Our 12 Best Beef Dinner Recipes to Make for Sunday Evenings

These dishes simmer or bake slowly over the course of the day.

pressure cooker pot roast with dates olives and orange blue white serving tray
Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Many of us see Sunday dinners as an opportunity to make a meal that takes more time to cook than you can spare on a weeknight. One perfect example? A delicious beef dinner. Luckily, we have plenty of ideas that are well-suited to weekend cooking: They're perfect for lazy afternoons and include a mix of recipes that simmer slowly on the stovetop, braise in the oven, or use the pressure cooker to tenderize tougher cuts of beef. Short on time but still want a delicious beef dinner? We even have a few that come together quickly.

Whether you prefer to go the familiar route with a traditional stew, a meatloaf from our test kitchen team, or put a twist on an all-around favorite like meatballs, our best beef dinner ideas will ensure you're able to satisfy everyone's cravings for a warming, comforting meal come Sunday evening.

01 of 12

Classic Beef Stew

Classic Beef Stew recipe
Credit: Con Poulos

Aromatic and satisfying, classic beef stew hits home on cold nights. In our recipe, seared meat simmers with tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dry red wine, and fire-roasted tomatoes, which bring subtle smokiness. Beef chuck is our choice cut for this recipe because of its marbling; the fat imbues the broth with a buttery taste as it melts.

02 of 12

Miso-Tomato Braised Short Ribs

miso-tomato braised short ribs plated with pomegranate
Credit: Yuki Sugiura

Bone-in beef short ribs are rubbed with miso and left to marinate overnight. They are then braised in a wine- and tomato-based sauce, with shallots, fennel, celery, and spices for a lusciously tender main that is sure to please all dinner guests.

03 of 12

Test Kitchen's Favorite All-Beef Meatloaf

two plates of meatloaf potatoes and broccolini
Credit: Lennart Weibull

We bake this all-beef meatloaf on a sheet pan rather than in a loaf pan because that produces more crusty, ketchup-glazed crust that we all love. Another bonus? Baking the meatloaf on a sheet pan speeds up cooking.

04 of 12

Grandma's Bolognese

grandma's bolognese
Credit: The Ingalls

Ground beef and ground pork are the key to sauce like Grandma used to make. This old-school recipe gets further richness from pancetta, porcini mushrooms, and a touch of heavy cream; everything cooks slowly on the stovetop.

05 of 12

Pressure-Cooker Pot Roast

pressure cooker pot roast with dates olives and orange blue white serving tray
Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Boneless beef chuck roast becomes meltingly tender in just 90 minutes when you use a pressure cooker or multi-cooker. This recipe enhances the meat with dates, olives, and oranges.

06 of 12

Beef-Zucchini Meatballs

bowls of spaghetti squash and zucchini noodles with zucchini meatballs
Credit: Kate Mathis

Beef, zucchini, and cooked quinoa (or millet) come together quickly to make ultra-tender and healthier meatballs; they're the perfect topping to spaghetti or a vegetable noodle.

07 of 12

Lasagna With Meat Sauce

ultimate lasagna slice on plate with fork
Credit: Justin Walker

Lasagna lovers, rejoice! You'll love this test-kitchen approved recipe that uses no-boil noodles to streamline prep and a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage for a flavor-packed meat layer, plus the trio of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmigiano for a rich cheesy layer.

08 of 12

Slow-Cooker Brisket and Onions

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We use first cut of brisket for this family favorite. It cooks in a slow cooker—alongside onions and garlic—in chicken stock for six hours until juicy and tender.

09 of 12

Beef Stroganoff Stir-Fry

beef stroganoff stir-fry
Credit: Romulo Yanes

Here's a delicious riff on the classic stroganoff. Using a stir fry-like technique makes this dish quicker but just as tasty.

10 of 12

Slow-Cooker Ropa Vieja

slow cooker root ropa vieja
Credit: Stephen Kent Johnson

Flank steak is the star of this low-and-slow cooked take on the favorite Cuban beef dish. Our recipe calls for browning the meat before adding to the slow cooker; it's an extra step that's worth it for the depth of flavor it adds.

11 of 12

Cheddar, Beef, and Potato Casserole

cheddar beef and potato casserole
Credit: Chris Simpson

Who doesn't love a hearty casserole? This crowd-pleaser combines ground beef with hash browns, onions, mushrooms, frozen mixed vegetables, and plenty of cheddar cheese. It takes about 45 minutes in the oven, which means dinner is on the table before you know it.

12 of 12

Beef Barley Soup

Beef Barley Soup
Credit:

Jake Sternquist

Simmer this beef and barley soup on your stovetop to bring the ultimate comfort food to your Sunday dinner.

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