Holidays & Occasions Easter Easter Recipes 19 Easter Dinner Ideas That Go Way Beyond Ham By Jenna Sims Jenna Sims Jenna Sims is a Digital Editor for Southern Living and joined the team in 2014. She writes, produces, and ideates 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 September 26, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke 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 be as set on 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 turkey breast to crispy oven-fried chicken 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 hand, are looking for a more simple 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 19 Pork Crown Roast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Pork Crown Roast Not only will this roast serve as an impressive main dish, but it also doubles as a beautiful centerpiece. 02 of 19 Braised Lamb Shanks Hector Sanchez Recipe: Braised Lamb Shanks The best part about these lamb shanks is that they can be made ahead of time and warmed just before serving. 03 of 19 Citrus-Marinated Turkey Breast Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Citrus-Marinated Turkey Breast A citrus marinade gives turkey a bright flavor and the breast is easier to manage than a whole bird. 04 of 19 Baked Pork Tenderloin Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Pork Tenderloin To make sure the tenderloin remains juicy and moist, it's best to use a meat thermometer. 05 of 19 Roasted Leg of Lamb with Lemon-Herb Salt Hector Sanchez Recipe: Roasted Leg of Lamb with Lemon-Herb Salt Roasted beets, carrots, and sweet onions are the perfect mixture to accompany this lemon-herb lamb. 06 of 19 Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables We recommend serving with French bread for enjoying the pan sauce. 07 of 19 Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin The coating made from mustard and mayonnaise helps the breadcrumbs and herbs stick to the tenderloin while also sealing in the moisture. 08 of 19 Rack of Lamb with Carrot Salad Southern Living Recipe: Rack of Lamb with Carrot Salad This no-fuss recipe allows the flavor of the lamb to shine. 09 of 19 Garlic-Herb Roasted Chicken Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Garlic-Herb Roasted Chicken Roasted chicken is a foolproof main that is sure to please every guest. 10 of 19 Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits Your trusty slow cooker is the secret to tender and impressive lamb shanks that will be that star of Easter dinner. 11 of 19 Baked Chicken Roulade Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Baked Chicken Roulade 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. 12 of 19 Classic Beef Pot Roast Recipe: Classic Beef Pot Roast When family is gathered around the table, you can't go wrong serving a classic pot roast. 13 of 19 Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler Alison Miksch Recipe: Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler Casseroles are always a good idea and the best part about this comforting recipe is that the biscuits are already included. 14 of 19 Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg of Lamb Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg of Lamb To get the lamb tender on the inside you'll first cook it low and slow then increase the temperature for a crisp finish on the outside. 15 of 19 Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy This chicken gets its crispy finish from the oven, no frying required. 16 of 19 Slow-Cooker Pork Roast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Roast If you choose to cook vegetables along with your pork roast in your slow cooker, keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get overcooked before the veggies are done. 17 of 19 Crab-and-Bacon Linguine Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine Add a coastal flair to your meal with this decadent pasta recipe. 18 of 19 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin This pork tenderloin is easy, impressive, and requires just 10 minutes of prep time. 19 of 19 Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables A sheet pan will allow you to cook all of the salmon (and even some veggies) all at once. 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