20 Grandma-Inspired Sunday Dinner Recipes That Taste Like Home
Bookmark these vintage recipes for your next family feast.
Some families remember Grandma's perfume. Others remember her seemingly bottomless candy dish. But a lot of us remember how Sunday dinner was a can't-miss event that basically took over the whole day. Her house would smell like onions softening in butter, something rich was bubbling in the oven, and there were always biscuits on the table. These Grandma-inspired Sunday dinner recipes are a little love letter to that feeling. They lean into slow cooking, second helpings, and the way Sunday used to run on a different clock than the rest of the week.
In this lineup, you'll spot all the heavy hitters from a proper old-school spread. There are big pans of beef that have been simmering since what feels like sunrise, creamy chicken casseroles that start with very normal pantry things, saucy pastas that would make any Italian matriarch proud, and a vintage dessert you could smell from the driveway. If you're hunting for the best grandma recipes or just need serious comfort food after a long week, you've come to the right place!
Use these ideas to build your own weekly family tradition. Choose a main dish, add a simple salad or cooked vegetable, warm some bread, and call it a Sunday dinner. Many of these dishes also make wonderful leftovers and some are easy to prep ahead, so you can share with neighbors, drop a meal with family, or just give your future self a little gift. One thing is for sure: Grandma would approve!
Perfect Pot Roast
This is the sort of pot roast that makes everyone wander into the kitchen asking what smells so good. A big chuck roast braises low and slow with carrots, onions, and plenty of rich gravy, so it lands on the table fork-tender.
Get Ree's Perfect Pot Roast recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken pot pie night always felt a little special—and this one brings that feeling right back! The creamy filling is loaded with chicken and vegetables under a flaky, golden crust that you can make from scratch or grab from the store.
Get Ree's Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
Sheet Pan Glazed Meatloaf
Here is meatloaf for people who like extra crusty edges and an irresponsible amount of glaze. It bakes on a sheet pan so the bacon and sauce get sticky and caramelized all over, not just on top.
Get Ree's Sheet Pan Glazed Meatloaf recipe.
Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is lasagna's low-maintenance cousin, which makes it perfect for a relaxed Sunday with a full house. This version packs in both beef and Italian sausage plus lots of sauce and cheese, so it comes out bubbly and extra saucy in a big casserole dish.
Get Ree's Baked Ziti recipe.
Chicken Fried Steak
Grandmas from all over have their own way of making chicken fried steak, but they would definitely approve of this one smothered in creamy white gravy. It means business... and you might want your stretchy pants ready!
Get Ree's Chicken Fried Steak recipe.
Buttermilk Biscuits
These buttermilk biscuits puff up so tall you almost need to introduce them to each other. The layers peel apart in soft, buttery sheets that are just begging for jam or honey or a swipe through leftover gravy.
Get the Buttermilk Biscuits recipe.
Chicken Noodle Casserole
If Grandma ever brought a bubbling casserole to a church supper, it probably looked a lot like this one! Wide egg noodles, tender chicken, veggies, and a creamy sauce all bake together under a buttery cracker topping that shatters when you scoop into it.
Get the Chicken Noodle Casserole recipe.
Beef Burgundy
Beef burgundy sounds fancy, but it is just really good stew with a little extra attitude. Beef simmers away with wine, onions, and mushrooms until the sauce turns silky and the meat is fall-apart soft. Spoon it over mashed potatoes or noodles.
Get Ree's Beef Burgundy recipe.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
A big pot of spaghetti and meatballs is practically a requirement for Sunday dinner at an Italian grandma's house—especially when the meatballs are homemade! The tomato sauce that coats every strand of pasta, just right for twirling and swiping with garlic bread.
Get Ree's Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe.
Roast Chicken
A whole roast chicken has "Sunday" written all over it! The bird roasts until the skin is bronzed and crackly and the meat stays juicy, and the pan drippings are just begging to be poured over rice or potatoes. Prepare for arguments over the best pieces!
Get Ree's Roast Chicken recipe.
Salisbury Steak
This vintage comfort food looks humble and tastes like a million bucks. The beef patties sear in a hot skillet, then they simmer in a deep brown onion gravy that soaks into mashed potatoes or egg noodles underneath.
Get the Salisbury Steak recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
This is chicken and dumplings for the days when you want flavor without putting in the long hours that Grandma did. The slow cooker does the work on the chicken and broth, and the dumplings puff up on top like little clouds at the end.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe.
Potatoes au Gratin
These potatoes are creamy, dreamy and just a little dramatic. Thin slices are baked in a rich sauce with plenty of cheese, and the top turns golden with little crispy spots around the edges you will absolutely fight over. Slide the dish next to any roast and watch it steal the show.
Get Ree's Potatoes au Gratin recipe.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This stew does its thing in the slow cooker all day, then shows up at dinnertime like a hero! Big chunks of beef, carrots, and potatoes swim in a thick, savory broth that warms you up from your socks on up.
Get the Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe.
My Favorite Meatloaf
This is not just any meatloaf, folks. It's the bacon-wrapped, sweet and tangy glazed meatloaf Ree loves to make for her whole family. The loaf stays juicy inside, the bacon crisps on top, and that ketchup and brown sugar sauce caramelizes in all the right spots.
Get Ree's Favorite Meatloaf recipe.
Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken spaghetti is casserole royalty in a lot of families (the Drummond's included!) and this one wears the crown proudly. Spaghetti, chicken, peppers, and a creamy, cheesy sauce all cozy up in one pan until they bake into a big, comforting tangle.
Get Ree's Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
Dreamy Apple Pie
This apple pie tastes like a classic from Grandma's recipe box, with a little extra richness thanks to heavy cream and a sweet pecan crumb topping. Granny Smith apples keep things nicely tart so every slice has a good balance of sweet and tangy. Serve it warm with ice cream!
Get Ree's Dreamy Apple Pie recipe.
Stuffed Tomatoes
Stuffed tomatoes might remind you of something Grandma would make when the garden was overflowing and she refused to waste a single one. Big tomatoes get packed with a savory sausage and bread mixture and just enough melty cheese on top.
Get the Stuffed Tomatoes recipe.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna noodle casserole lives in the same category as potluck salads and Jell-O molds: it's nostalgia in a dish. This one has the classic combo of egg noodles, tuna, peas, and a creamy sauce, then finishes with cheddar and crushed potato chips for a salty crunch on top.
Get the Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe.
Swiss Steak
Swiss steak is an old-fashioned, stick-to-your-ribs supper that never gets old. Tender pieces of beef are slowly cooked in a tomato gravy with onions and peppers until they practically melt into the sauce. Spoon it over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
Get Ree's Swiss Steak recipe.
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