23 Make-Ahead Recipes For Easter Brunch

Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mini Quiches
Photo:

Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

After church service is done and all the Easter eggs have been found, gather the family for a crowd-pleasing meal that's already ready to serve. These make-ahead Easter brunch recipes can be made or prepped in advance so you can sit down to eat before the kids start unwrapping the chocolate bunnies. We've included dishes for the entire feast, from ham, to side salads, to desserts. Best of all, most of these recipes can be served buffet-style so everyone can help themselves—and you can enjoy the day.

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Glazed Spiral-Cut Holiday Ham

Glazed Spiral-Cut Holiday Ham

Make this ham one to two days in advance, and store it in the refrigerator before serving—it's delicious served cold or reheated. Choose from three glaze options: Pineapple Prosecco, Cola-Dijon-Brown Sugar, or Coffee and Pepper Jelly. Or you can omit the glaze if you like.

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Ham Biscuits

Buttermilk Biscuits with Ham
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

For a more casual Easter main dish, layer slices of ham inside these pillowy soft biscuits. Set out a dish of your favorite spread or our Creole Mayonnaise so everyone can use as much as they like.

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Eggs Benedict Casserole

Eggs Benedict Casserole
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Guests will be impressed to see eggs benedict on the menu. This casserole version allows you to prep in advance. The blender hollandaise comes together quickly on Easter morning.

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Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs

Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

No Easter spread is complete without deviled eggs. These bright beauties will rival eggs from the backyard egg hunt. Their vibrant pink color comes from pickling in a beet juice mixture overnight.

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Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits

Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

What’s better than sausage and gravy? Make-ahead sausage and gravy that you can cook, freeze, and bake when you need it. This will feed—and please—a crowd.

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Potatoes Patio

Potatoes Patio
Iain Bagwell

This rich and comforting potato casserole is delicious eaten on a patio—or dining room, or kitchen, or anywhere, really. Make it the night before, let it come to room temperature, then store it in the refrigerator. Reheat before serving.

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Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Combine two favorite side dishes—green beans and potato salad—into one tasty and pretty side dish. Prepare all of the ingredients in advance, then dress the salad just before serving, either chilled or at room temperature.

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Bird's Nest Cookies

Bird's Nest Cookies
Joy Howard

These charming spring treats are so easy to make, how could you not add them to your Easter menu? Perfect for a dessert tray or to top a cake, these little nests will delight everyone at your gathering. These are fun to make in advance with your family’s help.

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Strawberry-Spinach Salad

Strawberry-Spinach Salad with Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Make the most of juicy spring strawberries with this light and lovely salad. Pungent blue cheese works well with mild spinach and sweet berries, but you can also use crumbled feta or goat cheese.

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Mini Quiche with Asparagus and Goat Cheese

Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mini Quiches
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Get a jumpstart on your Easter brunch by making these mini quiches up to two days ahead. To serve, let the quiches come to room temperature. You can also make one 9-inch quiche instead of individual servings.

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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls
Laurey W. Glenn

Perfect for making ahead, this recipe needs 8 hours of chill time. Make it ahead and keep in the refrigerator until ready to rise and bake, or complete the recipe through baking and store in an air-tight container until brunch. Form the dough into a variety of shapes.

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Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles

Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Individual ramekins add a special touch to Easter brunch. Make these mini casseroles the day before so all that’s required on Easter is popping them in the oven.

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Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole

Cheesy Sausage and Croissant Casserole
Alison Miksch

Make this casserole the night before so the croissants can soak up the creamy base. Use mild sausage instead of hot sausage for less heat. Worthy of Easter brunch or company, you’ll put this one in your weekend brunch rotation.

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Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole

Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole
Alison Miksch

Breakfast favorites combine in one glorious casserole—grits, sausage, and Cheddar cheese. Because you can make this earlier in the week, it’s a no-brainer for a full brunch buffet. 

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Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake

Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake
Hector Manuel Sanchez

This grits casserole is a simplified soufflé. Loaded with corn, ham, and Cheddar cheese, it puffs as it bakes. It’s a satisfying brunch dish that can be made ahead and baked the day of.

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Hash Brown Patties

Hash Brown Patties
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Prissy Lee

Whipping up hash browns for a crowd can be a daunting task, but it can be done in advance. Make the patties as directed, then freeze them. To serve, simply rewarm in the oven.

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Asparagus with Eggs and Prosciutto

Asparagus with Eggs and Prosciutto
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

This elegant one-pan dish can be prepped ahead of time and assembled the day of your brunch. Make the vinaigrette, soft-boil the eggs, and blanch the asparagus the day before.

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Waffle Casserole

Waffle Casserole
Micah A. Leal

With all of the salads, sausage, and sides on the Easter brunch menu, this sweet casserole will be a welcome change. Familiar waffles are baked in a maple-bourbon custard. This sits overnight for baking the next day.

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Overnight French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup

How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup

French toast casserole is a go-to make-ahead brunch recipe since it needs to chill overnight. This version uses thick baguette slices to soak up a custard flavored with cinnamon and orange. Bourbon brings out a caramel flavor in the maple syrup, but you can omit it if you prefer.

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Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Antonis Achilleos

This cinnamon roll is big enough to share. Make this decadent casserole the night before, and bake it the next day. For a new flavor twist, try the Orange-Apricot variation.

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Big-Batch Bloody Marys

Big Batch Bloody Marys
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Serve bloody Marys at Easter brunch without the work of making individual cocktails. This big batch lets you do the work ahead of time, and guests can help themselves to the trimmings they like. Set out ice and a variety of garnishes, and enjoy these cocktails along with your guests.

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Easter Punch

Easter Punch
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Get out the punch bowl for a delightful fruity punch that’s perfect for an Easter brunch. Grapefruit juice and strawberry lemonade blend for just the right amount of sweet-tart taste. Top with rosé and fresh fruit.

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Champagne Punch

Champagne Punch
Hector Sanchez

This champagne punch is a smart match for a special Easter meal. No one will guess how easy it is to pull together, with just four ingredients. Set out fruit juices and garnishes of fresh fruit and mint so guests can customize their drinks.

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