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16 Sunday Dinner Ideas That Are Anything But Stressful

chicken thighs with couscous and Olives
chicken thighs with couscous and Olives

Antonis Achilleos

There's nothing like a cozy dinner with friends and family to soothe a case of the Sunday scaries, but nobody wants to spend the last moments of the weekend bogged down with dinner prep and dishes.

Lucky for you, we've rounded up 16 easy Sunday dinner ideas to prepare for you and your loved ones without leaving your kitchen a mess. There's something for everyone in here, from a cheesy pasta, to a sheet pan salmon dish and a tofu stir fry. The common thread? All 16 recipes are easy to whip up and execute, and won't leave you with a pile of pots, pans, and dishes to clean once the meal is over.

RELATED: 38 Essential, Easy Chicken Recipes for Every Night of the Week

Skillet Polenta in Creamy Tomato Sauce

Grab a tube of plain polenta at the store to make this inventive, comforting recipe—perfect for a chilly evening. Nestle polenta slices and white beans in a rich tomato sauce with Italian spices, and you've got a complete vegetarian meal.

Skillet Polenta in Tomato Sauce
Skillet Polenta in Tomato Sauce

Free-Form Enchilada Verde

Enchiladas are a great way to feed a crowd, and these free-form ones come together in a single baking dish—no mess involved. Filled with butternut squash, salsa, beans, and cheese, these enchiladas are hearty and packed with flavor.

Free-Form Enchilada Verde
Free-Form Enchilada Verde

Chicken Thighs with Couscous and Olives

This one-skillet meal comes together in no time, and the combination of crispy chicken skin and tender couscous is irresistible. Shower with fresh cilantro and pomegranate seeds to make each plate look like a party.

Chicken Thighs with Couscous and Olives
Chicken Thighs with Couscous and Olives

Peanut Butter Ramen

Made with peanut butter, soy sauce, chili sauce, and sesame oil, you're going to want to eat the sauce on its own! This recipe breathes new life into instant ramen noodles, and only takes a few minutes to prepare.

Peanut Butter Ramen Recipe
Peanut Butter Ramen Recipe

Mushroom White Pizza

The trick to pulling off pizza night without a big fuss? Store-bought dough! We love this elegant pizza, topped with ricotta, mushrooms, and fresh parsley.

Mushroom White Pizza
Mushroom White Pizza

Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

We're big fans of the slow cooker when it comes to entertaining; this recipe only requires 10 minutes of hands-on time and leaves you with a vibrant, party-ready soup. Set out some shredded cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce for your guests to dress up their bowls.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup
Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Quick Spring Lamb and Vegetable Stew

This freezer-friendly stew is hearty and rich--exactly what you want to tuck into after a long day. Plus, it only uses one pot! Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving for a little brightness.

RELATED: 20 Simple, Healthy Soup Recipes for Every Season

Easy Supper Ideas: Quick Spring Lamb and Vegetable Stew
Easy Supper Ideas: Quick Spring Lamb and Vegetable Stew

Shrimp Lo Mein

This untraditional lo mein incorporates a whole assortment of veggies, including shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and bell pepper. From start to finish, this noodle dish takes only 25 minutes to prepare.

Shrimp Lo Mein
Shrimp Lo Mein

Summer Nachos

You may not think of nachos as health food, but these vegetarian nachos are covered in good-for-you ingredients: corn, red cabbage, and zucchini, to name a few. This recipe only uses a bowl, a sheet pan, and a blender or food processor to whip up a creamy avocado-yogurt sauce that's well worth the extra dirty dish.

Summer Nachos
Summer Nachos

Cheesy Pasta With Sausage and Brussels Sprouts

Something feels so right about a big baked pasta for Sunday dinner. This one includes bites of sweet Italian pork sausage and charred Brussels sprouts, all coated with a Worcestershire-spiked cheese sauce. It's decadent, comforting, and easy to scale up to feed a big group.

Cheesy Pasta With Sausage and Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Cheesy Pasta With Sausage and Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Sheet Pan Salmon With Potatoes and Broccolini

Keep things simple with this nourishing weeknight meal. A quick vinaigrette with lemon, shallot, and mustard gets drizzled on top of the salmon and vegetables at the end for brightness and flavor.

Sheet Pan Salmon With Potatoes and Broccolini
Sheet Pan Salmon With Potatoes and Broccolini

Steak With Gnocchi and Green Beans

This easy steak recipe only calls for a few dishes and a handful of ingredients, and the gnocchi-green bean side comes together in just a few minutes. Serve with crusty bread to sop up every last bit.

steak-gnocchi-0419din
steak-gnocchi-0419din

Fettuccine With Asparagus, Leeks, and Mint

Perfect for a spring dinner, this lemony pasta is full of verdant, springy produce, which not only tastes delicious, but also looks beautiful on the plate. Shave some Parmesan and sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes on top for a little pizzazz.

Fettuccine With Asparagus, Leeks, and Mint
Fettuccine With Asparagus, Leeks, and Mint

Sweet-and-Sour Tofu

All you need is a large non-stick skillet to make this sticky, sweet-and-sour tofu, which has ketchup in the sauce for sweet tomato flavor. Throw some broccoli florets in the pan, and dinner is done!

RELATED: This Is the Secret to Cooking Perfectly Crispy Tofu Every Time

Sweet-and-Sour Tofu Recipe
Sweet-and-Sour Tofu Recipe

Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Filling and deeply satisfying, these chickpea-stuffed sweet potatoes are seasoned with cinnamon and cumin, and topped with a dollop of spiced yogurt. It's highly possible that you already have everything (or almost everything) you need to make this recipe already in your kitchen.

Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Lemony Fish With Orzotto

This recipe is a lesson in pan-searing fish until its skin is golden and crisp, with a supple, tender interior. Place the filets on top of creamy, lemony orzo "risotto," dotted with sweet peas and dinner is ready.

Lemony Fish and Orzotto
Lemony Fish and Orzotto