Holidays & Occasions Easter Easter Recipes 24 Easter Dinner Ideas That Go Way Beyond Ham These delicious alternatives are worthy of a spot on your spring holiday menu. By Jenna Sims Jenna Sims Jenna is a Digital Editor for Southern Living and joined the team in 2014. She writes, produces, and assigns content with a focus on email growth and commerce content. She covers a range of topics in the lifestyle space from holiday gift guides to new product launches to tips for cooking with your air fryer. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 20, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely While we know there are certain sides (we're looking at you, deviled eggs) and desserts that you would never consider leaving off of your Easter dinner menu, you may not feel quite so convicted about the main dish. If you want to serve Easter dinner without ham this year, there are plenty of delicious options that are worthy of being on your holiday menu. From marinated chicken breasts to a whole roasted duck to herb-crusted beef tenderloin and more, there are plenty of recipes you can serve for Easter dinner that don't include ham. Whether you've got some picky eaters on your hands, are looking for a simpler main dish, or just want to give the ham a break this year, you can't go wrong with any of these recipes for your Easter dinner—no ham required. 01 of 24 Pork Crown Roast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Not only will this roast serve as an impressive main dish, but it also doubles as a beautiful centerpiece. 02 of 24 Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg of Lamb Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall To get the lamb tender on the inside, you'll first cook it low and slow, and then increase the temperature for a crisp finish on the outside. 03 of 24 Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox We recommend serving with French bread for dipping and enjoying the pan sauce. 04 of 24 Baked Pork Tenderloin Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall To make sure the tenderloin remains juicy and moist, it's best to use a meat thermometer. 05 of 24 Herb Crusted Prime Rib Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer For the best flavor, rub your roast the night before with the oil, herbs, salt, and pepper, and then let it chill in the fridge until time to cook. 06 of 24 Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Your trusty slow cooker is the secret to tender and impressive lamb shanks that will be the star of Easter dinner. 07 of 24 Baked Chicken Roulade Photo: Jennifer Davick This chicken roulade recipe makes four servings, which means it's a great choice for small holiday gatherings but can also easily be doubled if you're expecting more guests for Easter dinner. 08 of 24 Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler Alison Miksch Casseroles are always a good idea, and the best part about this comforting recipe is that the biscuits are already included. 09 of 24 Roasted Lamb With Fresh-Herb Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely A celebratory occasion calls for a special main dish, but that doesn't mean it needs to be labor-intensive. With just 30 minutes of hands-on time, this roasted leg of lamb is sure to be the center of attention on the spring table. 10 of 24 Classic Beef Pot Roast When family is gathered around the table, you can't go wrong serving a classic pot roast. 11 of 24 Apricot Chicken Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Once you try this simple, sweet and savory chicken, it's sure to become more than a once-a-year-dish. 12 of 24 Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely The coating made from mustard and mayonnaise helps the breadcrumbs and herbs stick to the tenderloin while also sealing in the moisture. 13 of 24 Slow-Cooker Pork Roast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If you choose to cook vegetables along with your pork roast in your slow cooker, keep an eye on it to make sure the meet doesn't get overcooked before the veggies are done. 14 of 24 Grilled Lamb Chops with Green Garlic Chimichurri Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This company-worthy (in-laws included!) main dish is the easiest star-of-the-show you'll ever make. Ready in just 30 minutes, these flavorful lamb chops are ideal for Easter dinner. 15 of 24 Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos A sheet pan will allow you to cook all of the salmon (and even some veggies) at once. 16 of 24 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Beth Dreiling Hontzas This pork tenderloin is easy, impressive, and requires just 10 minutes of prep time. 17 of 24 Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy Hector Manuel Sanchez This chicken gets its crispy finish from the oven, no frying required. 18 of 24 Classic Roasted Duck with Orange-Bourbon-Molasses Glaze Southern Living Be sure to pat the duck dry with a paper towel to ensure a deliciously crispy skin. 19 of 24 Crab-and-Bacon Linguine Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Add a coastal flair to your meal with this decadent seafood pasta recipe. 20 of 24 Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce Alison Miksch For the most tender slices of tenderloin, use a meat thermometer to ensure you don't cook past 130°F in the center. 21 of 24 Broiled Lamb Chops Southern Living Keep your main dish easy with these no-fuss lamb chops. The simplicity lets the flavor of the lamb shine and pairs perfectly with all your favorite Easter side dishes. 22 of 24 Herb-Roasted Pork Loin Hector Sanchez Season the pork loin ahead of time and chill it uncovered to help form a crust. This will give your meat a beautiful deep, golden brown color while cooking. 23 of 24 Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Herb Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Make the holiday meal feel special without adding more time in the kitchen with this pan-seared flank steak dish that everyone will love. 24 of 24 Roast Chicken Brittany Conerly; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin This dish might have a short ingredient list, but it's not lacking on flavor. To make roast chicken feel a bit more special for your Easter meal, plate it on your favorite platter garnished with greens or roasted veggies. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit