Holidays & Occasions Easter 70 Easter Side Dishes To Complete Your Holiday Dinner By Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 8, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox A Southern-style Easter feast calls for bright and fresh ingredients inspired by the season. Whether you're serving ham or lamb (or something else entirely!), round out your holiday menu with a handful of our easy yet elegant Easter dinner sides. From sautéed asparagus and carrots to springy berry salads, these menu options were crafted in celebration of the flavor and bounty spring brings each year. Our Skillet Roasted Carrots take just 10 minutes to prepare; no table is complete without a potato side, and our Roasted Potato Salad fits the bill. And, of course, you can't forget a family-favorite: homemade dinner rolls. It wouldn't be a holiday supper without them, and for Easter, our Resurrection Rolls are a spectacular choice. Choose a creamy macaroni and cheese, stick to a traditional pineapple casserole, or plate a dish of party-ready deviled eggs. No matter which recipes you choose, we're sure these Easter side dishes will be the tasty tribute to the season your whole family will enjoy. 01 of 70 Skillet Roasted Carrots Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Every bunny loves carrots, and these perfectly roasted carrots are a classic combination with honey and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Pick up some rainbow carrots at the farmers market and cook these for 10 minutes. Get The Recipe 02 of 70 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn We all have a soft spot for those classic cooked green beans made with bacon, but these Garlic Parmesan Green Beans give our favorite veggie a cheesy, garlicky update. The best part? These greens will be ready in just 35 minutes. Get The Recipe 03 of 70 Roasted Potato Salad Joy Howard Believe it or not: The secret to the perfect potato salad is not your favorite mayonnaise, it's your oven. Theses roasted spuds add just the right amount of bite to your classic potato salad. Get The Recipe 04 of 70 Our Best Deviled Eggs Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Deviled eggs never go out of style, and this recipe for Our Best Deviled Eggs is one that every Southern cook should master. Sprinkle paprika or chives on top of these classic beauties. Get The Recipe 05 of 70 Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Iain Bagwell A variety of carrot colors makes for pretty presentation in this delicious side. Using whole, peeled, small carrots makes this side all the more festive and special. Get The Recipe 06 of 70 Roasted Broccolini Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas This one-step side has everything that makes a cruciferous veggies taste delicious. With some charred lemon, Parmesan, and some good olive oil, your everyday Broccolini is transformed into something that is worthy of the Easter table. Get The Recipe 07 of 70 Herbed Potato Stacks Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith A short list of ingredients transforms basic potatoes into an elegant side ready to be served to company. You might be wondering: What's the secret to the perfect little stacks? It's a muffin tin! Get The Recipe 08 of 70 Spring Salad with Berries and Bacon Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry This bright salad is perfect to offer as a lighter option alongside your heavier side dishes. The bite of the red wine vinegar and feta cheese cuts through all the richness. Get The Recipe 09 of 70 Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes Southern Living Tangy goat cheese makes for a fun twist on classic mashed potatoes. Even though these mashed potatoes have complicated flavors, the recipe is not all complicated. In just two steps, these delicious mashed potatoes come together in just 30 minutes. Get The Recipe 10 of 70 Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Is it really a holiday dinner without a side of beautiful, buttery rolls! The best part about these tender rolls is in the name—you can make them ahead of time! Get The Recipe 11 of 70 Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese STACY K. ALLEN; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINA DALEY When there's macaroni and cheese on the table, you know there's one dish even the pickiest eaters will love. It's also the relatively unsung hero of almost every Easter table. Get The Recipe 12 of 70 Sumac Carrots with Feta Mousse and Crispy Panko Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry A Feta mousse serves as the base for cooked carrots while toasted panko sprinkled on top gives the dish a crispy finish. It also takes just 30 minutes to put together. Get The Recipe 13 of 70 Tarragon Chicken Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Creamy chicken salad pairs perfectly with the crunch of pecans, Granny Smith apples, red onions, and celery. It might take a little extra work than store-bought, but every step is worth it. Get The Recipe 14 of 70 Country Ham Hash Hector Manuel Sanchez If your family gathers at brunch, this flavorful hash will be eaten right up. With a side of scrambled eggs and a piece of toast, everyone will enjoy this hearty breakfast side. Get The Recipe 15 of 70 Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This mouthwatering Easter side dish will satisfy lovers of crunchy pecans and cornflakes as well as marshmallows. It includes all the toppings you love on your sweet potatoes in one casserole. Get The Recipe 16 of 70 Pineapple Casserole Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall If you've never had this quirky Southern casserole, don't knock it until you try it. It's also perfect for spring holidays with its tropical flavors. Get The Recipe 17 of 70 Oven-Roasted Asparagus Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox It doesn't get more simple than this 10-minute side dish you can throw together right before the meal. If you want a super roasted asparagus, turn up your oven to 400 degrees. Get The Recipe 18 of 70 Tee's Corn Pudding Emily Laurae/Southern Living This is our most popular corn pudding recipe of all time, and for good reason. If you're having trouble getting fresh corn, you can use frozen or canned corn. Get The Recipe 19 of 70 Cheesy Grits Soufflé Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Cheese grits always have a place on our table, and these light and fluffy, baked grits bring them to a whole new level. One reviewer says its "definitely a keeper," and we couldn't agree more. Get The Recipe 20 of 70 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Emily Hall It wouldn't be a holiday in the South without green bean casserole on the sideboard. Make sure you don't forget the crispy onions! Get The Recipe 21 of 70 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Cheesy and creamy potatoes pair deliciously with your Easter ham. It's the 9x13 side that everyone wants. Get The Recipe 22 of 70 Potato-Bacon Hash Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox You only need a handful of ingredients to throw together a colorful hash that's perfect for Easter brunch. A touch of hot sauce gives it just the right kick. Get The Recipe 23 of 70 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Baked pasta gets an update with creamy kale. We love the crunchy, savory topping made with Japanese-style breadcrumbs. Get The Recipe 24 of 70 Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox This fresh, seasonal take on finger sandwiches will look beautiful in your Easter lineup. It's just about as springy as a bouquet with dill, chives, asparagus, and eggs. Get The Recipe 25 of 70 Broccoli-Cheese Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Eating your veggies has never been easier than with this cheesy casserole. You can even prepare this dish ahead of time. Get The Recipe 26 of 70 Sautéed Radishes with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox With the help of a little bacon grease, cooked radishes prove to be as tasty as their raw counterparts. A little brown sugar, salt and pepper go a long way. Get The Recipe 27 of 70 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey No brunch table is complete without a bowl of fresh fruit. You can choose which fruit you want to include depending on your family's preference. Get The Recipe 28 of 70 Resurrection Rolls Southern Living These sweet rolls are a fun way for the kids to get involved with cooking this Easter. All you need are cans of croissant rolls, marshmallows, butter, cinnamon and sugar. Get The Recipe 29 of 70 Creamed Spinach Antonis Achilleos Butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese make for the dreamiest spinach side you've ever had. Serve your Creamed Spinach over cornbread for a super Southern touch. Get The Recipe 30 of 70 Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Jennifer Causey The buffet line will move smoothly with these easy-to-serve green bean bundles. The first step might shock you, but you heat up the bacon in the microwave to get things going. Get The Recipe 31 of 70 Hashbrown Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This old-school favorite will never get old or go out of style. Everyone will want some. Get The Recipe 32 of 70 Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith This light but flavorful side dish will complement any main you serve. The blanched green beans give them more flavor and a delightful crispness. Get The Recipe 33 of 70 Potatoes Patio Iain Bagwell Your guests won't believe how simple the ingredient list is for this decadent casserole. It is easy, but it does include all of the rich, dreaminess you could want. Get The Recipe 34 of 70 Vidalia Onion Soufflé Abigail Wilt If you've never had an onion soufflé, this recipe made with sweet Georgia Vidalia onions is the tastiest place to start. Make this soufflé the night before to simplify your party menu. Get The Recipe 35 of 70 Smothered Green Beans Photograher: Greg Dupree Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall This side dish recipe is packed with flavor but only takes five ingredients to make. The secret that makes these green beans a little unique? Tomato paste! Get The Recipe 36 of 70 Smashed Baby Red Potatoes Emily Laurae / Southern Living We know you love mashed potatoes, but you're going to fall for smashed potatoes—trust us. It might take a few extra steps, but it is worth it! Get The Recipe 37 of 70 Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole Photo: Iain Bagwell Give your classic sweet potato casserole an Easter Bunny-approved update. Sugar-And-Spice Pecans make this all the more sweet. Get The Recipe 38 of 70 Classic Fresh Field Peas Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn This vintage recipe is one we'll keep coming back to. The smoky ham hock really is the star of this dish. Get The Recipe 39 of 70 Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Brussels sprouts and bacon are a match made in side-dish heaven. Smaller Brussels sprouts are better for this dish due to their delicate yet delicious flavor. Get The Recipe 40 of 70 Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Hold the mayo and try this zesty lemon-dill vinaigrette potato salad for Easter Sunday. It includes all of the bright vegetables you love from radishes to shallots to, of course, the veggies in the title. Get The Recipe 41 of 70 Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon Alison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This will be your new favorite take on classic macaroni and cheese. The addition of eggs and crispy bacon almost makes this dish a baked carbonara. Get The Recipe 42 of 70 Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Whether you make these in individual ramekins or in a big casserole dish, everyone will be asking for seconds. This recipe full of cheddar cheese and all the goodness you could ever imagine. Get The Recipe 43 of 70 Spring Vegetable Frittata Iain Bagwell A slice of this frittata is sure to please your brunch bunch. It's full of bright, spring flavor that is sure to impress. Get The Recipe 44 of 70 Reunion Pea Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This casserole recipe includes just about everything you could ever imagine, which means it belongs in your Easter recipe lineup. With a mix of yellow squash and zucchini, it has a fun, festive look, too! Get The Recipe 45 of 70 Watergate Salad Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle You probably grew up eating this side and wondered if it was actually dessert. With it's bright green color and delicious flavor, everyone in your family will be surprised at how much they love it. Get The Recipe 46 of 70 Party Potatoes Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Prepare to dazzle the Easter celebration with a tray of these tasty potatoes. The best part is that you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. Get The Recipe 47 of 70 Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The secret to the best Brussels sprouts ever? Roast them in the oven. Additionally, make sure to cut off the base of the stems to ensure that your Brussels sprouts are super tender. Get The Recipe 48 of 70 Smoky Greens Soufflé PHOTO: JAMES RANSOM, PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY, FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN This fancy dish gives beloved collards a festive twist. The rise of the soufflé is sure to impress, too. Get The Recipe 49 of 70 Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller You've probably had creamed spinach at most every gathering you go to, but the addition of pimiento cheese transforms this seemingly ordinary dish into something made for special occasions. Make this recipe in ramekins or a large baking dish. Get The Recipe 50 of 70 Layered Squash Casserole Photographer: James Ransom, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Transform your squash into this rich and creamy casserole. With some cheddar cheese crackers and some other goodness, you have something that will have everyone asking for this recipe next year. Get The Recipe 51 of 70 Classic Coleslaw Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Is any gathering really complete without coleslaw? We don't think so. Even if you are having the fanciest Easter dinner, this side is truly a necessity. Get The Recipe 52 of 70 Blackberry Farm's Carrot Soufflé “You probably hear the word soufflé and think it's a fancy dish that requires a lot of work—but I assure you, this is no traditional soufflé,” writes Assistant Editor Cameron Beall of her family’s recipe. “While soufflés typically start by