Holidays & Occasions Easter Easter Recipes 65 Easter Dinner Ideas: Mains, Sides, And Desserts For The Holiday Feast Get fresh recipe inspiration for every kind of Easter gathering. By 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 21, 2024 Close Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely It's easy to find yourself boxed into making the same dishes for Easter every year. Even if you aren't sick of serving ham or lamb, you might want to mix up how you cook the centerpieces of the meal. Maybe a chicken is more appropriate for the size of your gatherings, especially if you don't want tons of leftovers. Perhaps it's the sides you need help with. These are our our favorite Easter dinner ideas, including carrots, glazed hams, cakes, and of course, plenty of casseroles No matter the course or type of Easter feast, we have recipes for classic and new-school takes on all the staples. From casseroles to cakes, and everything in between, these are the Easter dinner recipes we reach for when entertaining. 01 of 65 Sweet Tea-Brined Ham With Lemon Glaze Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We used sweet tea to make the ultimate Southern ham. Just make sure to use an unseasoned ham so you can fully enjoy the flavors of this recipe. Get The Recip 02 of 65 Corn Pudding Casserole Courtney West Corn pudding is easy to make, yet is still impressive enough to be on the menu for Easter dinner. Plus, you can assemble the casserole the day before and keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake. Get The Recipe 03 of 65 Classic Coconut Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Your Easter dinner guests just may be tempted to eat dessert before the main meal when they see this decadent dessert sitting on the cake stand. Get The Recipe 04 of 65 Classic Make-Ahead Macaroni And Cheese Photographer: James Ransom; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn What's better than homemade mac and cheese? One that you can make ahead of time to make preparing the Easter meal a little easier. Get The Recipe 05 of 65 Pull-Apart Butter Roll Loaves Photo: James Ransom; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely While we sometimes rely on store-bought rolls, Easter Sunday is an occasion that deserves a homemade bread. Don't skip the flaky sea salt and fresh rosemary which add flavor and create a pretty presentation. Get The Recipe 06 of 65 Classic Deviled Eggs Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Of course it's not Easter without deviled eggs. You may even want to double this recipe. Get The Recipe 07 of 65 Glazed Ham with Pineapple Chutney Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If your go-to pizza order is Hawaiian, then this is the ham recipe for you. Even if it's not, this recipe will still impress. Get The Recipe 08 of 65 Easy Bunny Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Some cakes with 'easy' in the title still end up being a huge undertaking, but not this cake. It's as straightforward as it is cute, and it's a great recipe to get the kids involved with. Get the Recipe 09 of 65 Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce A rosy-centered tenderloin is the perfect centerpiece to an Easter feast for those who don't eat or want ham. Get The Recipe 10 of 65 Lemon Lush Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell The best part about this layered dessert is that no oven is required. It can also be assembled well in advance and then sliced when everyone is ready for dessert. Get The Recipe 11 of 65 Asparagus Gratin Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin The ideal way to eat veggies is blanketed in cream and cheese. Although you could give any vegetable this decadent treatment, we think asparagus is the perfect seasonal choice. Get The Recipe 12 of 65 Roasted Carrot Soup Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Warm up the dinner table for the main course by serving this carrot soup as an appetizer. Homemade croutons are the ideal finishing touch. Get The Recipe 13 of 65 Slow-Cooker Green Beans Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Let your trusty slow cooker handle the green beans so there's plenty of room in the oven for the ham and casseroles. Get The Recipe 14 of 65 Best Carrot Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox We're pretty sure the Easter Bunny will be happy to see carrot cake on the menu. Get The Recipe 15 of 65 Brown Sugar Bourbon-Glazed Ham Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Though this recipe starts with a cooked ham, a decadent homemade glaze will transform it into a delicious Easter centerpiece. Basting throughout the cook time will ensure it stays tender and moist. Get The Recipe 16 of 65 Resurrection Rolls Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell The sweetest part of these rolls isn't the taste. It's the fact that the represent the true meaning of Easter. Get The Recipe 17 of 65 Carrot Cake Bars Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Karen Rankin If you want to serve carrot cake on Easter Sunday but don't have the time to commit to a layer cake, these bars will deliver the same great flavors. Get The Recipe 18 of 65 Pineapple Casserole Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall The uniquely Southern combination of canned pineapple chunks, Cheddar cheese, and crispy Ritz crackers will always have a spot on our Easter dinner lineup. Get The Recipe 19 of 65 Slow-Cooker Ham Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Don't monopolize oven space with a ham. Use our slow-cooker method and free up the oven for all sorts of sides and desserts. Get The Recipe 20 of 65 Carrot Soufflé Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Everyone will love eating their carrots on Easter Sunday when you serve them up in soufflé form. Get The Recipe 21 of 65 Lemon Meringue Cheesecake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox This twist on the flavors of the classic pie is an impressive way to finish Easter dinner. Get The Recipe 22 of 65 Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This refined looking side couldn't be easier to put together. Double the delicious breadcrumb mixture to use on top of pasta or casseroles later in the week. Get The Recipe 23 of 65 Romaine Salad With Oranges And Radishes Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Every holiday table needs something green, and this crunchy romaine salad with juicy orange segments is as colorful as it is flavorful. Get The Recipe 24 of 65 Potato-And-Rutabaga Gratin Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely For a healthier take on the classic cheesy side, we use rutabagas as well as potatoes and lean on nutty Gruyére cheese for added flavor. Get The Recipe 25 of 65 Easter Egg Lemon Cake With Whipped Cream Topping Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Everyone will be hunting for a second slice of this Easter egg sheet cake after dinner. Get The Recipe 26 of 65 Hummingbird Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox There isn't an occasion in the South that a Hummingbird Cake isn't welcome to. Get The Recipe 27 of 65 Lemon Roast Chicken With Rainbow Carrots Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely A spring chicken for Easter? Sounds great to us. Get The Recipe 28 of 65 Ginger Carrots Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Orange juice, ginger, and butter make these carrot coins a great zesty side for ham, lamb, and chicken. Get The Recipe 29 of 65 Roasted Lamb With Fresh-Herb Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely The herb-and-garlic mixture in this lamb recipe doubles as a marinade and serving sauce. With just the right amount of lemon, it’s a tangy, herby punch of flavor that balances the rich roasted lamb. Get The Recipe 30 of 65 Chicken-And-Rice Bake With Broccolini Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely A comforting casserole is welcomed on any holiday, and this quick chicken and rice bake happens to be as easy as it is cozy. Get The Recipe 31 of 65 Prime Rib With Horseradish Dipping Sauce Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Swap lamb for beef this Easter with a prime rib roast that is bound to impress all your relatives. Get The Recipe 32 of 65 Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Like colorful confetti, this salad is the festive addition to the Easter table you need. Get The Recipe 33 of 65 Maple-Bourbon Glazed Ham Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Maple and bourbon are a perfect flavor pairing, especially when used to glaze ham. Get The Recipe 34 of 65 Baked Pork Tenderloin Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If you want to serve pork, but not a ham, try a pork tenderloin. This cut is not only less expensive, but cooks up in no time. Get The Recipe 35 of 65 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Every Easter dinner needs a straightforward vegetable side with bacon and this recipe is exactly that. Get The Recipe 36 of 65 Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Salty Parmesan, spicy baby arugula leaves, and creamy white beans combine to form a hearty salad perfect for vegetarian guests or carnivores craving greens. Get The Recipe 37 of 65 Mac And Cheese With Ham Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss Don't limit ham to the main dish; throw it into a classic side too! Get The Recipe 38 of 65 Lemon Tiramisu Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Try this spring version of the classic Italian dessert. This version may not contain coffee, but it's packed with zingy lemon flavor. Get The Recipe 39 of 65 Deep-Dish Ham Pot Pie Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Pot pies don't always have to be chicken. Even if you don't want to serve this for Easter dinner, save the recipe for ham leftovers later in the week. Get The Recipe 40 of 65 Scalloped Potatoes With Ham Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You can't go wrong with cheesy scalloped potatoes. With added ham, they're even more delicious, if that's possible. Get The Recipe 41 of 65 Hot Cross Buns Molly Bolton It wouldn't be Easter without Hot Cross Buns, whether you serve them with dinner or as dessert. Get The Recipe 42 of 65 Strawberry Patch Cake Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Freeze-dried strawberries lend the frosting its vibrant pink hue and sweet strawberry flavor. Get The Recipe 43 of 65 Carrot Cake With Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Easier to assemble than a layer cake, this carrot cake is an adorable way to serve the Easter classic without the hassle. Get The Recipe 44 of 65 Old-School Squash Casserole Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman This classic casserole is the most searched for in the South and for good reason. Filled with butter and cheese-smothered squash, it's an assured crowd-pleaser. Get The Recipe 45 of 65 Easter Egg Cake Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Robins egg blue might be our favorite cake color of all time. Topped with candy eggs and a coconut nest, this cake is almost too pretty eat. Almost. Get The Recipe 46 of 65 Strawberry Pound Cake Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood We all love a classic pound cake, but the addition of fresh strawberries throughout this recipe make it extra festive for spring celebrations. Get The Recipe 47 of 65 Chocolate Chick Cake Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Spring desserts are often filled with rhubarb, lemon, and strawberries, but this cake appeals to the chocolate lovers attending Easter this year. Get The Recipe 48 of 65 Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie Recipe JENNIFER DAVICK Turn your favorite salad into a memorable dessert. Top with fresh strawberries and lots of whipped cream for a sweet finish to Easter festivities. Get The Recipe 49 of 65 Slow-Cooker Pork Roast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Break out the slow-cooker and relax, this recipe practically cooks itself. Get The Recipe 50 of 65 Sautéed Radishes with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Radishes are crisp and a little spicy, making them a perfect pair for smoky and fatty bacon. Get The Recipe 51 of 65 Parker House Rolls Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman While store-bought rolls are fine, they can't compare to homemade. Especially when eaten warm straight out of the oven. Get The Recipe 52 of 65 Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob PHOTOGRAPHER: FRED HARDY II, FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL, PROPS STYLIST: CHRISTINA BROCKMAN You don't need to fire up the grill to serve perfect corn on the cob this Easter. Get The Recipe 53 of 65 Easter Birds' Nest Coconut Cupcakes Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This coconut cupcake recipe is lighter and more tender than a boxed mix, and is enriched with extra coconut flavor thanks to the coconut milk in the batter. 54 of 65 Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This spin on a Caesar salad uses Greek yogurt to lighten up the dressing; and you'll need at least one lighter side to balance Easter dinner out. Get The Recipe 55 of 65 Watergate Salad Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Every Easter meal needs one nostalgic side, so may we suggest this Jell-O salad? The maraschino cherry on top helps pull together the fluffy, simple dessert. Get The Recipe 56 of 65 Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Chicken and rice are Southern staples, so why not serve them together in a salad as one of your many Easter sides? Lots of tender herbs and a bright lemon dressing give the salad plenty of vivid colors and a fresh taste. Get The Recipe 57 of 65 Chocolate Poke Cake Stacy Allen, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke, Food Stylist: Jen Riley Store-bought shortcuts like cake mix and instant pudding make this dessert easy to whip together after a long day of cooking Easter mains and sides. Get The Recipe 58 of 65 Lemon Granita Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Here's a dessert for all the non-bakers out there. The frozen treat is easy to make, but still feels fancy. Get The Recipe 59 of 65 Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Salad is a flexible term in the South and this is one of the salads that stretch the definition of the term. Nonetheless, it's a delicious addition to the Easter table. Get The Recipe 60 of 65 Éclair Cake Molly Bolton This cake has all the flavor of the French pastry, but none of the technical skill required. Get The Recipe 61 of 65 Ambrosia Trifle Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Giulietta Pinna; Food Styling: Ali Ramee Ambrosia doesn't have to be only for Christmas. Assembled into a trifle, it's a lovely way to end Easter with the family. Get The Recipe 62 of 65 Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder Alison Miksch Pork shoulder doesn't always have to mean barbecue. Braised in apple cider, honey, and mustard, it becomes a meaty main perfect for Easter entertaining. Get The Recipe 63 of 65 Roasted Fingerling Potatoes Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox For a fancier potato side dish, give these slender potatoes a try. Roasting turns them crispy and tender. The butter-and-herb coating is all the flavor you need. Get The Recipe 64 of 65 Glazed Spiral-Cut Ham Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford One ham, three glazes. Pick the one that matches your meal's flavors, and use the fail-proof glaze ham recipe to turn it into a centerpiece. Get The Recipe 65 of 65 Cheesecake Fruit Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox A creamy way to enjoy this fresh, colorful side. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit