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A big family meal doesn't need to take all day! With my tried and tested list of Make Ahead Sunday Family Dinner Ideas, sharing Sunday supper with your family can be the easiest meal of the week. No need to drag out the skillet or clean up pots and pans. These dishes are ready to heat and serve!
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Make Ahead Dinner Ideas
If you know anything about me, you know the most important thing to me is family time. I earnestly believe sharing a meal with your loved ones is one of the most meaningful things you can do. Whether you're sitting around the table together or enjoying a long-distance meal over a video call, family meal time is a tradition that brings everyone closer together.
I've shared my favorite Sunday suppers with you online for more than 12 years, including classics like my popular and beloved beef pot roast recipe. But, as a mother of four and a grandmother to two, I know how busy life can get. That's why I put together this list of easy make ahead family dinners!
Why make Sunday dinners ahead?
Sharing dinner together around the family table is truly a magical experience. My family and I have been enjoying family dinner together as much as possible since my kids were growing up, and now that our dinners together as a family are more rare as an empty-nester, I value them even more.
When my kids were in school and involved in all sorts of extracurricular events, I relied on make-ahead meals like my pot roast recipes, lasagna, and meatballs. Make-ahead dinners make all the difference in the world for ensuring you have dinner on the table even on the busiest, most exhausting days. And it's much easier to get started making dinner ahead of time than you might think!
Make Ahead Casserole Recipes
Casserole is a fantastic choice for a make ahead family dinner! I love preparing a big, warm, delicious casserole ahead of time so we can feast without the fuss. If you're looking easy family dinner ideas, I can't recommend casserole enough! Noodles cook up and freeze beautifully, making for easy meal prep you can freeze after preparing for baking right before dinner.
Make Ahead Soups for Dinner
If you've seen my list of all the best soups for freezing, you know I love having the freezer stocked with soup so dinner is never more than a quick defrost away! These hearty and super filling soups are perfect easy family supper ideas both for how quickly they come together, and how well their flavors develop by making them ahead. Trust me- make ahead soup tastes even better!
Looking for an even bulkier and more filling soup? Add in sausage, rice, ground beef, or shredded roasted chicken for a protein-packed meal. Plus, you can easily hide veggies like spinach, broccoli and peppers!
Make Ahead Roasts for Dinner
One of the great things about roasts is that for many of them, especially those roasts that shred into soft melt-in-your-mouth meat, you can make them ahead of time and freeze or store them for later. Then just pop them in the oven or microwave to get everything heated up again, and serve! I recommend serving them with an easy-to-reheat side like creamy mashed potatoes or candied carrots. Or, spice the meat up for carnitas or barbacoa, and make it a Taco Sunday! Who says you can't?
Family-Friendly Weekday Meals
Sunday Dinner Expert Tips
- Make extra big servings to start your week off with plenty of leftovers! Nothing makes a tough Monday better than heating up a big plate of leftovers for dinner.
- Many dishes, such as roasts and pasta, can be fully prepared ahead of time and frozen.
- Leftovers from dinner can be remixed into all sorts of meals for the rest of the week! I love using leftover pot roast in pot roast sandwiches!
- Don't forget a nice drink! Personally, I'm a huge fan of sparkling juice like sparkling grape juice or cider. It's a kid-friendly, delicious way to make even the fastest meal feel special.
FAQ
In my opinion, the easiest and most filling make ahead meals are casseroles, hearty soups, and shredded roast meat. Casseroles are essentially a whole dinner in one dish, and can be assembled ahead of time and cooked right before dinner. Soups benefit from tasting even better if they're made ahead!
Classically, a Sunday supper tends to include a roast meat such as chuck roast, mashed potatoes, and something to soak up all the gravy like fresh dinner rolls. But Sunday supper can be anything you want it to be! The important thing is eating with your loved ones, be it at the same table or over a video call.
Sunday Meal Magic
- Meal Prep Vegetables to make your weekday menu bursting with goodness!
- Last Minute Dinner Ideas for those days that just get away from you!
- Or check out my meal prep guides based on your protein of choice, like my recipes with leftover taco meat, pulled pork, or shredded chicken!
You all know how important Sunday dinner is to me. What memories do you have of sharing family meals? I would love to hear about your favorite Sunday dinner memories, or what meals you like to make the most!
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