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Don’t feel like cooking? Don’t worry. This list of 25+ lazy Sunday dinner ideas will be sure to save the day!
Best Sunday Dinner Ideas (When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking)
Sundays are meant for rest and relaxation, and what better way to unwind with the whole family than with a cozy and delicious meal? But after a long week of work or school, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen.
That’s where lazy Sunday night dinners come in!
These meals are quick, easy, and require minimal effort, so you can focus on enjoying your evening without the stress of cooking. From one-pot meals to slow cooker options, there are plenty of Sunday dinner recipes to choose from.
So, kick back, relax, and let’s explore some easy dinner ideas that are perfect for the entire family.
So, What Makes A Lazy Dinner “Lazy”?
A lazy dinner is any dinner that doesn’t require much time, thought, or effort. This includes meals that have:
- Simple ingredients
- Quick cook time (30 minutes or less)
- Little to no prep
- Easy/little skill
Save Time in The Kitchen With These Quick Tips!
Did you know it’s really simple to make your favorite go-to dinners easy and fast? Here are a few of my favorite quick tips for making dinner a breeze when I don’t feel like cooking.
Use a slow cooker
Slow cookers are a great way to cook dinner without much effort. Simply dump all of your ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning and it’s ready to go by dinner time.
A plus side to crockpot cooking is that you don’t need to be around while it’s cooking. If you often feel too tired to cook by the end of the day making dinner in the crockpot is the way to go.
Pro tip: Use these crockpot liners for mess free easy clean up!
Use an Instant Pot
Instant Pots (aka pressure cooker) are a game-changer to making food fast. Unlike a slow cooker, a pressure cooker doesn’t need all day to cook. In fact, they can cook a meal up to 6 times faster than cooking on a stovetop.
One of my favorite features of the Instant Pot is that you can saute food directly in it before pressure cooking. So, if you want to sear or cook your meat beforehand you don’t need a separate pan to do it in.
Use precooked meat
Using pre-cooked meat is the way to go if you want to turn a regular dinner into a quick one. Some of my favorite ready-to-go meat options are:
- Rotisserie chicken – It’s much cheaper to buy a rotisserie chicken and remove the meat yourself but recently I have seen lots of stores sell rotisserie chicken off the bone ready to go.
- Precooked meatballs
- Shredded chicken breasts – I can often find packs of pre-cooked shredded chicken in the meat section like this.
- Canned chicken
- Steak strips (both frozen and fresh)
Use ready to go veggies-
Pre-prepped veggies are a must-have when it comes to making dinner quickly. You can easily find frozen and canned options for just about any vegetable but there are definitely a few that are an absolute must to keep on hand.
- frozen bell peppers
- jarred minced garlic
- frozen diced onions – you can also find fresh pre-diced onions that can be helpful to use throughout the week.
- Frozen avocados
- Guacamole cups – I love using the individual portion guacamole cups for quick meals. No waste and no browning.
- Frozen chopped spinach
- Frozen crushed ginger cubes
25+ Lazy Sunday Dinner Ideas
Here is a list of our 25 most favorite Sunday dinner ideas.
These stuffed pepperoni sticks are a delicious and easy meal to serve at your next family dinner. These not only come together in very little time (15 minutes to be exact) but they will hit the spot to all of your pizza cravings.
The best part is that you can make these stuffed pizza sticks any way you like just by switching up the meat, veggies, and cheeses. The possibilities are endless.
As someone with kids, I often appreciate finger foods that feel more adult-like but still appealing to my family. And let me tell you this recipe is a sophisticated take on just that
With only 3 ingredients this is a perfect meal to serve on a lazy Sunday evening. And the best thing is no one will ever know that the dough isn't homemade.
These ham and cheese roll-ups are such a classic and easy recipe that pretty much anyone would love.
With only 6 ingredients and no cooking required this meal is ready to serve in under 10 minutes which means more quality time with the fam.
These 5 ingredient french dip biscuits will have you completely full and satisfied in under 30 minutes.
This recipe uses refrigerated biscuits, deli roast beef, provolone cheese, and au jus gravy to dip it in. And please don't forget the horseradish, it's a must!
Pepperoni pizza quesadillas are a tasty and quick dish that combines the flavors of pizza and quesadillas. Crispy, buttery, and cheesy they are perfect for busy nights when you want something quick and easy to prepare.
Sheet pan dinners are a great way to make dinner quickly and with little cleanup.
This kielbasa and pierogi sheet pan dinner comes together in seconds and cooks in under 30 minutes. The flavors combine with each other so nicely making this an absolutely delicious dinner you must try.
Easy Teriyaki Chicken�Fried rice recipe is incredibly tasty and addictive.
If you're craving takeout but don't want to spend the money then this easy chicken teriyaki fried rice is it.
While the original creator of this recipe used prepackaged fried rice from the grocery store she also includes a recipe to make your own fried rice as well.
Don't have time to make fried rice? you could easily pair this with white rice and a vegetable side.
My kids go absolutely crazy over ramen and I love being able to find budget-friendly ways to use up instant ramen packets.
This tasty dish is made with ground beef, broccoli, and ramen noodles.
To go over the noodles she includes a quick recipe for a delicious sauce that is soy sauce based and packed with flavor. Such a good meal on nights you don't have the energy for cooking.
I know I've shared a lot of easy Sunday dinner ideas but this one takes the cake.
This chili cheese dog bake uses crescent rolls, hot dogs, cheddar cheese sticks, and of course chili. This recipe would be a great way to use up any leftover chili you had from the night before or you can even use canned chili in a pinch.
These santa fe chicken foil packets are a great meal to make with absolutely no dishes! Great for cooking on the grill or even in the oven this dish is packed with rich flavor.
This chicken carbonara is quite literally the easiest thing you can put on the dinner table this week.
This meal is a fantastic way to use up any leftover chicken you may have including fried chicken, whole chicken, or even frozen chicken strips you may have in your freezer. This is a quality meal idea that you will want to make over and over again.
If you are looking for a healthier way to enjoy chicken fajitas then this recipe is for you!
This dish includes juicy chicken breast mixed with bell pepper, onions, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, and a chipotle ranch dressing. It is a truly great dinner to enjoy on a lazy Sunday day.
Chicken salad is one meal that I absolutely love.
Not only is this chicken salad recipe easier than most, but it also requires no cooking and can be made in so many ways.
By adding it to bread, putting it in a wrap, or throwing it on top of a salad this is one dinner you will never get tired of.
These cheeseburger sliders are another delicious and easy 30-minute recipe that you will definitely want to add to your meal-planning arsenal.
These sliders feature crumbled ground beef on top of sweet Hawaiian rolls. Super versatile you can add any toppings or condiment combinations you would like.
When I tell you this recipe only takes 10 minutes I mean it!
These oven-baked tostadas are incredibly easy to whip up and are completely customizable to you are your family's tastes.
You can even make this dinner meatless by using refried beans instead of beef or chicken. This is truly a quick, tasty, and affordable dinner option.
This 10-minute peanut sauce rice noodle recipe is another dinner idea that looks AND tastes like you have been cooking it all day.
If that wasn't tempting enough this recipe is also vegan and gluten-free making it a cheap, quick, and healthy dinner option.
Sheet pan nachos are a delicious and easy-to-make dish consisting of tortilla chips topped with a variety of flavorful ingredients, baked in the oven until crispy and bubbly.
Perfect for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or snack, or a casual dinner.
Sheet pan quesadillas are a tasty and convenient variation of the classic quesadilla that is prepared by assembling tortillas and cheese along with other desired ingredients on a baking sheet and baking in the oven until crispy and melted.
It is the perfect main dish for any lazy day at home.
Tuscan chicken mac and cheese is a hearty Sunday dinner that can be made in one pot in under 30 minutes.
It is an easy and satisfying meal that requires minimal cleanup and is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy night in.
This homemade crunch wrap supreme is a fun and delicious copycat version of the popular fast food item. By making it a home you can satisfy your take-out cravings while saving money and also some calories.
Turkey ranch club wraps are a simple dinner that is perfect for busy nights or times when you don't feel like cooking. Made with turkey, lettuce, bacon, cheese, and ranch these wraps will be a hit for the whole family.
Hot ham and swiss croissants are a warm and satisfying sandwich made by layering ham and Swiss cheese inside a flaky croissant and toasting until the cheese is melted and the croissant is crispy.
You can easily sub out the meat and cheese for different options depending on your preferences. This makes for a yummy and comforting meal.
This chicken burrito bowl is an easy and nutritious restaurant-inspired recipe that takes less time than grabbing takeout yourself.
Filled with chicken, lettuce, beans, rice, cheese, and veggies you will feel satisfied and full from this simple recipe.
This low-carb Philly cheesesteak is the ultimate comfort food. Made with sauteed bell peppers, onions, and meat it is then topped with a homemade cheese sauce.
To save more time you can simply top it with sliced provolone cheese until melted. This recipe is a definite crowd-pleaser in half the time.
This dump-and-bake meatball casserole is so quick and easy that it doesn't even require you to boil the noodles first!
With only 5 ingredients you will be sure to have everything you need right in your pantry. This is so easy to put together that even your kids and husband can do it.
