30+ Sunday Family Dinner Ideas (by season!)

There is no better time to connect with your family and friends than a Sunday night, around a table, with family style food, great conversation, and a laugh or two.

If this is something you haven’t started but are considering, even if it is just once a month, go for it! Not only will you love it, your friends and family will love it, and if you have kids they will love it too!

I have put together a great resource to ease some of the planning. Below are 30+ menus of some of our favorite dinners to serve on a Sunday night. The best part is that it is separated BY SEASON! Because something you serve on a Sunday in December is probably not the same menu you would serve on a Sunday in July!

My Memory

I grew up having big Sunday family dinners at least once a month, at my Grandparent’s. I remember eating T-Bone steaks on the grill with all the traditional family recipe side dishes. My Grandpa would set a stack of white bread and butter on the table and my sister and I would sit on the piano bench to make sure everyone had a seat at the table.

Those are the kind of memories you make when you plan Sunday dinners. The smell of T-Bones on the grill still brings back ALL of those memories.

Why Plan A Sunday Family Dinner?

Unlike entertaining on a Saturday or Friday night, your Sunday guests usually retire early and it isn’t considered a “party”. Which makes it more of a time to connect and recharge before the week ahead.

I think in modern times we move so fast that we forget to stop and connect with the people around us. We have our faces in our phones watching other peoples lives. Why not invite some of those people over and connect with them in real time!?

Doesn’t Need To Be Family

Maybe you live far away from your immediate family or you have a very small family, that is ok! You can still absolutely plan a big Sunday Dinner! It is a great time to connect with close friends or people you want to get to know.

Know Your Audience

More than likely if you are having a “family” dinner then you know if your guests have any food allergies or aversions. But if some new faces are joining your table make sure you check in with everyone to see if there are any allergies or aversions.

You want to make sure everyone has something to eat if they are coming to your feast! You wouldn’t want to serve salmon on a night you are having someone allergic to fish… or pot pie on a night someone is gluten free!

Semi Homemade

By no means does your entire meal need to be homemade! When you are having a large dinner it is a great time saver to take some help from the grocery store, deli or favorite restaurants.

For example if you are ordering pizza, then plan to make a great side salad and dessert. Or if you making pulled pork then get the coleslaw and baked beans from a local deli.

Here are some other ways you can think about making things semi-homemade:

• Meat from your favorite BBQ Restaurant.
• High quality store bought pasta sauce, like Rao’s
• Bagged Salad.
• Side dishes from your grocery store deli.
• Salsa from your favorite Mexican Restaurant.
• Rotisserie Chickens.
• Takeout pizza from your favorite spot.
• Dessert from a great bakery.

What Can I Bring?

More than likely when you send out the text or email to let people know that you are hosting Sunday dinner, your guests will reply with “we will be there, what can I bring?”.

This is your opportunity to take a little help and get everyone involved in the dinner! If you already know what you are having (main dish), then let them know what you are making and ask them to bring a side dish, dessert or appetizer.

Now if you have a guest you know is having a tough week, you can absolutely reply…”Nothing! We have it covered, come and relax and enjoy your night with us”.

How Can I Help? -Assigning Jobs

Another likely scenario at your Sunday dinner is that your guests will arrive and say “how can I help?”. When you are in the throws of making dinner it can be hard to assign tasks or think of what still needs to be done.

Save a few tasks that you know you can ask your guests to help with. Here are a few ideas:

• Set the plates and silverware on the table
• Fill the water glasses on the table
• Get bread baskets ready for rolls.
• Open wine or help serve/make cocktails or drinks
• Chopping veggies (for burger toppings or a salad)
• Stir a pot
• Boil/cook pasta
• Transfer dishes to serve ware
• Get serve ware (spoons, forks, ladles) ready for dishes

Summer Dinners

Summer is the perfect season to relax and recharge with your family and friends over a Sunday dinner! Make a cocktail and get the grill out. Here are some menus perfect for a Summer Sunday Dinner:

Grilled Turkey Burgers – Buns and all your favorite burger toppings, Grilled Veggie Skewers (mushrooms, onions, peppers, zucchini) with Basil Pesto drizzled over top, Potato Salad, chips, Cucumber Onion Salad (or buy store bought from local grocery store deli)

Grilled Hamburgers– Buns and all your favorite burger toppings, Potato Salad (or Instant Pot Potato Salad), store bought baked beans, store bought coleslaw, chips

Grilled Steak Tacos– taco shells, 15 minute Refried Beans, Mexican Rice, Citrus Honey Pineapple, Chips with Salsa and Guacamole, Ginger Margaritas

Instant Pot BBQ Shredded Beef – buns, extra BBQ sauce, pickles or pepperoncini slices, Skillet Mac and Cheese, store bought baked beans, store bought coleslaw, chips, homemade lemonade

Chili Dog Bar – Buns, hot dogs, chili for hot dogs, all your favorite chili dog toppings, chips, cold macaroni salad from grocery store deli, Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, Raspberry Jello Fluff

Grilled Chicken BLT Sandwiches – Buttermilk Grilled Chicken, Horseradish Cream Sauce, crispy cooked bacon, tomato, lettuce, buns, Cheesy Potato Casserole, Roasted Asparagus, Raspberry Jell-O Fluff , deviled eggs

Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches – Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad, Roasted Fennel drizzled with fresh Pesto, fresh fruit salad, and chips

Taco Buffet – Homemade Taco Meat and/or Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, hard and soft taco shells, all your favorite taco toppings, chips with salsa & guacamole, Refried Beans, Mexican Rice, Cilantro Lime Slaw

Fall Menus

Here we are starting to get into some soups & stews, but it is also a great season for grilling! It’s not as hot outside so you might even be able to eat al fresco. Here are some great Sunday Dinner Menus for Fall:

Grilled Pork Burgers with Garlic Cream Sauce– Buns, tomato, lettuce, onion, sweet potato fries, cucumber salad, baked beans

Grilled Hamburgers with Bacon Jam – Buns, Boursin Cheese or Blue Cheese, Corn on the Cob, Store Bought Cole Slaw, Cheesy Potato Casserole

Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup – Store bough kale and cranberry salad, warm crusty bread (like ciabatta or sourdough)

Chili or Turkey Chili – Saltine crackers or Fritos, all your favorite chili toppings, veggie tray with homemade ranch or blue cheese dip, Sweet Cornbread Muffins, Honey Butter, Deviled Eggs

Chicken Poblano Soup – extra toppings (sour cream, tortilla strips, cheese, cilantro, green onions, etc…), cheese quesadillas cut into small triangles, guacamole, salsa, tortilla chips, green side salad with a Mexi-ranch dressing.

Rosemary Pork Tenderloin – horseradish cream sauce dip, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Pickled Beets, Roasted Carrots, Rolls and Butter

Baked Potato Bar – add a whole host of toppings for everyone to make their own baked potatoes including butter, sour cream, meats, cheeses, veggies and herbs! There are over 50 options in the post linked.

Corn Chowder – Hot ham and cheese sliders, green side salad, kettle chips

Ground Turkey Shepherds Pie – Sauteed green beans, green side salad, raspberry jello fluff, and rolls with butter

Turkey or Chicken Tetrazzini – garlic bread, green side salad, and roasted carrots

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce – garlic bread, Sauteed Green Beans, and Big Italian Salad

Fried Chicken – get the fried chicken from your favorite restaurant or grocery store, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans, Corn Casserole, cucumber salad from grocery store deli, Buttermilk Cornbread, Honey Butter

Winter Meals (Holidays Too!)

Now we are talking comfort food- light a fire in the fire place, whip up some mashed potatoes and braise a roast all day. This is also the season of holidays, the perfect time to connect with family and loved ones. Here are a few menus for your Winter Sunday Dinner:

Beef Pot Roast with Gravy and Carrots – Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Bacon Salad, Cranberry Sauce OR Chunky Apple Sauce , rolls and butter

The Best Homemade Lasagna – big Caesar salad, garlic green beans and a lot of garlic bread

Swedish Meatballs **- Buttered Egg Noodles OR Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Bacon Salad, Roasted Carrots, Cranberry Sauce, rolls and butter

**(there is also and Instant Pot version of the Swedish meatballs)

Beef Ragu with Pasta –Roasted Fennel drizzled with Pesto, Caesar salad, garlic bread (about 5 people per pound of pasta)

5 Hour Beef Stew – saltine crackers, side salad with a tart vinaigrette, rolls or warm ciabatta bread and butter

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham – Roasted fennel, warm chunky apple sauce, broccoli bacon salad, rolls and butter.

Braised Tri Tip with Red Wine Glaze – Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Carrots, pickled beets (or other pickled veggie), Corn Casserole, rolls and butter

Turkey (or Chicken) Pot Pie – broccoli bacon salad, chunky apple sauce (serve warm), deviled eggs, rolls and butter

Ham Balls – Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Green Beans, Raspberry Jello Fluff, rolls and butter

Instant Pot Pork Roast with Veggies & Gravy – Oven Roasted Fennel, Instant Pot Apple Sauce (make ahead) OR Cranberry Salad, rolls and butter – if your family likes mashed potatoes you can omit the Red Potatoes from the Instant Pot, add more carrots and mushrooms and then add mashed potatoes to your menu!

Spring Supper

Things are starting to warm up and bloom, it’s a great time to recharge with your loved ones over a family style dinner. Here are some menus that are perfect for Spring:

Taco Buffet – Homemade Taco Meat and/or Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, hard and soft taco shells, all your favorite taco toppings, chips with salsa & guacamole, Refried Beans, Mexican Rice, Cilantro Lime Slaw

Egg Salad Sandwiches – croissants, broccoli bacon salad, roasted asparagus, fresh fruit, and sweet potato chips

Chicken Enchilada Suiza – Refried Beans, Mexican Rice, Cilantro Lime Slaw

Italian Meatballs and Spaghetti – cooked pasta (about 5 people per pound), extra parmesan cheese, Big Italian Salad, garlic bread

Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto with Asparagus – Big Italian Salad and garlic bread

Cajun Salmon – store bought dirty rice OR Skillet Dirty Rice, roasted asparagus, cornbread muffins with honey butter

Chicken Spiedini – pasta (about 5 people per pound) and marinara sauce, garlic green beans, store bought Caesar salad, garlic bread

Pulled Pork Sandwiches – buns, BBQ sauce, pickles and/or pepperoncini, store bought creamy coleslaw, cheesy potato casserole, broccoli bacon salad, Deviled Eggs

Dessert and Drinks

You can find some great dessert and drink recipe on Mom’s Dinner! Check out the categories here:

• All Dessert Recipes
• All Cocktail and Drink Recipes

Finding More Meal/Menu Resources

I LOVE posting this kind of resource! Planning full meals with side dishes can be a big task. Here are some more helpful Full Meal resources on Mom’s Dinner:

• 10 MEAL TRAIN DINNER IDEAS WITH RECIPES
• 30 EASY MEALS FOR A LARGE GROUP ON VACATION
• 30+ EASY BACK TO SCHOOL DINNER IDEAS

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