demeanor, chicken piccata is a crowning achievement of Italian-American cooking. Salmon piccata is no different—it comes together in one pan, and you don’t need a quintillion ingredients to make it.

Get the Salmon Piccata recipe.

Shepherd’s Pot Pie

This blend of two comfort food classics—chicken pot pie and shepherd’s pie—will become a staple in your Saturday dinner lineup. The inside is just like shepherd’s pie, with a wine-spiked ground beef and vegetable mixture topped with fluffy Parmesan mashed potatoes, all wrapped in a golden brown pie crust and finished off with flaky salt.

Get the Shepherd’s Pot Pie recipe.

French Onion Pot Roast

Taking inspo from our onion soup rib roast, the beef is seasoned with onion soup mix to add depth and an extra umami boost. It’s the perfect cross between slow-roasted chuck and classic cheesy French onion soup—one bite, and you’ll see why it’s so special.

Get the French Onion Pot Roast recipe.

Sunday Sauce

Sunday sauce is a long-standing Italian-American tradition that originated in New York and New Jersey. Also referred to as “Sunday gravy” or “sugo,” Sunday sauce is a tomato and meat sauce that is cooked low and slow all day to develop deep flavor and tenderized meat, but we promise it’s way easier to cook than you think.

Get the Sunday Sauce recipe.

Cabbage Schnitzel

A breaded fried cutlet is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and these cabbage schnitzels are no exception. Coated in crispy golden brown bread crumbs and drizzled with a luscious mushroom gravy, this vegetarian spin on a meaty classic will delight meat lovers and vegetarians alike.

Get the Cabbage Schnitzel recipe.

Classic Coq Au Vin

Coq au vin, or rooster with wine, is a classic French dish that isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Chicken is braised in a silky wine sauce and finished off with butter for the most perfect sauce. Use a nice red wine here and even better if it’s from Burgundy!

Get the Classic Coq Au Vin recipe.

Beef Bourguignon

This is certainly not a quick weeknight dinner, BUT, that doesn’t mean it’s hard. Here’s the basic rundown: Sauté bacon, sear beef in bacon fat (yum!), add veggies and stir to coat with flour, add wine and broth, transfer to oven, bake until beef is super-tender, make Julia Child proud.

Get the Beef Bourguignon recipe.

Beef Wellington

To add another layer of complexity to the finished product, brush the seared tenderloin with mustard. Feel free to use your favorite type—we love a variety with some heat like dijon or spicy brown mustard.

Get the Beef Wellington recipe.

Tomato-Butter Roast Chicken

I am firmly in the camp that everyone should know how to properly roast a chicken, and this should be the recipe you try. Tomato butter works wonders on chicken. Not only does it keep the bird moist, but the healthy dose of tomato paste brings a slightly sweet, umami acidity, which chicken could often use. Plus, there are no better veggies than ones that have been roasted underneath a chicken, collecting all of that flavor-packed schmaltz. This is a great way to add some excitement to a classic roast chicken.

Get the Tomato-Butter Roast Chicken recipe.

Vegan French Onion Stew

Even if you’re plant-based, you can *still* get your French onion soup fix! Finishing the “cheese” toasts right in the soup pot makes for an impressive presentation, for sure. But if you’re meal prepping, it’s best to do that job on a sheet tray instead to avoid losing soggy pieces of bread in your leftovers (if there are are any, that is!)

Get the Vegan French Onion Stew recipe.

Chicken-Fried Mushrooms & Gravy

Meaty oyster mushrooms stand in for steak in our indulgent take on this Southern classic. Buttermilk is a must for fried chicken, so we made our own with almond milk and vinegar.

Get the Chicken-Fried Mushrooms & Gravy recipe.

Vegan Charred Lemon-Asparagus Risotto

Craving something super comforting? Want to impress a vegan sweetheart next date night? Have a bounty of springy asparagus you want to showcase? This quick and simple recipe is for you. It’s not that different from regular risotto but is made extra-special (and vegan-friendly) with vegan butter and a to-die-for homemade “Parm” topping made of cashews.

Get the Vegan Charred Lemon-Asparagus Risotto recipe.

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