separating the egg whites from yolk and beating the whites until stiff, this dish doesn’t call for separating them which gives it a more casserole-like characteristic.” Get The Recipe 53 of 70 Asparagus Gratin Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Anyone who claims they don’t like asparagus hasn’t had it like this before! Transform the sometimes-boring spring veggie into a comforting Southern side with a cheesy finish. Get The Recipe 54 of 70 Southern Fried Cabbage Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Melissa Gray / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman “Growing up, my absolute favorite meal my mama made was crispy, oven-baked pork chops, fried cabbage, and mac and cheese,” says Senior Producer Ivy Odom. “And it may sound weird, but I would always eat a bite of cabbage and mac and cheese at the same time. Something about that flavor combination is still one of my all time favorite bites.” Get The Recipe 55 of 70 Glazed Carrots Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This veggie side dish shines in its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients, you can wow everyone with a tasty addition to their meal. Get The Recipe 56 of 70 Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This bright side dish is a fresher way to enjoy spring produce than in a casserole (though there’s plenty of room for those on our Easter table). Get The Recipe 57 of 70 Strawberry-Spinach Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This salad showcases seasonal produce and can be tossed together right before the Easter meal is served for a gorgeous last-minute addition. Get The Recipe 58 of 70 Betty Jo Melvin's Macaroni And Cheese Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman "Today" show anchor and journalist Craig Melvin shared his mother's mac and cheese recipe that his family enjoys every Christmas, but we know it would be at home on an Easter table as well. Get The Recipe 59 of 70 Easy Cauliflower Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Cauliflower gets the reputation as a boring veggie, but anything is fun when covered with cheese and baked into a creamy casserole. Get The Recipe 60 of 70 Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall According to one five-star review, you just might find new ways to reimagine this beautiful recipe: “This was delicious!! The cream sauce and bread crumb combo would also be fantastic on other vegetables, chicken, fish, etc. Yum!” Get The Recipe 61 of 70 Crispy Potato Galette Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Senior Producer Ivy Odom says she hopes to make this pretty potato dish ASAP: “The flavor of buttery, garlic-coated potatoes will always remind me of home." Get The Recipe 62 of 70 Cabbage Casserole Will Dickey No coleslaw here! This warm casserole will change how you serve cabbage at your Easter table. Let the five-star reviews speak for themselves. Get The Recipe 63 of 70 Carrot Raisin Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox If you’ve been missing Chick-fil-A’s iconic carrot raisin salad, recreate the magic at home with a presentation that’s pretty enough to make your Instagram. Get The Recipe 64 of 70 Twice-Baked Duchess Potatoes Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Micah Morton Classic twice-baked potatoes are delicious, but they aren’t nearly as pretty as these! A piping bag will make this side dish look holiday worthy. Get The Recipe 65 of 70 Corn Pudding Casserole Courtney West This new casserole recipe is even more decadent than the corn pudding you know from growing up. Get The Recipe 66 of 70 Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Is it a Southern holiday without a jiggly gelatin wonder on the table? We think not! This sweet-and-salty creation is perfect for spring. Get The Recipe 67 of 70 Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Add some stunning spring color to your Easter table with this oh-so-fresh salad that is super quick to throw together. Get The Recipe 68 of 70 Creamed Cabbage-And-Leek Gratin Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell When you hear “gratin,” you might think potatoes, but this creamy spring veggie version will have you rethinking the definition. Get The Recipe 69 of 70 Asparagus with Eggs and Prosciutto Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley This gorgeous dish is perfect if you’re serving Easter brunch. It looks professional, but is actually extremely easy to put together. Get The Recipe 70 of 70 Lemon-Tarragon Potato Salad Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This light and bright potato salad will look beautiful in your favorite spring dinnerware. “I was looking for a healthier potato salad option and made this recipe,” wrote a five-star reviewer. “It was excellent and all my kids from 17-8 loved it.” Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit