'Blue Bloods,' Wahlburgers team for cooking series pegged to CBS show's iconic Sunday dinners

As the CBS police-family drama "Blue Bloods" heads into the second half of its final season, its iconic Sunday-dinner scenes have inspired an official weekly online cooking series — hosted by chef Paul Wahlberg, brother of star Donnie Wahlberg — keyed to each such meal in the show's eight remaining episodes. "Blue Bloods" returns Oct. 18 at 10 p.m.

"For the past 14 seasons, the Reagan family has welcomed viewers into their home for these iconic Sunday family dinners," said Paul Wahlberg, 60, in a video posted Tuesday, referring to the weekly gatherings at the home of second-generation NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). 

"These meals are more than just about food," added Wahlberg, co-owner, with his singer-actor brothers Donnie and Mark, of the Wahlburgers restaurant franchise, which includes a Roosevelt Field location. "They're about spending time with your family and friends, sharing laughs [and] stories or having tough conversations, but never forgetting the bonds that keep us all strong."

The web series, running on the Wahlburgers and "Blue Bloods" Instagram accounts, the show’s YouTube channel and elsewhere, premieres Monday with an instructional video and written recipes based on the fall premiere’s dinner: roast beef, roasted potatoes, green beans and carrots.

CBS executive Mike Benson in a statement said the "multigenerational Reagan family dinners are, by all accounts, the heart of every episode — and these Sunday meals have really resonated with the shows’ devoted fans through the years. ... For the first time, fans — and anyone who loves cooking — can get a preview of the Reagans’ meal to cook for a gathering or possibly eat as their own home-cooked ‘TV dinner’ while watching the episode."

Paul Wahlberg in the video said he would offer not only recipes and cooking tips but also "stories behind these meals that highlight the importance of family traditions and the joy of gathering around the dinner table."

"Blue Bloods," which in addition to Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg includes Will Estes, Bridget Moynahan and Will Hochman as family members in the NYPD and the district attorney’s office, and Len Cariou as Frank Reagan’s retired commissioner father, was renewed for a 14th season in March 2023. CBS then announced in November  that despite remaining a ratings hit, the series was ending. Split into two parts, the final season aired its first half from Feb. 16 to May 17. 

Parts of "Blue Bloods" may continue, said Brian Robbins, co-CEO of CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, this June, stating that "new franchise extensions are coming for ‘Dexter,’ ‘Billions’ and ‘Blue Bloods.’ " He did not specify if this meant a "Blue Bloods" spinoff series, TV-movie franchise or some other form, or whether it would be a prequel or a sequel. Robbins has not publicly commented on the possibility since.