It’s Sunday and the only thing on your mind is enjoying a lazy day with your loved ones before the business of the new week kicks in. But what to cook? For sure you can find something tasty and easy in this list of 100+ lazy Sunday dinner ideas that (hopefully!) even your pickiest eater will enjoy. You’ll find 15-minute crowd pleasing pasta dishes, cozy and comforting curries and soups along with light and fresh dishes. You can find the perfect recipe here to please every member of your family.
Got a slow cooker, instant pot or air fryer? I’ve got you covered there too, whatever your favorite time-saving appliance is!
You could say a cozy bowl of pasta is the ultimate comfort food. It’s also so quick and easy to throw together – perfect when you need dinner on the table fast when feeding hungry family and friends.
Most of these tasty ideas use just a few pantry ingredients. Whether you’re in the mood for something creamy and extra comforting, a lighter vegetarian option or something in between, there’s something here for every mood.
5 from 6 votes
Best Pasta Carbonara (Without Cream!)
No cream, no heavy sauce, just a really good classic pasta carbonara with a sauce made of eggs and cheese. This is a real crowd pleaser – both light and decadent at the same time – and takes just 15 minutes to make with just 5 main ingredients!
Pasta Alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian pasta dish made with eggplant/aubergine, tomatoes, basil and cheese. It's perfect for those nights when you want a healthy and filling vegetarian home cooked dinner, but without any fuss.
When you need an easy meal idea that the whole family will enjoy, or meals in the freezer for lazy days, this baked chicken spaghetti is perfect. Add in some colorful vegetables and condensed chicken or mushroom soup for the ultimate crowd pleasing comfort food!
Try this meal once and it may become one of your go-to meals! Pan fry gnocchi until golden and crispy, then toss in a simple but super tasty cherry tomato and basil sauce. The icing on the cake is a sprinkle of tangy feta cheese!
This creamy chorizo pasta is an easy and very tasty 30-minute pasta dinner that your family will love. Make the delicious tomato and chorizo cream sauce all in one pan and from just a few simple ingredients. Toss through tagliatelle (or your favorite pasta!) and enjoy!
This is a classic crowd pleaser of a tuna pasta recipe with a lemony, Mediterranean twist! It's perfect for those days when you don't have a lot in the pantry, but you do have some canned tuna, a lemon, any kind of pasta and a few other pantry ingredients.
A light and fresh tasting simple farfalle pasta recipe with broccoli, prosciutto, and fresh basil. Made with a very simple lemon ricotta sauce, this is a crowd pleaser, it's perfect for spring or summer (or any time of year), and it's on the table in just 20 minutes. It makes a great midweek family meal, but it's equally as good for easy entertaining!
This is a super easy Greek style baked mac and cheese with a simple 'sauce' made of evaporated milk and eggs – not flour. Packed with spinach and feta cheese and topped with crispy panko crumbs, it tastes a bit like a Greek spinach and cheese pie! The best part? It's on the table in just 30 minutes!
Casarecce pasta with the most basic of cherry tomato pasta sauces. It might be basic, with just 7 pantry ingredients, but this 'pasta sciue sciue' or 'pasta in a hurry' is extremely delicious if you use the best quality ingredients you can find. Perfect for summer, or any evening when you’re short on time!
Conchiglione Pasta With Spinach And Ricotta (Giant Shells!)
These are classy but so simple – just spinach and ricotta filling stuffed into the shells, then the whole dish is drenched in the most amazing marinara sauce and oozy mozzarella.
This Cheesy Cauliflower Bake is a delicious, comforting riff on healthy mac and cheese. Made with wholegrain pasta, cauliflower purée replaces much of the cheese for a lightened up baked pasta recipe.
The BEST Baked Italian Meatballs | Saporito Kitchen
These oven baked Italian meatballs are perfect for Sunday dinner! Made with a combination of ground pork and ground beef, these meatballs are super juicy with delicious flavor!
Sunday Sauce with Meatballs and Sausage | My Sequined Life
Simple ingredients cook slowly and transform into a very flavorful Sunday sauce with meatballs and sausage. This hearty marinara sauce is a family favorite!
