75 Easter Dinner Ideas: Mains, Sides, And Desserts For The Holiday Feast
Get fresh recipe inspiration for every kind of Easter gathering.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
It's easy to find yourself boxed into making the same dishes for Easter every year. Even if you aren't sick of serving ham or lamb, you might want to mix up how you cook the centerpieces of the meal. Maybe a chicken is more appropriate for the size of your gatherings, especially if you don't want tons of leftovers. Perhaps it's the sides you need help with. These are our our favorite Easter dinner ideas, including carrots, glazed hams, cakes, and of course, plenty of casseroles
No matter the course or type of Easter feast, we have recipes for classic and new-school takes on all the staples. From casseroles to cakes, and everything in between, these are the Easter dinner recipes we reach for when entertaining.
Sweet Tea-Brined Ham With Lemon Glaze
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
We used sweet tea to make the ultimate Southern ham. Just make sure to use an unseasoned ham so you can fully enjoy the flavors of this recipe.
Corn Pudding Casserole
Courtney West
Corn pudding is easy to make, yet is still impressive enough to be on the menu for Easter dinner. Plus, you can assemble the casserole the day before and keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake.
Classic Coconut Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Your Easter dinner guests just may be tempted to eat dessert before the main meal when they see this decadent dessert sitting on the cake stand.
Classic Make-Ahead Macaroni And Cheese
What's better than homemade mac and cheese? One that you can make ahead of time to make preparing the Easter meal a little easier.
Pull-Apart Butter Roll Loaves
While we sometimes rely on store-bought rolls, Easter Sunday is an occasion that deserves a homemade bread. Don't skip the flaky sea salt and fresh rosemary which add flavor and create a pretty presentation.
Classic Deviled Eggs
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Of course it's not Easter without deviled eggs. You may even want to double this recipe.
Glazed Ham with Pineapple Chutney
If your go-to pizza order is Hawaiian, then this is the ham recipe for you. Even if it's not, this recipe will still impress.
Easy Bunny Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Some cakes with 'easy' in the title still end up being a huge undertaking, but not this cake. It's as straightforward as it is cute, and it's a great recipe to get the kids involved with.
Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce
A rosy-centered tenderloin is the perfect centerpiece to an Easter feast for those who don't eat or want ham.
Lemon Lush
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
The best part about this layered dessert is that no oven is required. It can also be assembled well in advance and then sliced when everyone is ready for dessert.
Asparagus Gratin
The ideal way to eat veggies is blanketed in cream and cheese. Although you could give any vegetable this decadent treatment, we think asparagus is the perfect seasonal choice.
Roasted Carrot Soup
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Warm up the dinner table for the main course by serving this carrot soup as an appetizer. Homemade croutons are the ideal finishing touch.
Slow-Cooker Green Beans
Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Let your trusty slow cooker handle the green beans so there's plenty of room in the oven for the ham and casseroles.
Best Carrot Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
We're pretty sure the Easter Bunny will be happy to see carrot cake on the menu.
Brown Sugar Bourbon-Glazed Ham
Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Though this recipe starts with a cooked ham, a decadent homemade glaze will transform it into a delicious Easter centerpiece. Basting throughout the cook time will ensure it stays tender and moist.
Resurrection Rolls
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
The sweetest part of these rolls isn't the taste. It's the fact that the represent the true meaning of Easter.
Carrot Cake Bars
If you want to serve carrot cake on Easter Sunday but don't have the time to commit to a layer cake, these bars will deliver the same great flavors.
Pineapple Casserole
Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
The uniquely Southern combination of canned pineapple chunks, Cheddar cheese, and crispy Ritz crackers will always have a spot on our Easter dinner lineup.
Slow-Cooker Ham
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
Don't monopolize oven space with a ham. Use our slow-cooker method and free up the oven for all sorts of sides and desserts.
Carrot Soufflé
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Everyone will love eating their carrots on Easter Sunday when you serve them up in soufflé form.
