Holidays & Occasions Easter Easter Recipes 65 Easter Dinner Ideas: Mains, Sides, And Desserts For The Holiday Feast Get fresh recipe inspiration for every kind of Easter gathering. By Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on March 30, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; 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 don't want tons of leftovers. Perhaps it's the sides you need help with. 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 recipes we reach for when entertaining. 01 of 65 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. 24 Easter Dinner Ideas That Go Way Beyond Ham 02 of 65 Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke 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. 03 of 65 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. 04 of 65 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. 05 of 65 Grilled Lamb Chops with Green Garlic Chimichurri Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Instead of slow roasting a ham, try these grilled lamb chops, which make just as delicious a main dish in half the time. 06 of 65 Shepherd's Pie Recipe Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke The base of this dish must be lamb in order to be called Shepherd's Pie, but that's perfect for an Easter feast. 07 of 65 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. 08 of 65 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. 09 of 65 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. 10 of 65 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. 11 of 65 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. 12 of 65 Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Snap peas with added crunch from buttery almonds? Sign us up. 13 of 65 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. 14 of 65 Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Like colorful confetti, this salad is the festive addition to the Easter table you need. 15 of 65 Maple-Bourbon Glazed Ham Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Maple and bourbon are a perfect flavor pairing, especially when used to glaze ham. 16 of 65 Baked Pork Tenderloin Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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. 17 of 65 Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey Iain Bagwell The orange hues of this salad are a colorful way to brighten up Easter dinner. 18 of 65 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Every Easter dinner needs a straightforward vegetable side with bacon and this recipe is exactly that. 19 of 65 Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Salty Parmesan, spicy baby arugula leaves, and creamy white beans combine to form a hearty salad perfect for vegetarian guests or carnivores craving greens. 20 of 65 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. 21 of 65 Glazed Ham with Pineapple Chutney Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If your go-to pizza order is Hawaiian, then this is the ham recipe for you. 22 of 65 Mac And Cheese With Ham Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine Don't limit ham to the main dish; throw it into a classic side too! 23 of 65 Lemon Tiramisu Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Try this spring version of the classic Italian dessert. This version may not contain coffee, but it's packed with zingy lemon flavor. 24 of 65 Deep-Dish Ham Pot Pie Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall 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. 25 of 65 Scalloped Potatoes With Ham Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You can't go wrong with cheesy scalloped potatoes. With added ham, they're even more delicious, if that's possible. 26 of 65 Sweet-Hot Plum-Glazed Ham Southern Living Plum preserves and red pepper flakes combine for a sweet and spicy glaze that's anything but boring. 27 of 65 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. 28 of 65 Hot Cross Buns Molly Bolton It wouldn't be Easter without Hot Cross Buns, whether you serve them with dinner or as dessert. 29 of 65 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. 30 of 65 Hummingbird Cake FRED HARDY II; FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROPS STYLIST: CHRISTINA BROCKMAN There isn't an occasion in the South that a Hummingbird Cake isn't welcome to. 31 of 65 The Ultimate Carrot Cake Recipe Alison Miksch We're pretty sure the Easter Bunny will be happy to see carrot cake on the menu. 32 of 65 Pineapple Casserole Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle,Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn The uniquely Southern combination of canned pineapple chunks, Cheddar cheese, and crispy Ritz crackers will always have a spot on our Easter dinner lineup. 33 of 65 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. 34 of 65 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. 35 of 65 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. 36 of 65 Easter Egg Cake Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck 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. 37 of 65 Old-School Squash Casserole Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman 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. 38 of 65 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. 39 of 65 Asparagus Gratin Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin 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. 40 of 65 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. 41 of 65 Sumac Carrots with Feta Mousse and Crispy Panko Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry 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. 42 of 65 Potato Salad with Dijon and Scallions Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This potluck classic is wonderful served with ham or lamb. It's also a great recipes for those who like to plan ahead as the dressing can be made up to one week in advance. 43 of 65 Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie Recipe JENNIFER DAVICK Turn your favorite salad into a memorable dessert. Top with fresh strawberries and lots of whipped cream for a sweet finish to Easter festivities. 44 of 65 Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox This salad has it all: crunch from the radishes, tang from the citrus, and creamy richness from the avocados. 45 of 65 Slow-Cooker Pork Roast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Break out the slow-cooker and relax, this recipe practically cooks itself. 46 of 65 Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake CREDIT: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: KAY E. CLARKE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL The iconic upside-down cake gets a spicy ginger makeover. Don't worry, it's still as tender and gooey as ever. 47 of 65 Sautéed Radishes with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Radishes are crisp and a little spicy, making them a perfect pair for smoky and fatty bacon. 48 of 65 Parker House Rolls Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman While store-bought rolls are fine, they can't compare to homemade. Especially when eaten warm straight out of the oven. 49 of 65 Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 50 of 65 Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob PHOTOGRAPHER: FRED HARDY II, FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL, PROPS STYLIST: CHRISTINA BROCKMAN You don't need to fire up the grill to serve perfect corn on the cob this Easter. 51 of 65 Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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. 52 of 65 Chocolate-Peanut Butter Eggs Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Combining chocolate and peanut butter is never a bad idea, especially when brought together to make this sweet Easter treat. 53 of 65 Easter Birds' Nest Coconut Cupcakes Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 54 of 65 Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis 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. 55 of 65 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. 56 of 65 Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely 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. 57 of 65 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. 58 of 65 Lemon Granita Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Here's a dessert for all the non-bakers out there. The frozen treat is easy to make, but still feels fancy. 59 of 65 Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 60 of 65 Éclair Cake Molly Bolton This cake has all the flavor of the French pastry, but none of the technical skill required. 61 of 65 Ambrosia Trifle Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Giulietta Pinna; Food Styling: Ali Ramee Ambrosia doesn't have to be only for Christmas. Assembled into a trifle, it's a lovely way to end Easter with the family. 62 of 65 Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder Alison Miksch 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. 63 of 65 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. 64 of 65 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. 65 of 65 Cheesecake Fruit Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox A creamy way to enjoy this fresh, colorful side. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit