Holidays & Occasions Easter Easter Recipes 45 Traditional Easter Dinner Recipes That'll Wow Your Crowd By Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a writer and editor with 15 years of experience in food, lifestyle, health, and nutrition content. She has been published in Southern Living, Real Simple, Allrecipes, EatingWell, Cooking Light, and other publications. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 14, 2024 Close Photo: Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Find the perfect main dish recipe for your Easter dinner with these traditional recipes for chicken, ham, lamb, and more. Choose a showstopping centerpiece for your spring feast from our wow-worthy selection of recipes. Our stunning Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg of Lamb is sure to be the focus of your traditional Easter dinner, but we include plenty of other ideas, too. Whether you host a formal sit-down or a small, casual family gathering, you will find the ideal main dish to make your Easter meal memorable. Be sure to check out our Easter side dish recipes for delicious ways to round out your meal. 01 of 45 Apricot Glazed Ham Frederick Hardy II; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Start this ham at room temperature and cover it in foil before popping it in the oven. It's the best way to lock in all those delicious juices. When it's time to baste on the golden glaze, remove the foil and let it cook, forming a nice, caramelized crust over the top. Get The Recipe 02 of 45 Roasted Lamb With Fresh-Herb Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely The bright, herby sauce is what takes this rich roasted lamb to the next level. Get The Recipe 03 of 45 Maple-Bourbon Glazed Ham Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley The five-ingredient glaze on this ham is destined to dazzle your Easter table. It's spicy and sweet, sticky and crunchy, and the best way to dress up a store-bought ham with ingredients you probably already have stocked in your kitchen. Get The Recipe 04 of 45 Classic Beef Pot Roast Grace your dinner table with this hearty pot roast. Plus, the vegetable sides cook alongside in the same pot with this recipe. Get The Recipe 05 of 45 Brown Sugar-Bourbon-Glazed Ham Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster You know this dish will be a winner when the online reviews include comments like, "The glaze is fantastic and delicious." It sure is. What's even better is that to enjoy this incredible dish you don't have to plan to spend all day in the kitchen. In three easy steps you can make this ham studded with cloves and flavored with a brown sugar-bourbon glaze. Then slice it, serve it, and settle in to see the happy faces as your family and friends savor every bite. Get The Recipe 06 of 45 Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg of Lamb Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Cooking the meat low and slow for just under two hours, removing it from the oven to rest for 30 minutes, then cranking up the heat and returning it to the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes results in an undeniably tender leg of lamb with a crisp and utterly decadent herb-and-garlic crust. It's a showstopper. Get The Recipe 07 of 45 Roast Beef Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless A timeless main dish any time of year, we think this Roast Beef has a place on any Easter dinner table. Get The Recipe 08 of 45 Prime Rib With Horseradish Dipping Sauce Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Horseradish is the pungent and spicy secret to this mouthwatering centerpiece. Get The Recipe 09 of 45 Slow-Cooker Pork Roast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall For a hands-off Easter meal, turn to this slow-cooker recipe. Not only does it yield a super tender pork roast, but perfectly cooked carrots, potatoes, and turnips to serve alongside. Get The Recipe 10 of 45 Pecan-Coated Pork Loin Roast Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Pecans add a nutty, crunchy crust on this pork loin that is bound to impress everyone, even the in-laws. Get The Recipe 11 of 45 Chicken Leg Quarters With Asparagus And Buttermilk Ranch Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely While a whole roasted chicken might be more traditional, we think these chicken quarters with spring asparagus are perfect for smaller, more casual Easter gatherings. Get The Recipe 12 of 45 Lemon Roast Chicken With Rainbow Carrots Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Rainbow carrots are what make this classic roast chicken shine. Get The Recipe 13 of 45 Roasted Lemon-Pepper Chicken Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Lemon pepper isn't just for wings! Rubbed all over a whole chicken and served with roasted garlic (that cooks alongside), this flavorful dish is bound to please everyone at the table. Get The Recipe 14 of 45 Lemon Chicken Thighs Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman If you aren't serving a crowd, these chicken thighs are a smaller-sized main dish that's still perfect Easter. Get The Recipe 15 of 45 Crispy Chicken Thighs With Roasted Radishes Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely This chicken dish is the embodiment of spring. Peppery radishes are a fun twist on a classic vegetable side, too. Get The Recipe 16 of 45 Grilled Lamb Chops with Green Garlic Chimichurri Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely If it's warm enough where you are come Easter, opt for these grilled lamb chops instead of roasting a whole leg. Get The Recipe 17 of 45 Perfect Beef Tenderloin Iain Bagwell We tend to think of beef tenderloin as a Christmas dish, but it's the kind of wow-inducing main dish that's perfect for any holiday table and can be served with a wide variety of side dishes. Get The Recipe 18 of 45 Smothered Pork Chops Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This might not be the most quintessential Easter main dish, but if you aren't in the mood to cook a whole ham, we think it's the perfect substitute. Get The Recipe 19 of 45 Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak Hector Sanchez A perfectly cooked steak is always a celebration worthy dish. This recipe also happens to be a great option for smaller Easter gatherings with just the immediate family. Get The Recipe 20 of 45 Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley We think these Dijon coated chops have the same wow-factor as a whole ham for Easter, but with a lot less leftovers. Get The Recipe 21 of 45 Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY Nailing the perfect rosy pink center on this beef tenderloin is a fun and delicious way to show off your cooking skills to family this Easter. Get The Recipe 22 of 45 Sweet Tea-Brined Ham With Lemon Glaze Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This one is for all the sweet tea lovers. Don't just sip on the Southern staple, use it to make your holiday ham too. Get The Recipe 23 of 45 Deep-Dish Ham Pot Pie Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall For a fun twist on a ham main dish, try this pot pie this Easter. The best part? It uses store-bought pie crust, so assembly is a breeze. Get The Recipe 24 of 45 Baked Lemon-Thyme Salmon Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Lydia Pursell While chicken, pork, lamb, and beef typically get all the attention on Easter, a lovely fish main dish, like this simple salmon, can feel just as springy and celebratory. Get The Recipe 25 of 45 Simple Pan-Seared Fish Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis There's something oh-so elegant about this Simple Pan-Seared Fish. Served over peas and radishes, it feels bright and seasonal, too. Get The Recipe 26 of 45 Slow-Cooker Short Ribs with Pork Rind Gremolata Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis If you're looking for a heartier main dish for your Easter dinner, look no further. These slow-cooked short ribs are ultra tender, and the crunchy pork rind topping is the ultimate finishing touch. Get The Recipe 27 of 45 Spicy Baked Snapper, Greens, and Carrots in Parchment Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Baking fish in parchment is a foolproof way to keep it moist, which is crucial when preparing it for all your loved ones on Easter. Get The Recipe 28 of 45 Grilled Grouper Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Celebrate the beginning of warm weather with this grilled fish as your Easter main dish. Topped with a caper and fresh herb relish, this recipe packs a ton of flavor into a few easy steps. Get The Recipe 29 of 45 Easy Grilled Salmon Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford We keep this salmon recipe extremely straightforward, but that also means it leaves plenty of room for you to add your own favorite flavors as well as sides. Get The Recipe 30 of 45 Classic Roasted Duck with Orange-Bourbon-Molasses Glaze Photo: Alison Miksch Okay, so this is not a traditional Easter main, but who says you can't mix things up? A stunning glazed duck like this is not something guests will forget any time soon. Get The Recipe 31 of 45 Lemony Baked Cod, Potatoes, and Artichokes in Parchment Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis A meal that comes together all in one pan, or in this case sheet of parchment, is typically reserved for weeknight meals. In this case, we think it's exactly the kind of impressive fish dish for a holiday dinner. Each guest can open their own parcel at the table! Get The Recipe 32 of 45 Shepherd's Pie Recipe VICTOR PROTASIO; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX; PROP STYLING: KAY E. CLARKE Instead of a whole leg of lamb, try this British lamb casserole, topped with fluffy and golden brown mashed potatoes. Get The Recipe 33 of 45 Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Chicken breasts can be boring, but not this recipe. Stuffed with spring asparagus, Gruyère cheese, and coated in a cognac-butter sauce, these chicken breasts are practically divine. Get The Recipe 34 of 45 Low-And-Slow Beef Pot Roast Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Pot roast is a household staple for a reason. Our version is ultra flavorful thanks to chili sauce and onion soup mix. Get The Recipe 35 of 45 Ginger-Citrus Pork Roast Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely For a low-key Easter dinner, try this easy pork roast. Serve over rice as pictured, or over mashed potatoes. Get The Recipe 36 of 45 Porchetta With Lemony Herb Sauce Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch This rolled pork main dish is a little bit of a labor of love, but once you slice into it at the table to reveal the gorgeous spiral, we're sure you'll find that the prep work was worth it. Get The Recipe 37 of 45 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie With Puff Pastry Brittany Conerly; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Swap pie crust for flaky, buttery puff pastry in this homestyle classic that's gussied up enough for Easter, but still fairly effortless to pull off. Get The Recipe 38 of 45 Baked Ham With Brown Sugar Glaze Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox We roast this ham low and slow. Then, just before it's finished, we add a brown sugar glaze and increase the temperature. This creates a beautiful caramelized and crispy edge that's downright irresistible. Get The Recipe 39 of 45 Broiled Lamb Chops This savory lamb chop recipe only requires 10-minutes of hands-on-time, making it the perfect dish for a busy Easter. Get The Recipe 40 of 45 Glazed Ham with Pineapple Chutney Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Don't even think about using that packet that came with your grocery store ham. Wrap the ham in foil for the juiciest results. Don't worry—you'll kick up the heat at the end so the glaze of bourbon, pineapple preserves, and brown sugar can caramelize up to perfection. Get The Recipe 41 of 45 Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Easter dinner is a breeze with this sheet pan meal, complete with salmon and roasted veggies. Get The Recipe 42 of 45 Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Let your slow-cooker do the work this Easter. This decadent lamb shank recipe is complete with the ultimate Southern side: grits. Get The Recipe 43 of 45 Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Whip up this savory pot roast in a slow cooker and serve it alongside mashed potatoes. Get The Recipe 44 of 45 Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe with Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos We gave this sheet pan chicken recipe a Southern upgrade by adding chunks of cornbread to the mix. Get The Recipe 45 of 45 Baked Ham with Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer We added some zest to this baked ham by covering it with a citrus glaze made with fresh orange juice and orange marmalade. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit