Got a case of the Sunday night blues? Banish your bad mood by gathering around the table for a special meal with family and friends. These recipes will help you make the most of the weekend’s waning hours and set you up for the week ahead. Plus, several dishes make for great leftovers, so you’ll have Monday’s lunch already in the bag. Here are 20 delicious Sunday supper recipes to try.
1. Lemony Chicken Thighs with Couscous and Spinach Salad
Inspired by the classic Moroccan pairing of lemon, chicken and olives, this dish is salty, tangy and bright and with a pleasant chewiness from the couscous. Serve the chicken with the couscous salad as is or shred leftover chicken and mix with the couscous to serve the next day.
2. Al Roker's Vegetable Lasagna
Lasagna is always a crowd pleaser, but Al Roker’s stands out for being packed with vegetables — he uses a colorful mix of red bell pepper, zucchini and yellow squash. Leftovers will be a welcome sight for lunch the next day. In fact, you may want to make a double batch, so you're guaranteed to have plenty of extras.
3. Gluten-Free Chicken Milanese
Giada De Laurentiis admits this recipe is a bit of a treat — and perfect for a Sunday in our opinion — but rice flour and gluten-free panko make it a little lighter and easier on the stomach. She serves it the way they do in Italy, topped with an arugula salad dressed with lemon and salt, or without the salad and just a squeeze of lemon juice.
4. Springtime Pasta Bake
Dreaming of spring? This lighter version of your traditional pasta bake has springtime vibes galore but also feels so homey and familiar. You can substitute any quick-cooking spring vegetables in place of the asparagus and zucchini.
5. Chicken Biryani
Forget takeout — make one of your favorite Indian dishes at home. The robust flavor of a variety of spices like cumin, coriander and garam masala bring warmth and heat to the biryani. The saffron and milk add color and aroma.
6. Lidia Bastianich's Chicken Scaloppini
The bracing acidity from the lemons and bright brininess of the olives and capers makes this a standout dish. It works for a casual weeknight dinner but is special enough to serve for that perfectly satisfying Sunday meal.
7. Kimbap (Gimbap)
These easy sushi-style rolls make for a fun Sunday dinner activity. They're great for kids because they love helping make them as much as eating them! Not sure where to start? Use our illustrated guide for step-by-step instructions.
8. Caramelized Orange Pork Roast
Roasts are made for lazy Sundays and this fuss-free pork is no exception. The secret is in the marinade of white wine, soy sauce, brown sugar, Sriracha, mustard, rice wine vinegar, garlic and orange zest and juice — if possible, let the meat marinate overnight. Leftovers, if there are any, are perfect for sandwiches.
9. Slow-Cooker Falling-Off-the-Bone Short Ribs
This versatile, tasty cut of beef gives us everything you could ask for in meat. It's wonderfully tender and the marbling keeps it incredibly moist while cooking. The sauce for this recipe is incredibly comforting, too.
10. Beef Stew with Dill
Stew season is in full swing! In addition to being simple and satisfying, this beef stew is ripe for improvisation. Swap in your favorite seasonal herbs and veggies to make it your own. And take a cue from Gail Simmons of ‘Top Chef’ and Food & Wine: She makes a big batch over the weekend and warms up leftovers for quick family dinners during the week.
11. Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Vegetables
When it comes to Sunday dinner, no dish is quite as classic as roast chicken. This version is stuffed with onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme and lemon, while carrots, potatoes and shallots are roasted alongside. The final step is a bit of kitchen genius: Escarole is wilted in the yummy pan juices then tossed with the veggies and mustard to create a dynamite side.
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12. Pan-Seared Salmon with Braised Kale
If you think fish is hard to cook, this recipe will change your mind. Because salmon is so rich and full of flavor the fillets can be simply seasoned and quickly seared. Served with gently braised kale, this makes for a well rounded and good-for-you dinner. It’s just the thing to enjoy on a Sunday night.
13. Siri Daly's Salmon and Veggie Rice Bowls
If Sunday is your day to reset and recharge, set aside time to prepare a healthy dinner. These bowls can be customized, so each family member can pick and choose the ingredients and combinations they like best. To get a jump-start on meal planning, make double batches of your favorite components and use them to create different lunches and snacks throughout the week.
14. One-Pot Slow-Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
If there’s anything that can make spaghetti and meatballs more enticing, it's being able to prepare the whole dish in the slow cooker. This recipe makes a generous amount of meatballs, so pick up some rolls and enjoy meatball subs for lunch the next day.
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15. Balsamic Chicken Massimo with Artichoke Soubise
A rich balsamic glaze, plus sauteed onions and artichokes transform ordinary chicken breasts into a meal to remember. Follow New York City chef Mario Carbone’s advice and toss some arugula with the vegetables to give this dish some bite.
16. Lidia Bastianich's Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Onions
Who knows more than mother, grandmother and chef Lidia Bastianich about Sunday suppers with family? Her pork tenderloin is a cinch to make yet still feels extra special. Complete dinner with a simple green salad or roasted asparagus.
17. Seafood Stuffed Shells
With both shrimp and scallops, this is no ordinary pasta bake. If you really want to indulge, swap the shrimp for lobster. Or, fill the shells with veggies like bell peppers, spinach or broccoli. The vegetarian version is far less expensive and you definitely won’t regret having leftovers for lunch the next day.
18. Joy's Low-Calorie General Tso's Chicken
You could order in Chinese for Sunday dinner, but takeout is far from a healthy way to kick off the week. With some pantry staples, plus chicken, pineapple juice and scallions, you can whip up this low-calorie take on a delivery classic in little more than 30 minutes. Steam some broccoli or snap peas to add more green to the menu.
19. Vegetarian Taco Bake
Have a Sunday night movie routine? Whip up this casual, Mexican-inspired casserole and enjoy dinner in front of the TV. If you serve it with chips for scooping, you can even skip utensils, so there’s less to clean up.
20. Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf
For those Sunday nights when you need a little TLC, meatloaf has your back. Thanks to onion, carrot, celery, garlic, ketchup, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, this version is brimming with flavor, but it’s the bacon layer that really sets it apart. You’ll want to balance all that richness with a light green salad on the side.
This article was originally published Apr. 28, 2017 and was updated on Jan. 14, 2022.