41 Easter Dinner Ideas: Traditional Menu Items and Easy Recipes

Not sure what to make for Easter dinner? Well, whether you’re hosting (and doing most of the cooking) or a guest wondering what to bring, we’ve put together the best Easter dinner ideas for you to choose from!

Easter Sunday is one of those annual holidays where everyone makes time to get together and catch up amid busy schedules and obligations.

That means the food part should be simple!

Choose recipes from these suggestions and you can’t go wrong.

Traditional Easter Dinner Menu

As a host, you want to ensure you serve your guests yummy foods they’ll enjoy.

If it’s potluck style where guests bring sides, desserts, and bread, I highly recommend creating a group chat to ensure no one brings dishes too similar.

The menu for Easter dinner is one of the most flexible holiday meals of the year.

While ham reigns supreme as the main dish, lamb is another popular favorite.

But you’ll also see people buying chicken, roasts, and non-meat options!

In my opinion, the perfect Easter dinner menu includes:

• A simple appetizer (I like deviled eggs)
• A meat main dish, such as ham (or a vegan copycat)
• Soup and/or a salad
• Various vegetable sides, including carrots, peas, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, and/or corn
• At least one casserole
• Fruit of some kind (we make fruit salad)
• Potatoes, whether mashed, scalloped, or roasted
• Bread
• A dessert or two, like cookies and homemade candy

This menu produces a traditional Easter dinner with typical American Spring side dishes and classic recipes.

Use this outline for your Easter dinner menu as a jumping-off point when choosing from the recipes below.

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Appetizers for Easter Dinner

Making dinner for a crowd often means guests show up before the main meal is ready.

Have some Easter dinner appetizers on hand for everyone to munch on until it’s time to sit down as a group to eat.

Easter Carrot Cheese Ball

A cheese ball is my go-to for a party appetizer because they’re easy to make. And who doesn’t love cheese?!

No, there’s not any carrot in this cheese ball – it’s just shaped like one.

It makes for a cute centerpiece while everyone waits for the main course!

Deviled Egg Chicks

Whether as an appetizer or a side dish, deviled eggs simply must be present at my Easter. After all, Easter is all about the eggs!

This is a great dish to bring along as a guest.

The only “hard” part is cutting the zigzag edge around the egg whites. A sharp paring knife will make simple work of it.

By the way, I’ve started boiling my eggs in a mini egg cooker from Walmart, and I will never boil water for them again! The shells come off perfectly every time.

You can also get it from Amazon.

Bacon Avocado Deviled Eggs

Looking for a new take on an old favorite?

Swap the mayo for avocado to give your deviled eggs a delicious Spring vibe.

Meat for Easter Dinner

Ham

As with Christmas, the most popular Easter dinner meat is ham – but by a smaller margin.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t offer a few of the best ham recipes!

Brown Sugar Glaze Crockpot Ham

I’m all about simple meats when side dishes tend to take up so much time.

This recipe can be used with any ham that fits in your crockpot!

Apple Cider Glazed Ham

Roast a spiral ham in your oven with this simple, sweet glaze.

The leftovers are the best part!

Orange Bourbon Glazed Ham

As a Kentucky girl, hearing “bourbon” and “ham” in the same sentence definitely catches my attention.

This recipe is a unique take on glazed ham, including orange and cinnamon flavors.

How much ham should you have per person for Easter dinner?

If using a boneless ham, a quarter pound per person should be plenty – especially if there will be several sides to eat with it.

But you can always up it to a third of a pound per diner to ensure you have leftovers.

For a bone-in ham, cook at least a third of a pound per person, aiming for up to half a pound per guest to be safe.

Not a ham fan? No problem!

You don’t have to eat Easter dinner with ham.

Other popular meats are lamb and chicken.

These days, many families go meatless, too!

Braised Lamb

This lamb shoulder recipe requires an oven-safe Dutch oven, but it is worth the hassle.

Vegetables, beef broth, and red wine add tons of flavor as the shoulder cooks.

Lamb is a melt-in-your-mouth meat that’s a personal favorite of mine, so I highly recommend trying it this Easter.

Leg of Lamb

A leg of lamb usually serves about eight people, and you can probably fit two legs in your oven at once if you need to feed more.

This recipe roasts it uncovered to give it a nice crispy outer layer, then it’s covered for the remainder so that it remains tender and juicy.

Roast Chicken and Vegetables

A chicken roast is a great option if you’re not having a big family gathering but still want to make a special meal for your household.

Your meat and vegetables are cooked at once, allowing you to focus on dessert, drinks, or maybe an extra side or two.

Cauliflower Lentil Loaf

Whether all your guests don’t eat meat or you just want to make sure you have a main dish prepared for the vegan in your life, this meatloaf-mimicking cauliflower lentil loaf is the answer.

