40+ Easter Dinner Ideas

By Becky Hardin

Published Apr 6, 2019

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If you’re wondering what to make for Easter Dinner this year, I’ve got you covered with these easy recipes. I’m always looking for new ideas for Easter lunch or dinner, though I like to keep a few traditional dishes on the menu too. I’ve gathered a big list of Easter Sunday meal ideas, from juicy hams and other main dishes, all the way down to the salads and side dishes.

Recipes for Easter Dinner (or Lunch)

Easter Dinner is a big deal in our family. It’s one of the biggest holidays of the year, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a big feast! So start preparing for Easter Sunday now with some of these amazing recipes.

I love to gather friends and family around the table for a nice Easter meal with lots of delicious food. I start with a nice juicy ham, or maybe lamb every once in a while, and then I add tons of side dishes. I always make sure there’s plenty of food on the table, because it’s not a holiday without leftovers!

I’ve gathered some of my favorite easy Easter meal ideas to share with you. Whether you want to stick to a super traditional Easter dinner, serve a light Easter Sunday lunch, or mix things up with something different, you will surely find some recipes here to try out.

Easy Easter Dinner Menu

Create the perfect menu for Easter Sunday with these Easter dinner recipes! Make a delicious lunch or dinner by combining any of the recipes below that catch your eye. Pair any main dish with a few side dishes, and don’t forget a nice salad and some bread. Make a small meal for the family, or create a feast for extended family, friends, or any guests you have.

If you’re looking to cook just for two people, I highly recommend trying this Sheet Pan Easter Dinner with Ham or Sheet Pan Easter Dinner with Lamb. You get a traditional meal in just the right portions!

Easter Ham Recipes

Nothing says traditional Easter dinner like a beautiful Easter ham at the center of the table! I have recipes for all sorts of delicious glazes and easy cooking methods.

• Honey Glazed Ham: This copycat recipe will be the star of any Easter dinner! It makes the best baked ham, with the most deliciously sweet glaze.
• Pineapple Ham: A brown sugar glaze and crushed pineapple help to create caramelized slices of pork as the ham bakes in the oven.
• Honey Mustard Maple Ham: The sweet and tangy glaze turns a typical spiral ham into a stunning main dish.
• Air Fryer Cranberry Glazed Ham: The Air Fryer has become my new secret for making holiday meals. It’s the quickest and easiest way to make a tasty ham.
• Orange Honey Ham: A honey, brown sugar, and orange marmalade glaze adds bright and beautiful flavor to juicy pork.
• Air Fryer Garlic Butter Ham: Add an herb-y garlic butter, place the ham in the fryer, and it’ll be ready in about 1 hour.
• Pecan Bourbon Glazed Ham: A rich bourbon glaze and crunchy pecans adds tasty flavor and texture.
• Brown Sugar Glazed Ham: This recipe has been a favorite for Easter dinner for years. Me and my family just love it because the glaze is so so good!
• Glazed Ham Steaks: These delicious Glazed Ham Steaks will be ready in just 20 minutes, making them the quickest and easiest holiday dinner!

Easter Meal Ideas with No Ham

Looking for something to serve for Easter dinner or lunch besides ham? There are plenty of others ideas. Try lamb, pork, beef, or even turkey for your main course instead.

• Rack of Lamb: Cooking lamb for Easter is a great way to make the holiday feel really special. And the cool yogurt mint sauce complements the savory meat so well.
• Pork Crown Roast: This Easter dinner recipe will be a real show-stopper. It’s surprisingly easy to make, and leads to the juiciest slices of pork.
• Honey Baked Turkey: Inspired by that well-known ham we all love, this turkey breast tastes just amazing with that glaze.
• Prime Rib Roast: If you want super tender slices of beef, you need to try this easy main dish. It’s great for a crowd of guests!
• Crockpot Turkey Breast: Using a slow cooker for your Easter main dish is a good way to free up oven space for other recipes. And the turkey comes out nice and juicy!
• Red Wine Pot Roast: A traditional Sunday roast with tender meat, carrots, and a red wine sauce works just as well on Easter Sunday.
• Beef Tenderloin: This recipe does require some extra time and steps, but it’s well worth the effort for beef that melts in your mouth
• Spatchcock Chicken: I like cooking this chicken for holidays when it’s just me and the family, because it’s super easy, doesn’t take much time, and it’s just the right amount of meat.
• Baked Pork Tenderloin: A range of spices, mustards, and honey create an incredible flavor profile for this pork.

Easter Salad Recipes

A salad or two will balance out your Easter lunch. But these aren’t boring salads; these are flavorful recipes that will be devoured just as quickly as the rest of the food!

• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad: Brussels Sprouts, toasted almonds, and cheese are tossed with a honey lemon dijon vinaigrette to make a beautifully-fresh and vibrant salad.
• Creamy Cucumber Salad: Apples, cucumbers, and radishes are dressed in a creamy dressing that really makes the natural flavors pop.
• Waldorf Salad: This classic salad is such a great recipe for Easter lunch, or to serve before dinner. It’s fresh, fruity, crunchy, and sweet!
• Grilled Corn Salad: It only takes 20 minutes to make this flavor-packed side dish, and I think it pairs especially well with chicken, turkey, or beef.
• Strawberry Salad: This big salad is filled with fresh berries, almonds, feta, and more, then tossed with a poppy seed dressing.
• Grape Salad: I love having this sweet and creamy salad on the Easter table. Brown sugar adds just the right kind of sweetness!
• Quinoa Salad: Quinoa, chickpeas, black beans, avocado and more are tossed in a honey lime vinaigrette. It’s the perfect accompaniment to so many Easter dishes.

Easter Dinner Side Dishes

Add as many Easter side dishes as you like to your Easter dinner menu. Whether you prefer vegetables, potatoes, cheesy sides, or casseroles, here are some ideas to try.

• Asparagus Almondine: Simple, classic, beautiful, and easy to make, what more could you want for an Easter side dish recipe?
• Easy Mashed Potatoes: Hands-down, these are my favorite mashed potatoes, because they’re so easy to make and sooo creamy.
• Green Bean Casserole: I never get tired of making this classic for holiday meals. The creamy mix topped with crunchy fried onions can’t be beat!
• Creamed Corn: If you need a last-minute addition to the menu, whip up this side dish in just 10 minutes!
• Broccoli Rice Casserole: Broccoli, rice, cheese, and a creamy mix…what’s not to love about this casserole side dish?
• Bacon Wrapped Green Beans: Bundles of fresh green beans are wrapped in bacon and seasoned with paprika and brown sugar for a simple dish that pairs well with Easter dishes.
• Sauteed Leeks: You only need a few ingredients to turn this simple veggie into a flavor-packed dish.
• Au Gratin Potatoes: Nothing beats a cheesy potato dish for holiday dinners! Thinly sliced potatoes and onions are baked in a rich, creamy sauce with a cheesy crust. Yum!
• Macaroni Salad: I love having a cold pasta salad for more casual Easter lunches, and this one is so quick to make.

Bread Ideas for Easter Dinner

Easter Dinner wouldn’t be complete without a bit of bread to serve along with all of the other dishes. Biscuits, rolls, and other fun breads really round out the meal.

• Cornbread: I love making this fresh cornbread for Easter meals because it just goes so well with ham and other pork dishes, and it makes a huge batch.
• Buttermilk Biscuits: It only takes an hour to make these from scratch! But you can make them ahead of time to freeze too, so they’re ready to bake on Easter Sunday.
• Sweet Potato Rolls: Soft, fluffy, and perfectly moist, these rolls are always a hit on holidays.
• Crescent Rolls: These flakey rolls are so easy to make, and I love the airy texture inside. The kids always eat these up so fast!
• Easter Bread: It’s an Easter tradition around here to make this sweet bread topped with almonds and sprinkles. I like to serve it between lunch and dinner, but it’s fun to eat with your meal too.
• Hawaiian Rolls: Everyone loves a good Hawaiian roll, and they taste even better when made fresh. Trust me, you’ll want to take the time to make these.
• Spoon Bread: If you’ve never tried this before, you’ll be amazed by how comforting the tender texture of this bread is.

These easy Easter dinner recipes will help you prepare the best Easter Sunday menu. So many delicious ideas to try, and your family is sure to love any of them. Enjoy!

More Easter Recipes

Looking for more recipes for the holiday? Find desserts, brunch ideas, side dishes, and more to try.

Recipe Roundups

50+ Easy Easter Desserts

50+ Easter Brunch Ideas

80+ Easter Side Dishes

30 Easy Easter Appetizers