18 Lazy Sunday Dinners You Can Make Without a Plan

Low-effort, high-reward recipes so you can actually enjoy your Sunday.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published November 30, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
spoonful of unstuffed pepper lifted from skillet with more

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Sunday dinners can require a lot of planning, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Weekends are for taking it easy, and we’re here to help with recipes that are special enough for Sunday dinner, but don’t require a ton of effort. We pulled together smart, hard-working recipes that use pantry staples with flexible swaps, lean on pre-made ingredients, and keep dirty dishes to a minimum. Recipes like Hands-Off Beef Stew, Shortcut Sunday Sauce, and Easy Chicken Pot Pie. Spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your lazy Sunday; you deserve it.

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  • Hands-Off Beef Stew

    Overhead closeup view of a teal colored dutch oven of beef stew and a wooden spoon all on a tile countertop next to a pink bowl and blue hotpad

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    “Traditional recipes are time- and labor-intensive, from browning the meat to peeling the potatoes to sautéing the vegetables. I don’t always have time or the inclination for all that prep, plus browning the meat makes a mess of my stovetop. So I set out to make a hands-off stew that is easier to throw together—no browning, no sautéing of any kind, but just as delicious as classic versions. Just dump and go!” —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

  • Simple Roast Chicken

    Roasted chicken over vegetable in a braiser

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Nico Schinco / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    “This simple roast chicken is just that: simple. There’s no planning ahead beyond the cook time, and no special ingredients to hunt down. You can pick up a chicken from the grocery store, come home, and cook it. Easy as that.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Easy Pork Chili Verde

    A bowl of pork chile verde garnished with sour cream cilantro and jalapenos accompanied by lime wedges and shredded cheese in bowls

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    Premade enchilada sauce and pork tenderloin take a cozy trip in the slow cooker in this four-ingredient recipe. It requires minimal effort and has a delicious payoff. Serve the chili with warm tortillas and your choice of toppings to complete the meal.

  • Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Potatoes, Apples, and Shallots

    Sheet Pan Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Apples, Shallots, and Thyme

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    “The beauty of this dish is that it’s the whole meal. You’ve got protein, starch, and some fresh produce coated in a garlicky, sweet sauce and all cooking on the same sheet pan. If you wanted to prepare a simple salad to go alongside, I’m certainly not going to stop you. But it is not required.” —Sara Tane, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 18 below

  • Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole

    Overhead view of a white baking dish of Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole with a serving removed and on a small plate, a serving spoon and striped towel

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    This is for those moments when you’re craving lasagna but don’t want to go through the effort. Premade cheese ravioli and jarred marinara sauce get the “million-dollar” treatment in this low-effort casserole. Dinner will be on the table in about a third of the time needed by a classic lasagna.

  • Sheet Pan Salmon Dinner with Feta Sauce

    Overhead view of a sheet pan of salmon, vegetables and feta sauce with a bowl of sauce with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “Another great thing about this recipe is its versatility when it comes to the veggies. Instead of using Broccolini, you could go with broccoli florets, green beans, asparagus, or even zucchini. Grape tomatoes can be used instead of cherry tomatoes, but if you happen to have regular tomatoes lying around, go with those.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Chicken Pot Pie

    Homemade Chicken Pot Pie with a golden crust has a serving removed and set on a white plate to the right.
    Marta Rivera

    “Rotisserie chicken, frozen vegetables, and store-bought puff pastry save you time in this easy take on the comfort food classic.” —Marta Rivera, Recipe Developer

  • Roasted Spanish-Style Cod with Chorizo and Chickpeas

    Baked cod with chickpeas tomato sauce and chorizo

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “I have made my own version of this dish countless times since my first experience with it. It’s ready in just half an hour, a breeze to make, and it’s a one-pan meal that tastes like a fancy European vacation. What more could you ask for?” —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

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  • Sheet Pan Chicken with Potatoes and Broccoli

    Sheet Pan Chicken with Broccoli and Potatoes
    Sheryl Julian, Sabrina Modelle, and Elise Bauer

    “Sheet pan chicken with roasted potatoes and broccoli! Everything cooks together on one baking sheet—so easy. Use chicken thighs for tender, juicy results every time.” —Sabrina Modelle, Recipe Developer

  • No Peek Chicken

    no-peek chicken in a casserole dish at a table setting with two glasses and a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    “You only need five minutes to prep this creamy, satisfying one-dish chicken-and-rice meal. Quick-cooking rice ensures the grains stay tender without the chicken breasts overcooking, and you can customize with frozen or fresh vegetables and swap the recipe’s canned soups for different flavors.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Golden Chicken Tortellini Soup

    A pot of chicken tortellini soup with vegetables with a ladle scooping a serving

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “There are a few ways you could make this easy recipe even easier. Lots of grocery stores sell diced carrots, onion, and celery during the colder months. This aromatic veggie combo, called mirepoix, is the base of tons of great soup recipes. If you can find these ingredients already chopped up and packaged in your local grocery store, you can cut down on prep time.” —Checka Ciammaichelli, Recipe Developer

  • Lentil Shepherd's Pie

    Overhead shot of lentil shepherd's pie in a skillet, with a serving spoon having scooped a serving of the dish out on a plate to the right of the skillet

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

    “I love recipes that use clever shortcuts to get a fast, cozy dinner on the table. This recipe uses not only one but two genius hacks to do just that and only needs five ingredients total. To make a super-speedy yet flavor-packed vegetarian shepherd’s pie, reach for a couple of cans of veggie lentil soup plus some prepackaged mashed potatoes, and you’re more than halfway there.” —Afton Cyrus, Senior Editor

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  • Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

    unstuffed cabbaged rolls in a large pan

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    “I love stuffed cabbage, but do not love how long it takes to make the real thing. This curbs the craving and saves me hours haha!” —Marianne W, Reader

  • One Pan Paprika Chicken with Potatoes and Tomatoes

    Paprika Chicken and Potatoes with Tomatoes horizontal in a baking dish
    Sally Vargas

    “Use this recipe as a template for whatever you have on hand! Here are a few good swaps: Swap the baby potatoes for any other kind of potato or sweet potato, cut into bite-sized chunks, and add any veggies you have on hand! Green beans, Brussels sprouts, or zucchini would all be good additions.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • No-Stir Pumpkin Risotto

    Bowl of risotto with herbs and a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    “While I sometimes make risotto the 'hard way,' I reserve it for special occasions. When I’m making dinner for just my family, I almost always use the oven method. It’s a dish everyone will happily eat, and it’s a fairly hands-off side that still feels special.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • Shortcut Sunday Sauce

    Bowls of spaghetti with red meat sauce served from a pot

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    Store-bought marinara and boneless country-style ribs come together to create a rich Sunday-style sauce that tastes like you’ve been working in the kitchen all day. Enjoy this two-ingredient sauce over pasta or silky polenta.

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  • Unstuffed Peppers

    spoonful of unstuffed pepper lifted from skillet with more

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    “While they’re cute to look at, stuffed peppers can be a bit of a hassle for your average hectic weeknight. That’s where unstuffed peppers come in. This recipe has all the flavors of classic stuffed peppers—ground beef, rice, tomato, and cheese—without the need to hollow out and pre-cook the whole peppers, stuff each cavity, and bake.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 5-Ingredient Pasta Bake

    5-ingredient pasta bake

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    “This pasta bake comes together with just five easy-to-find, budget-friendly ingredients. Swapping out meat for veggies or trying different cheeses lets you customize the dish every time.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

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