With about six servings per loaf, it’s perfect for a separate main dish.

But it’s also easy to scale for a larger crowd since most ovens can hold two or three loaf pans at once.

Easter Dinner Side Ideas

Easter dinner essentials include lots of vegetables and fun, themed foods.

The following are all great sides for an Easter ham dinner but are tasty no matter what main dish you serve.

Soups and Salads

Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula

This fresh, crunchy salad gives a subtle nod to the holiday with carrots as a main feature.

Goat cheese and orange ginger vinaigrette turn this into a salad everyone will comment on!

Bacon Egg Salad

If you don’t love deviled eggs but still want to incorporate eggs into your Easter menu, this salad is a wonderful alternative.

You can set out a bowl of lettuce for guests to spoon this salad on top of, but I’d happily eat this one as-is!

Asparagus-Radish Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing

A fresh Spring salad goes well with the meats and hot sides common in an Easter dinner.

This one uses one of my favorite dressings (honey mustard) and avocado, a food I will eat in pretty much anything.

Creamy Carrot and Parsnip Soup

Sometimes it’s still pretty cold at Easter, so it’s nice to have a warm soup that spreads heat to your fingers and toes.

This simple soup is tasty, holiday-friendly with a carrot profile, and easy to make ahead and reheat on the stovetop!

Vegetables

Oven-Roasted Carrots

These sweet and savory sliced carrots are extremely easy to make and work for virtually anyone’s diet restrictions.

You don’t even have to peel them, because by the time they’re done roasting, no one will notice the outer layer is still intact.

Mixed-Vegetable Casserole

This casserole is a great choice because you can use up any vegetables you have hanging around in the refrigerator.

They’re all brought together – and made delicious – with a creamy cheese sauce and bread crumb topping.

Plus, it’s a casserole, making it easy to transport if you’re going to Easter dinner as a guest.

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic and Goat Cheese

I’m the first to admit asparagus is one of my least favorite vegetables.

That said, adding balsamic vinegar (one of my favorite flavors) and goat cheese (any cheese is always good) makes it much more tolerable.

I personally leave off the walnuts, but if you like them, use this recipe as-is for a great, healthy Easter dinner side.

Carrot Souffle

Most of us have picky eaters at Easter who avoid vegetables like the plague.

I highly recommend sneaking this souffle onto their plate!

It’s almost like a cake in sweetness and texture, so they might not even notice they’re eating something healthy.

Velveeta Broccoli Casserole

Love it or hate it, Velveeta cheese just melts better than any other kind.

And it tastes good, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

It certainly makes the taste of broccoli much more tolerable!

Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

To me, plain old cooked Brussels sprouts taste like dirt.

But with some balsamic vinegar mixed in, they suddenly taste just as good as any other veggie side!

The longer they’re roasted, the better they seem to get, too.

Honey Butter Skillet Corn

My kids won’t eat corn, which makes me sad.

Holidays give me a chance to make it for more than just me!

Cooking it in a cast iron skillet with butter and honey loads it full of flavor.

Other Casseroles

Not every side has to contain a vegetable, right?

Five-Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Honestly, I don’t have to sell you on this one.

It’s lots of cheese and pasta in casserole form.

Done.

Pineapple Stuffing

Zhuzh up the ordinary bread stuffing with a bit of sweet and sour pineapple!

This is super easy to throw together and bake.

The fruit lends itself well to a Spring vibe for the menu.

Fruit

With springtime fresh in the air, I am all about including fruit in our Easter dinner!

Rainbow Fruit Salad

We always include a fruit salad of some kind in our Easter dinner.

It’s one thing I can count on my kids to eat… as well as my father-in-law, haha.

You can use any fruits you like, and they’re all brought together by the honey-lime dressing in this recipe.

Easter Fruit Kabobs

I’m a fan of fruit kabobs at family gatherings because they allow everyone to quickly grab plenty of fruit without holding up the line and touching all of it.

These cute kabobs utilize a bunny cookie cutter to make the honeydew topper.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Dipping strawberries in chocolate is easy – but well worth the minimal effort for the ten-fold flavor.

Using pastel melting chocolates makes them bright and Easter-friendly.

Use orange chocolate to make it look like a tiny carrot!

Potatoes

If you’re not in the mood for plain mash, these potato recipes are a fun departure from the family gathering norm.

Ultimate Potato Salad

Is it even a Spring gathering if potato salad isn’t present?

Sure, you could get a giant tub of the storebought stuff – but you could also put in minimal effort for something that tastes way better.

This recipe is super easy, with chopping and boiling your potatoes being the only time-consuming part.

