60+ Favorite Easter Side Dishes to Complete Your Holiday Dinner

By Southern Living Editors
February 26, 2009
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Make these light and fresh side dishes to round out your perfect Easter meal. No Easter Sunday celebration is complete without an array of delicious spring side dishes. Whether you’re serving ham or lamb (or something else entirely!), round out your menu with our easy yet elegant Easter side dishes. A Southern-style Easter feast calls for bright and fresh ingredients inspired by the season, so we gathered our best sides for the occasion. Take your pick from dozens of Easter sides including creamy macaroni and cheese, green bean potato salad, fresh asparagus, cheese grits casseroles, and so much more.
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Potato Hash

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Potato Hash

"The potato hash reminds me of the classic hash browns Mom used to make for breakfast." - Chef John Hall

Potatoes, onions, and bell pepper make one delicious hash. The potatoes will start in the oven and finish cooking in a pan along with the other veggies. Don't skimp when it comes to mixing up our crème fraîche sauce—drizzle on top and serve on the side for one satisfying finish. Pair potato hash with our Braised Lamb shank.

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Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Baked pasta gets a spring spin with baby sweet peas and ham. We love the crunchy, savory topping made with croutons and Parmesan cheese.

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Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles

Whether you make these as individuals or in a big casserole dish, everyone will be asking for more.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Salad

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Salad

This is a beautiful recipe for the fresh rhubarb you find at the farmers' market.

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Neiman Marcus Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Neiman Marcus Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Cheddar cheese biscuits are the perfect addition to an Easter menu.

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Warm Asparagus, Radish, and New Potato Salad with Herb Dressing

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Warm Asparagus, Radish, and New Potato Salad with Herb Dressing

This tangy herb dressing can be made up to a week in advance for easy, day-of prep.

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Easy Three-Seed Pan Rolls

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Easy Three-Seed Pan Rolls

These rolls start with frozen bread dough but taste as if they're made from scratch—perfect for no-fuss entertaining. You'll get a spectacular look and big flavor while saving time.

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Classic Deviled Eggs

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Classic Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs never go out of style, and this recipe for Classic Deviled Eggs is one that every Southern cook should master.

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Garden Potato Salad

Photo: Helen Norman

Recipe: Garden Potato Salad

New potatoes are baby spring potatoes with beautifully thin skins. We love how red-skinned potatoes contrast with vibrant green peas and herbs, but you can use any kind of potato you like.

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Roasted Beets, Carrots, and Sweet Onions

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Roasted Beets, Carrots, and Sweet Onions

Springtime is the right time for finding sweet baby beets and carrots in the market. Look for small, firm beets and slender carrots with their bright, feathery greens still attached--a sign of freshness.

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Hot Potato Salad

Photo: Helen Norman

Recipe: Hot Potato Salad

Our Test Kitchen Director's grandmother, Jackie Freeman, has been making this genius recipe for decades. It's the perfect marriage of potato salad with a bubbly, cheesy gratin.

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Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Beth Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

This mouthwatering Easter side dish will satisfy lovers of crunchy pecans and cornflakes as well as marshmallows.

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Tarragon Chicken Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tarragon Chicken Salad

This creamy chicken salad pairs perfectly with the crunch of pecans, Granny Smith apples, red onions, and celery.

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Golden Macaroni and Cheese

Southern Living

Recipe: Golden Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese is a must-have at any traditional Southern family table. Try this 5-star version that has just 8 ingredients and is a snap to prepare.

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Pineapple Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Pineapple Casserole

If you’ve never had this quirky Southern casserole, don’t knock it until you try it.

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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

The best part about these tender rolls is in the name—you can make them ahead of time!

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Deviled Potatoes

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Deviled Potatoes

With individual servings, you know everyone will get the same amount instead of scooping their own serving size out of a casserole dish.

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

A variety of carrot colors makes for pretty presentation in this delicious side.

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Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

When there’s macaroni and cheese on the table, you know there’s one dish even the pickiest eaters will love.

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Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Southern Living

Recipe: Oven-Roasted Asparagus

It doesn’t get more simple than this 10-minute side dish you can throw together right before the meal.

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Country Ham Hash

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Country Ham Hash

If your family gathers at brunch, this hearty hash will be eaten right up.

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Tee’s Corn Pudding

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tee’s Corn Pudding

This is our most popular corn pudding recipe of all time, and for good reason.

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Shaved Carrot, Asparagus, and Apple Salad

Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke, Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Shaved Carrot, Asparagus, and Apple Salad

This pretty, colorful salad is a light and fresh addition to your Easter table.

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Cheesy Grits Soufflé

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Grits Soufflé

Cheese grits always have a place on our table.

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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Emily Hall

Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole

It wouldn’t be a holiday in the South without green bean casserole on the sideboard.

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Bitter Greens Salad with Lemon and Pecorino

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lauren Smith Ford; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Bitter Greens Salad with Lemon and Pecorino

In a hefty holiday lineup of cheesy casseroles and decadent main dishes, freshen up with a light green salad to start.

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Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Cheesy and creamy potatoes pair deliciously with your Easter ham.

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Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines

Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines

This fresh, seasonal take on finger sandwiches will look beautiful in your Easter lineup.

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Eating your veggies has never been easier than with this cheesy casserole.

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Radishes in Warm Herb Butter

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Radishes in Warm Herb Butter

A bright mix of three kinds of radishes makes for a gorgeous spring side.

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Resurrection Rolls

Southern Living

Recipe: Resurrection Rolls

These sweet rolls are a fun way for the kids to get involved with cooking this Easter.

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Grilled Asparagus with Bacon and Mushrooms