We used to have a big lunch on Sunday, with friends and relatives often joining in. Mom did all the cooking and dad and us 4 kids did all the cleaning. My parents wanted a quiet Sunday evening before the weekly bedlam started so this worked better for them.

This is such a motivating post! Growing up we didn’t have a big dinner but a special dinner (or what was considered special to my grandparents who experienced the Great Depression): roast chicken or roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and some sort of vegetable. Super simple but it made the day special. I used to do that but now Sunday dinner is just like any other. I had sort of forgotten we used to do this. I’m going to pick it back up. Fun.

I shop on Sundays, so it's fresh salmon, cous cous or pasta, and a vegetable. Takes 20 min to prepare. The kids complain, the adults like it. It's basically like every other meal of the week, but with salmon.

Sunday is usually our best dinner if the week. I do grocery shopping on Sundays so I can resupply and plan a nice meal. In the summer it often involves grilling...which does not mean it is not a big dinner.

Yes. Sundays are special for us as a family tradition and we make more or an effort than we do in day, a Friday night pizza. That said, it’s only a tradition and if circumstances necessitate, we adapt, and aren’t above a Sunday night pizza.

No, we don’t. We always had a Sunday Dinner growing up as well. Now sometimes we go out, sometimes we will grill or I’ll roast a chicken or whatever is weather appropriate. Sometimes we’re scattered and not even home. But if we do eat at home, it’s NEVER as “formal” as when I grew up.

Yes, and growing up my mom always did too. It’s not some huge elaborate event but it’s never just some thrown together quick meal.

We don't have a Sunday dinner tradition, we have a "when I feel like it" tradition. Occasionally dinner will be fancier and more recherche than the rest of time

No, we have sports all day. Sometimes 9-5 or so. We get take out of if it’s nice, go out.

Nope - especially in summer, we almost always grill on Sunday nights - it's easy and good and then we have a little extra meat for the week for lunches, salads, etc.

And we usually eat earlier than normal because we are tired and just want to get ready for the week.

I wouldn't say that Sunday dinner is big and fancy but I set the table, make something tasty and it's often one pot with simple salad (soup/chili/pasta or something grilled with salad) and there is usually dessert - sometimes homemade or sometimes just cookies from the bakery. I light candles. WE all sit down together -not hard at all and we all enjoy it. It's easy because I usually get some yummy stuff at the farmers market Saturday and we cook it up right away. My mom's sunday dinner was an all day event - she was cooking all day. I start cooking at 5 and kitchen is cleaned up by 6:30.

It seems like a big family dinner is or was a tradition for many families. By the time Sunday afternoom rolls around I’m spent from kid activities, errands, you name it. We usually end up having frozen burgers or chicken sandwiches and I feel guilty that I’m not trying harder.

Do you cook a big dinner on sundays? Or do you have any good hacks for easy dinners that are more thoughtful than frozen burgers?