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
This twist on the flavors of the classic pie is an impressive way to finish Easter dinner.
Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs
This refined looking side couldn't be easier to put together. Double the delicious breadcrumb mixture to use on top of pasta or casseroles later in the week.
Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits
Instead of a leg of lamb, try serving braised lamb shanks this year. Served over cheesy grits, all you need is a green side salad to complete the meal.
Romaine Salad With Oranges And Radishes
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Every holiday table needs something green, and this crunchy romaine salad with juicy orange segments is as colorful as it is flavorful.
Potato-And-Rutabaga Gratin
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
For a healthier take on the classic cheesy side, we use rutabagas as well as potatoes and lean on nutty Gruyére cheese for added flavor.
Easter Egg Lemon Cake With Whipped Cream Topping
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones
Everyone will be hunting for a second slice of this Easter egg sheet cake after dinner.
Grilled Lamb Chops with Green Garlic Chimichurri
Instead of slow roasting a ham, try these grilled lamb chops, which make just as delicious a main dish in half the time.
Shepherd's Pie Recipe
The base of this dish must be lamb in order to be called Shepherd's Pie, but that's perfect for an Easter feast.
Hummingbird Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
There isn't an occasion in the South that a Hummingbird Cake isn't welcome to.
Lemon Roast Chicken With Rainbow Carrots
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
A spring chicken for Easter? Sounds great to us.
Ginger Carrots
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Orange juice, ginger, and butter make these carrot coins a great zesty side for ham, lamb, and chicken.
Roasted Lamb With Fresh-Herb Sauce
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
The herb-and-garlic mixture in this lamb recipe doubles as a marinade and serving sauce. With just the right amount of lemon, it’s a tangy, herby punch of flavor that balances the rich roasted lamb.
Chicken-And-Rice Bake With Broccolini
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
A comforting casserole is welcomed on any holiday, and this quick chicken and rice bake happens to be as easy as it is cozy.
Prime Rib With Horseradish Dipping Sauce
Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Swap lamb for beef this Easter with a prime rib roast that is bound to impress all your relatives.
Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds
Snap peas with added crunch from buttery almonds? Sign us up.
Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw
Like colorful confetti, this salad is the festive addition to the Easter table you need.
Maple-Bourbon Glazed Ham
Maple and bourbon are a perfect flavor pairing, especially when used to glaze ham.
Baked Pork Tenderloin
If you want to serve pork, but not a ham, try a pork tenderloin. This cut is not only less expensive, but cooks up in no time.
Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey
The orange hues of this salad are a colorful way to brighten up Easter dinner.
Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
Every Easter dinner needs a straightforward vegetable side with bacon and this recipe is exactly that.
Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli
Salty Parmesan, spicy baby arugula leaves, and creamy white beans combine to form a hearty salad perfect for vegetarian guests or carnivores craving greens.
Mac And Cheese With Ham
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
Don't limit ham to the main dish; throw it into a classic side too!
Lemon Tiramisu
Try this spring version of the classic Italian dessert. This version may not contain coffee, but it's packed with zingy lemon flavor.
Deep-Dish Ham Pot Pie
Pot pies don't always have to be chicken. Even if you don't want to serve this for Easter dinner, save the recipe for ham leftovers later in the week.
Scalloped Potatoes With Ham
You can't go wrong with cheesy scalloped potatoes. With added ham, they're even more delicious, if that's possible.
Hot Cross Buns
Molly Bolton
It wouldn't be Easter without Hot Cross Buns, whether you serve them with dinner or as dessert.
Strawberry Patch Cake
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones
Freeze-dried strawberries lend the frosting its vibrant pink hue and sweet strawberry flavor.
Carrot Cake With Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones
Easier to assemble than a layer cake, this carrot cake is an adorable way to serve the Easter classic without the hassle.
Old-School Squash Casserole
This classic casserole is the most searched for in the South and for good reason. Filled with butter and cheese-smothered squash, it's an assured crowd-pleaser.
Easter Egg Cake
Robins egg blue might be our favorite cake color of all time. Topped with candy eggs and a coconut nest, this cake is almost too pretty eat. Almost.
Strawberry Pound Cake
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
We all love a classic pound cake, but the addition of fresh strawberries throughout this recipe make it extra festive for spring celebrations.
Chocolate Chick Cake
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones
Spring desserts are often filled with rhubarb, lemon, and strawberries, but this cake appeals to the chocolate lovers attending Easter this year.
Sumac Carrots with Feta Mousse and Crispy Panko
These are not your Grandma's carrots, but we promise one-bite is all you'll need to convince her of how delicious they are.
Potato Salad with Dijon and Scallions
This potluck classic is wonderful served with ham or lamb. It's also a great recipe for those who like to plan ahead as the dressing can be made up to one week in advance.
Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie Recipe
Turn your favorite salad into a memorable dessert. Top with fresh strawberries and lots of whipped cream for a sweet finish to Easter festivities.
Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad
This salad has it all: crunch from the radishes, tang from the citrus, and creamy richness from the avocados.
Slow-Cooker Pork Roast
Break out the slow-cooker and relax, this recipe practically cooks itself.
Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake
The iconic upside-down cake gets a spicy ginger makeover. Don't worry, it's still as tender and gooey as ever.
Sautéed Radishes with Bacon
Radishes are crisp and a little spicy, making them a perfect pair for smoky and fatty bacon.
Parker House Rolls
While store-bought rolls are fine, they can't compare to homemade. Especially when eaten warm straight out of the oven.
Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas
We replace thinly sliced potatoes with gnocchi in this gratin. The result? A cheesy side that tastes like macaroni and cheese and scalloped potatoes had a baby.
Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob
You don't need to fire up the grill to serve perfect corn on the cob this Easter.
Easter Birds' Nest Coconut Cupcakes
This coconut cupcake recipe is lighter and more tender than a boxed mix, and is enriched with extra coconut flavor thanks to the coconut milk in the batter.
Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs
This spin on a Caesar salad uses Greek yogurt to lighten up the dressing; and you'll need at least one lighter side to balance Easter dinner out.
Watergate Salad
Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Every Easter meal needs one nostalgic side, so may we suggest this Jell-O salad? The maraschino cherry on top helps pull together the fluffy, simple dessert.
Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad
Chicken and rice are Southern staples, so why not serve them together in a salad as one of your many Easter sides? Lots of tender herbs and a bright lemon dressing give the salad plenty of vivid colors and a fresh taste.
Chocolate Poke Cake
Stacy Allen, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke, Food Stylist: Jen Riley
Store-bought shortcuts like cake mix and instant pudding make this dessert easy to whip together after a long day of cooking Easter mains and sides.
Lemon Granita
Here's a dessert for all the non-bakers out there. The frozen treat is easy to make, but still feels fancy.
Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad
Salad is a flexible term in the South and this is one of the salads that stretch the definition of the term. Nonetheless, it's a delicious addition to the Easter table.
Éclair Cake
Molly Bolton
This cake has all the flavor of the French pastry, but none of the technical skill required.
Ambrosia Trifle
Ambrosia doesn't have to be only for Christmas. Assembled into a trifle, it's a lovely way to end Easter with the family.
Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder
Pork shoulder doesn't always have to mean barbecue. Braised in apple cider, honey, and mustard, it becomes a meaty main perfect for Easter entertaining.
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
For a fancier potato side dish, give these slender potatoes a try. Roasting turns them crispy and tender. The butter-and-herb coating is all the flavor you need.
Glazed Spiral-Cut Ham
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford
One ham, three glazes. Pick the one that matches your meal's flavors, and use the fail-proof glaze ham recipe to turn it into a centerpiece.
Cheesecake Fruit Salad
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
A creamy way to enjoy this fresh, colorful side.
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