An easy and casual recipe, this lazy lasagna bake takes all the delicious parts of lasagna without the complication. Enjoy with or without ground beef!
Who wouldn’t love pizza for lunch or dinner on a lazy Sunday? These pizzas can be on the table in less time than it would take to order a takeout. Bonus here is you could get your kids to help you make them and even customize them to make everyone happy.
5 from 4 votes
10 Minute Naan Pizza (Oven or Air Fryer)
Homemade personal pizzas made with a delicious crispy on the outside and tender on the inside ready-made base that you might not have thought of using before – naan bread! Let everyone customize with their favorite topping for a tasty meal in just 10 minutes.
Chicken is usually a failsafe choice when it comes to a simple dinner, right? It can be a classic Sunday roast chicken dinner if you like (there are a few options below), but it doesn’t have to be just because it’s Sunday.
5 from 1 vote
Easy Creamy Chicken And Leek Pie
Enjoy this on-the-lighter-side easy creamy chicken and leek pie without any guilt! But healthier doesn't mean it's short on flavor. This is a super easy comfort food classic made a little lighter, and it never disappoints.
Panko Chicken is pretty simple to make, but this 15-minute version with mustard and parmesan is even easier! Smother chicken breasts with mustard and panko breadcrumbs, pan-fry for just a few minutes on each side, until deliciously moist, flavorful, crisp, and golden brown. This one is a keeper!
These juicy and tender chicken breasts with feta and lemon make a perfect crowd-pleasing midweek meal option! Simply cover thin chicken breasts with crumbled feta cheese, oregano, olive oil and lemon juice and bake for just 17 minutes. This is a restaurant-quality dinner that also happens to be gluten-free and keto-friendly, but no one will believe how easy it was to make.
Everyone needs the simplest of simple chicken and rice recipes in their weekly meal rotation! This is the easiest stove top chicken and rice recipe you can imagine, but it still has LOTS of flavor, thanks to a few simple tricks and a secret ingredient… saffron! Ready in just 30 minutes!
Super Easy Greek Gyro Pita with Chicken, Tzatziki and Fries
Gyro pitas are Greece's most popular fast food. If you've ever tried one in Greece, you'll know that these wraps with marinated chicken, salad, tzatziki and fries inside are incredibly delicious. Gyro pitas are super quick and easy to make at home too and they honestly taste just the same as they do in Greece!
One-Pan Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Chicken (Chicken Pizzaiola)
Chicken pizzaiola is a super simple (but quite fancy, really!) less than 30-minute dinner the whole family will love.Just pan-fry chicken with garlic, pour canned cherry tomatoes (or regular chopped tomatoes) and some basil onto it, simmer, then top with mozzarella and grill … mmmm!
If you've got chicken thighs and some basic herbs and spices in the pantry, plus some simple sides, you've got an easy but delicious dinner! This is my go-to simple baked chicken thigh recipe. Bake in either your oven or air fryer and serve with green beans and oven fries.
Golden, crunchy chicken drizzled with a tasty but easy-to-make curry sauce. This is the ultimate Japanese comfort food. I find it better than a takeaway and I'm pretty sure you'll love it as well!
A mildy sticky and spicy full-of-umami-flavour mid-week Chinese chicken stir-fry made with spring onions and garlic, soy sauce, Chinese rice wine and brown sugar. You won't believe how easy and delicious this is, and it's on the table in around 15 minutes!
If you're a fan of sweet and sour takeout dishes, this easy homemade chicken pineapple stir-fry (aka sweet and sour chicken and pineapple!) could become a new family favourite. Make it in under 30 minutes with just a few simple store cupboard ingredients!
This one's for fans of Asian street food… or for quick, easy and delicious stir fries. This Indonesian chicken noodle stir fry is otherwise known as mee goreng basah. The 'basah' part means 'wet' so there's plenty of delicious tangy sauce.
A homemade version of the classic Chinese takeout chicken with cashew nuts with peppers. The magic ingredient in this is Chinese five spice. Make it once and it'll become a family favourite!
15- Minute Creamy Pesto Chicken with Mushrooms and Parmesan
Cut the chicken in half horizontally for perfectly pan fried chicken, then add just a few other pantry ingredients to make a delicious creamy sauce. Serve with pasta, potatoes, or rice, or just by itself with some toasted fresh bread. The best part? It's on the table in barely 15 minutes!
Succulent Roasted Chicken cooked together in one pan with tender potatoes and vegetables in a creamy coconut curry sauce. A fantastic alternative for your Sunday roast!
Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole | Joy Food Sunshine
In this broccoli chicken and rice casserole, broccoli, rice and chicken are baked in a homemade sauce (NO canned soups) for a delicious, hearty & nutritious dinner recipe that’s easy to prepare.
Great news – some of the best Sunday dinner ideas are the ones you make in just one pot!
Don’t you feel so smug walking into your home with the aroma of your dinner all ready to eat?! Make one of these slow cooker dishes and you’ll be so thankful when it’s dinnertime and there’s hardly anything left to do…
4.18 from 123 votes
Easy Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This crockpot chicken gnocchi soup is a hearty, nutritious, creamy and yet lightened-up soup packed with chicken, gnocchi and vegetables, just like the one you love at Olive Garden! Get the best quality ingredients and you can make a truly delicious meal in your slow cooker or pressure cooker with just 7 main ingredients.
This is a ridiculously tasty sausage bolognese recipe that I usually serve with pappardelle pasta. Perfect for when you're in the mood for a bit of comfort food but don't want to spend hours at the stove. Speaking of which… you need very little hands-on time for this recipe, and the best part? It's made with just 6 main ingredients!
An easy version of a beautifully fragrant and spicy chicken stew with eggplant/aubergine, cinnamon, ginger and sticky dried plumes in the style of a traditional Moroccan 'tagine'. Cook slowly on the stovetop or in your slow cooker or pressure cooker for a delicious and healthy meal that might even become a family favourite!
Instant Pot Pot Roast makes having a tender and juicy roast so easy! Mashed potatoes, carrots, and a mouthwatering gravy are made in the very same pot!
This Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken dish is both sweet and spicy, and so simple to make. This cheap chicken recipe is a weeknight superstar. With only 4 ingredients, this dinner couldn’t get any easier!
This Braised Short Ribs {Instant Pot} recipe is one of the best homemade comfort food dinners we have made in a long time. The meat is tender and falling…
If you’d rather let your air fryer do the hard yards for you on lazy Sunday nights, then these easy dinner ideas are the ones for you.
Take the hard work out of your Sunday roast by cooking a whole chicken in your air fryer (use your oven space for more roast potatoes and veggies!) or keep things more casual with something like chicken meatballs or crispy chicken burgers.
5 from 3 votes
1-Hour Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Cook a chicken in your air fryer once, and you may never cook a whole chicken any other way again. Add a quick herb and spice rub and you'll end up with a perfectly moist and juicy rotisserie style roast chicken in under an hour.
Try these crispy air fryer chicken burgers once and they'll quickly become one of your go-to meals. Coat chicken thighs with lots of yummy herbs and spices and super crispy panko breadcrumbs, and air fry (pan fry if you prefer). Sandwich with a few toppings in a fresh brioche bun and they're done. It's an unbelievably tasty and easy 30-minute meal!
Greek chicken meatballs can be delicious AND quick and easy when you make them in your air fryer. Just mix together all the ingredients, shape quickly into bite-sized meatballs and air fry for around 10 minutes. They're incredible served with a Greek salad, tzatziki and toasted bread, but you can serve them in many other ways as well.
My favorite kinds of dishes are the ones where everything’s cooked in one pan! But especially on a Sunday. Who wants to spend an hour tidying up after a lazy Sunday meal?
4.78 from 9 votes
Easy Slow Cooked Greek Lamb (Kleftiko)
A super easy and tasty authentic slow cooked Greek lamb roast (otherwise known as lamb kleftiko), with delicious lemon potatoes and vegetables. No need for fancy sides! Throw the veggies in a pot, sit a lamb leg on top, rub in simple Mediterranean flavours, and slow roast for 4 hours to fall-apart perfection. Perfect for a family celebration or mini crowd!
This baked chicken & chorizo is the simplest of one pan chicken dinners, but also one of the tastiest. Just pile chicken, tomatoes, chorizo, garlic, basil and seasoning into a baking dish and bake until browned and bubbling. So delicious, and a perfect crowd pleasing easy dinner for the family or guests.
This creamy chicken orzo is a risotto-like family dinner packed full of comforting chicken, bacon and mushrooms – that's actually made with rice-shaped pasta… and no cream! Super easy to make with simple ingredients and all in one pot.
I call this 6-ingredient Greek Chicken And Potatoes dinner 'amazingly delicious' for good reason! It's the simplest but one of the most popular everyday Greek chicken recipes. Millions of Greeks can't be wrong! Just bake chicken and potato wedges with a really easy olive oil, lemon and oregano marinade. Don't even think about skipping the Greek salad and tzatziki (or yogurt!) sides!
This version of the very delicious traditional Greek giouvetsi comes in the form of a chicken and orzo pasta baked in oregano and spice-infused tomato sauce and sprinkled with cheese.
An easy-to-throw-together and colourful chicken casserole full of wonderful Mediterranean flavours such as bacon, paprika, red peppers, tomatoes, herbs, olives, capers and, of course, feta cheese.
If you're looking for a go-to chicken curry, this Thai chicken and butternut squash curry just might be it. It's quick and easy to make with just chicken thighs, a few spices and curry paste, coconut milk, peanut butter, tomatoes and butternut squash. Top with plenty of peanuts and you get a delicious cross between a chicken satay curry and a Thai red curry. Choose to make it on the stove top, in the slow cooker, or in your pressure cooker!
This sheet pan chicken tikka with cauliflower and potatoes is not only one of the most delicious meals we regularly make in our house, it’s one of the easiest. And the best part is that you need just 5 (or 6) ingredients to make it!
Easy Baked Ricotta Gnocchi with Sausage and Tomatoes
This gnocchi is made from only 3 ingredients, ricotta cheese, flour and parmesan cheese. No egg required! Just mix, roll and cut, then sprinkle over roasted veggies with a bit of mozzarella cheese for extra yum. On the table in only 30 minutes!
American Goulash is an easy, one-pot, classic comfort food made with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles. Enjoy year-round, and delicious leftover, this irresistible Goulash Recipe is guaranteed to win over even the pickiest eaters!
Fan of orzo/risoni? Check out this list of easy risoni recipes for more lazy Sunday orzo recipe ideas!
Eggs
Eggs are an ingredient that you always have in the pantry, and it’s astonishing just how versatile they can be. Super nutritious and quick to cook, these recipes mostly use pantry staples and so make family meals a breeze when you don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen…
4.95 from 217 votes
The Very Best Crustless Quiche
Known as Impossible Quiche in Australia! Added flour sinks to the bottom during cooking, creating a thin pancake-like crust. You can either add caramelized onions and mushrooms, ham and cheese, like I’ve stated in the recipe below, or you can keep things super simple and add raw finely chopped veggies like onions, peppers and tomatoes.
Thai basil pork is really flavorful and classic Thai street food recipe made with minced pork, basil and chili. So cozy, comforting, simple and delicious- especially with an egg on top!
This easy vegetarian feta and red pepper quiche is SO easy to make with a store bought pie crust, a few pantry ingredients and some delicious Mediterranean vegetables that you don't have to pre-cook.
A Spanish classic made with just potatoes, onions, eggs and olive oil. Cook it slowly and lovingly and it'll make a delicious light meal that's hard to beat.
These individual tartlets are easy to customise (add an egg, bacon or both!). Perfect with parmesan and basil scattered over at the end and takes just 30 minutes to make.
Perhaps you over-indulged on Friday and Saturday and want to keep things light for Sunday?! From salads to fishcakes, tacos to pastry tarts, there’s something quick, easy and light here for everyone…
4.63 from 8 votes
Easy Crispy Salmon Fishcakes
These are so simple to make. Full of delicately flavored salmon and fresh, subtle flavours, Fishcakes are family crowd pleasers- they should please even the fussiest eaters in your family!
This salad is healthy and delicious and made with the simplest of salad ingredients that you’ve probably nearly always got in your fridge. All ready and on the table in 10 minutes!
Delicious crispy fried halloumi cheese served in a small taco with a tangy pineapple mango salsa. A sort of Greek-Mex creation, if you like! Perfect for simple lunch for the family.
Imagine sticky roasted pumpkin, tangy feta cheese, pan-fried chorizo & toasted pine nuts – tossed together with salad leaves and a honey balsamic vinaigrette. This warm roast pumpkin feta salad is a perfect balance of flavours!
This incredibly delicious traditional Greek salad contains just eight fresh ingredients – tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, black olives, feta cheese, oregano and olive oil. Despite being super healthy, it's a huge crowd pleaser. Serve simply with bread in the summer for a light and easy dinner- there's nothing better!
Quick Puff Pastry Tart with Tomatoes, Prosciutto and Pesto
This is a simple puff pastry tart topped with ricotta, baby tomatoes, pesto & prosciutto- you could call it a puff pastry pizza! Easy enough for a simple throw-together lunch, but impressive enough to serve to guests!
Tasty beef and pork meatballs in a lightly creamy beef gravy. Serve with mashed potatoes and lingonberry or cranberry sauce. It’s delicious – millions of Swedes can’t be wrong!
This is a recipe for a really tasty and nutritious 5 bean chilli to healthify your nachos! I call them 5 bean loaded nachos. Throw a few store cupboard ingredients (and lots of beans!) in a pot, simmer, then throw onto nachos with all your favourite yummy toppings. Pop a batch in the freezer for another lazy day!
5 from 1 vote
20-Minute Coconut Fish Curry
A quick and light fish curry recipe with punchy Thai flavours and a delicious creamy and fragrant coconut base. Serve with rice and sprinkle with fresh coriander, bright lime juice and a few crunchy toasted almonds. It's midweek easy dinner perfection!
You're only 10 minutes away from having these easy Mediterranean style air fryer pita chips! Easily customize with different herbs and spices, and make them a day or 2 ahead if you like. You'll love dipping them in this delicious tyrokafteri dip, tzatziki or hummus. Simple but delicious!
This shepherd’s pie recipe is a hearty, flavorful main dish that your entire family will love! Learn how to make shepherd’s pie that’s better than any restaurant!
Picked your lazy Sunday dinner already but feel like you need a bit of something on the side? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with these easy side dish ideas to go with your low-maintenance dinner!
4.72 from 217 votes
The BEST Greek Potatoes
These Greek potatoes truly deserve to have the words ‘the best’ in their title. They’re tasty, creamy, and crispy all at the same time, and go with anything. You might find yourself eating the whole pan to yourself. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Welcome to your new favorite last minute vegetable side dish! You can cook these sautéed frozen green beans straight from frozen (yep, no defrosting necessary!). Choose your own simple flavors for perfectly tender and browned seasoned green beans on your dinner table in only 10 minutes.
Throw veg on a baking dish, toss through some olive oil and simple herbs and spices, and roast for around half an hour (or just 15 minutes if you're using your air fryer). They're low-carb, go with virtually any main dish, and the leftovers are great on pizza, salads, sandwiches and more.
This toasted bread with olive oil and salt is our go-to easy side dish recipe, and I hope it becomes yours too! Just toast slices of your favourite bread, then drizzle with olive oil and scatter with salt. Serve with soups, stews, bolognese, salads, and everything in between.
Roast TWO humble veggies in one – brussels sprouts and carrots – and toss them in a very simple but delicious honey mustard balsamic dressing for a side dish that's perfect for both fancy and simple meals alike. Browned, crisp and caramelized on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside, these will convert even the most ardent of brussels sprouts haters!
Did you know that air fried cauliflower is just as crispy and delicious as if you roasted it in your oven? But it takes less than half the time! Simply drizzle over olive oil, your choice of simple seasonings and some panko breadcrumbs and parmesan and air fry for just 12 minutes. Serve on its own as a snack or easy appetizer with dips, use to make the most delicious mashed potatoes, or sprinkle over soups and salads.
With all of these lazy Sunday dinner ideas to choose from there’s no need to rely on takeout! (well, not every sunday anyway!) With less time spent prepping and cooking, these dishes mean you can enjoy relaxing on Sunday before the busy week ahead.
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