60 Easter Side Dishes to Complete Your Holiday Dinner

By Southern Living Editors
Updated January 19, 2021
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Whether you’re serving ham or lamb (or something else entirely!), round out your holiday menu with a handful of our easy yet elegant Easter side dishes. A Southern-style Easter feast calls for bright and fresh ingredients inspired by the season. From fresh berries to asparagus and carrots, these menu options were crafted in celebration of the flavor and bounty spring brings each year. And, of course, you can't forget a family-favorite: the homemade dinner roll. It wouldn't be a holiday supper without them. Choose a creamy macaroni and cheese, stick to a traditional pineapple casserole, or plate a dish of party-ready deviled eggs. No matter which recipes you choose, we're sure these Easter side dishes will be the tasty tribute to the season your whole family will enjoy. 

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Grilled Asparagus with Bacon and Mushrooms

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Grilled Asparagus with Bacon and Mushrooms

Has any recipe ever tasted worse because you added bacon? We think not.

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

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

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Classic Deviled Eggs

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Best Deviled Eggs

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

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Salad

Credit: 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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Country Ham Hash

Credit: 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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Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Tangy goat cheese makes for a fun twist on classic mashed potatoes.

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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Credit: 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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Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: 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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Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles

Credit: 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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Roasted Baby Turnips with Turnip Green Pesto

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

Recipe: Roasted Baby Turnips with Turnip Green Pesto

This fun recipe is a totally new way to enjoy turnip greens.

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Tarragon Chicken Salad

Credit: 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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Roasted Beets, Carrots, and Sweet Onions

Credit: 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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Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling 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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Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Recipe: Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

If you’ve got family members on low-carb diets, this creamy dish is the perfect way to satisfy their carb cravings on Easter.

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Pineapple Casserole

Credit: 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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Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Credit: 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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Tee’s Corn Pudding

Credit: 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

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

Credit: 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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Potato Hash

Credit: 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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Cheesy Grits Soufflé

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Grits Soufflé

Cheese grits always have a place on our table.

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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Cheesy and creamy potatoes pair deliciously with your Easter ham.

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Potato-Bacon Hash

Credit: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Potato-Bacon Hash

You only need a handful of ingredients to throw together a colorful hash that’s perfect for Easter brunch.

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Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Credit: 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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Garden Potato Salad

Credit: 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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Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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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Fresh Fruit Salad

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

No brunch table is complete without a bowl of fresh fruit.

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