Crispy Garlic Rosemary Potato Wedges

This recipe is best if you’re hosting the Easter dinner because you’ll want these to be the last things to come out of the oven before it’s time to eat.

But a good potato wedge just makes the world seem brighter.

They’re also a surefire way to get the kids to eat something.

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Cheese.

Potatoes.

Chives.

Perfection.

Criss Cross Potatoes

Made in the air fryer, these potato halves have a nice aesthetic and great flavor.

It also makes it easy to portion your potatoes to make sure every guest gets a bite.

Grilled Potato Salad Skewers

You won’t need to worry if there’s enough potato salad for everyone when each guest can just grab a skewer for their plate!

This recipe provides an excuse to bust out the grill to mark the beginning of warmer weather on the way, too.

Roasted Herb Potatoes and Green Beans

If you love potatoes but are trying to limit your sides because the gathering is small, this dish is a great way to sneak in an extra veggie without more cooking time.

Use any of your favorite herbs and spices to give it all a flavor you enjoy.

Rolls

I wouldn’t recommend this much effort for a host, but if your only job is to bring the bread, you simply must be extra and make these adorable bunny buns.

Don’t be intimidated about making bread dough. It’s easier than you think!

Bunny Butter

Most people like a little butter with their bread.

Turn your butter into adorable Easter bunnies with a silicone mold and some patience!

This is a simple way to add pizzazz to your Easter dinner table, but Mara gives some great tips for getting them to look perfect.

Cheese and Bacon-Filled Puff Pastry Carrots

While this recipe stuffs the pastry with savory bacon and gouda, you can fill it with anything that you want to make a unique bread dish at the Easter table.

Use premade Pillsbury crescent roll dough to make it a little easier.

Desserts for Easter Dinner

A good Easter dinner is made complete with a sweet finisher.

These Easter dinner desserts are a great way to unwind at the end of the day after an energy-zapping egg hunt!

Birds’ Nest Cookies

Not gonna lie, I am obsessed with these cookies and am definitely making them this year!

They include my favorite flavors: chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch.

Believe it or not, the “nest” look is achieved with dry chow mein noodles. How cool!

Coconut Cupcakes

I’ve associated coconut flakes with Easter since I was a little kid.

I remember green-dyed flakes resembling grass on sheet cakes made by my grandmother.

Individual cupcakes are the way to go these days. There’s nothing to slice up, and they’re more aesthetically appealing.

Easter Bark

I’m not a huge fan of the peppermint bark many people make at Christmas, but this bark is right up my alley.

I love white chocolate, so that’s never been the issue.

But swapping crushed peppermint for chopped egg candies and pastel M&Ms is a vast improvement!

Cherry Cheesecake Marshmallow Fluff

Fluff desserts make me nostalgic for the huge family gatherings we had in the late 80s and early 90s.

It seemed like this stuff was always on the table somewhere!

In my opinion, it’s still worthy of a spot.

Carrot Cake Oreo Truffles

I had no idea carrot cake Oreos existed before this recipe was sent to me, but I’m SO glad to discover them!

Carrot cake is one of my faves, so these truffles sound mouth-watering to me.

I’ve made truffles out of regular Oreos before. They are really easy to make and eaten up quickly!

Bakery-Style Carrot Cake

If you can’t find seasonal Oreos, why not just make a traditional carrot cake?

They aren’t difficult and have a fresh flavor perfect for Easter dessert.

Any cake with cream cheese frosting is number one in my book.

Easter Dinner Table

As the host of an Easter dinner, you should also consider the look and layout of your dining table for the holiday.

I’ve put together some ideas for assembling a pretty party!

Easter Dinnerware Set

If you want to elevate your dinner party, these melamine Easter dinner plates feature a hand-drawn Easter bunny that’s more elegant than cutesy.

You can also get this set at Target or Home Depot.

Pastel Plates

Most of us can’t spend big money on plates suitable for only one day a year.

That’s why I love these unbreakable pastel wheat straw plates!

The deeper edges help keep your mountain of food from sliding off.

It’s lightweight enough that most people can carry it (full of food) with one hand while they carry their drink in the other.

Disposable Easter Dinnerware

Whether you’re on a tight budget or you just prefer the ease of wrapping everything up in the table cover before tossing it, this disposable set of Easter plates and cups is a convenient solution.

If all you need are big ol’ plates for loading up tons of food, these larger oval paper plates are the way to go.

They also have coordinating dessert plates, napkins, and decor!

Easter Table Decor

Below are more of my favorite finds of Easter-themed platters and reusable table decor!

The Next Big Holiday

Once Easter is over, the next occasion to plan for is Mother’s Day!

It’s always the second Sunday in May.

Check out our Mother’s Day gift ideas to get a head start on your shopping.