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Looking for the best Easter dinner ideas? Whether you’re planning a traditional ham dinner, hosting a crowd, or putting together a simple holiday meal, we’ve rounded up our favorite tried-and-true recipes all in one place. From classic Easter mains like glazed ham and roast beef to easy side dishes, fresh spring salads, and crowd-pleasing desserts, this guide will help you build the perfect Easter menu from start to finish.
⭐ Best Easter Dinner Ideas (Quick List)
If you’re short on time, here are our must-have Easter favorites:
Slow Cooker Spiral Ham
Cheesy Potato Casserole
Best Deviled Eggs
Sweet Sautéed Asparagus
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Dinner Rolls or Easter Bread
Carrot cake, Lemon Meringue Pie, or Coconut Cake
🥕 How to Build a Traditional Easter Dinner
A classic Easter dinner is all about balance. For the menu, choose something savory, something fresh, and something a little indulgent.
Most traditional Easter menus include:
- Main dish: Ham is the most popular, but roast beef, lamb, or salmon are great options
- Potato side: Cheesy potatoes, mashed potatoes, or scalloped potatoes
- Vegetable: Asparagus, green beans, or peas
- Salad: Something fresh and light to balance the meal
- Bread: Rolls or a festive Easter bread
- Dessert: A spring-inspired cake or pie
You can mix and match based on what your family loves or scroll through the ideas below to build your perfect menu.
🕒 Planning Tips for a Stress-Free Easter Dinner
After hosting many Easter meals, here are a few simple tips that make a big difference:
- Choose one main dish and 3-4 sides to keep things manageable. Ask guests to bring a side or dessert.
- Prep what you can ahead of time (desserts, salads, deviled eggs).
- Use your slow cooker for ham to free up oven space.
- Balance your menu with fresh and rich dishes.
- Don’t try something new for everything. Stick with a few tried-and-true favorites and add a new recipe or two if you’re feeling adventurous.
Table of Contents
Easter Appetizers
As family and friends start to gather, we like to set out an appetizer or two. We’ve handpicked some of our favorites to set out before Easter dinner.
Best Deviled Eggs Recipe
Deviled eggs are one of the most popular party appetizers. Learn how to make deviled eggs to take to a holiday party or family gathering. They’re quick to prepare and easy to serve to a crowd.
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Spicy Deviled Eggs
Spicy deviled eggs are a fire-y twist on a classic! These deviled eggs get a spicy kick from sriracha hot sauce but still taste sweet and creamy.
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Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
A smooth and creamy dip with a hint of citrus. It complements the flavor of every kind of fruit. I love it with apples, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, bananas, cantaloupe, watermelon, and any other fruit that is in season.
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Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus is an easy and delicious side dish that will complement any meal. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, but tastes like a gourmet dish!
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Simple Charcuterie Board
Elevate your gatherings with our guide on crafting a stunning yet simple charcuterie board. Impress guests effortlessly with our expert tips!
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Vegan Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie Boards are a popular appetizer, usually made up of meats and cheeses. With this Vegan Charcuterie Board, plant-based eaters can still get in on the fun.
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Veggie Dip
Make eating vegetables fun and delicious! Our creamy and flavorful vegetable dip turns veggies into your new favorite food!
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Easter Salads
The possibilities are endless when it comes to Easter salads. It’s fun to incorporate fresh spring flavors at Easter dinner. We find ourselves using the following salads time and time again.
Classic Potato Salad Recipe with Eggs
Our best potato salad recipe comes straight from Mom's recipe box. Tender chunks of potatoes and eggs covered in creamy dressing is tried and true and a hit at any gathering!
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Layered Cold Pasta Salad
This Layered Cold Pasta Salad is a colorful side dish for BBQ’s and potlucks. With layers of ham, eggs, salami, veggies, and cheese, it is hearty and delicious!
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Olive Garden Salad
Discover the secrets to making the iconic Olive Garden Salad at home. With crispy greens, fresh tomatoes, and tangy dressing – it is so good!
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Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon
Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon is always a favorite side dish at barbecues or potlucks. The creamy dressing and crunchy, crispy bacon are so good!
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Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
This Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing is the perfect summer side dish with tri-color noodles, fresh veggies, cheese, and a tangy dressing.
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Frog Eye Salad
Frog Eye Salad is a creamy, sweet salad made with couscous, fruit, marshmallows, and homemade pineapple curd. Perfect for potlucks!
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Creamy Cucumber Salad
This Creamy Cucumber Salad is a refreshing side dish perfect for weeknight dinners or summer barbecues. You'll love the creamy dill dressing!
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Nuts About Berries Salad
This Nuts About Berries Salad is colorful, flavorful, and refreshing in the spring and summer months when you can pick or purchase delicious, fresh berries.
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Waldorf Salad Recipe
Waldorf Salad is fresh, crisp, crunchy, and sweet. So refreshing and filling, the perfect side dish to any meal!
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Strawberry Spinach Salad
This strawberry spinach salad is made with fresh strawberries, spinach and candied nuts. Combine these ingredients and more to create a mouth-watering salad.
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a long time family favorite! The crunchy pretzel crust is layered with a smooth cream cheese filling, and a fresh strawberry gelatin layer on top.
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Blueberry Jello Salad
Blueberry Jello Salad layers berry gelatin, blueberry pie filling, and a fluffy cream cheese topping. An easy, no-bake side or dessert that’s perfect for potlucks and holidays.
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Easy Fruit Salad
This vibrant, refreshing fruit salad recipe features a light, citrus dressing. It's perfect for summer BBQ's, picnics, and family gatherings.
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Strawberry Fluff Salad Recipe
This Strawberry Fluff Salad is a retro favorite that combines classic ingredients like Jell-O, Cool Whip, and mini marshmallows for a sweet, creamy side dish (or dessert) that is perfect for family picnics or potlucks.
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Pistachio Salad
Whip up this nostalgic Pistachio Salad in 5 minutes! A sweet, creamy blend of pistachio pudding, pineapple, and marshmallows that everyone loves at potlucks.
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Easter Main Dish Recipes
According to marthastewart.com, ham became the meat of choice for Easter dinner because it was more readily available than lamb. However, if ham isn’t your main dish of choice, a roast lamb, pork roast, roast beef, or fish can be served for your Easter feast.
Honey Baked Ham
Honey Baked Ham is a Christmas and Easter tradition everyone looks forward to! Sweet, smoky with succulent spices, this copycat recipe tastes just like your favorite holiday ham, but made right at home.
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Crockpot Spiral Ham
Crockpot Ham sweetened with maple and brown sugar is a favorite for holidays, Sundays and more! This spiral ham is never dry, always flavorful, always a hit.
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Grilled Ham Steaks
These Grilled Ham Steaks are perfect for if you are craving cooked ham but don’t want to purchase a huge spiral ham. The sweet teriyaki glaze is tangy and delicious and super easy to make. You will love the little pieces of pineapple mixed in to every bite!
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Roast Beef Recipe (Tender Oven Roast)
This oven roast beef recipe results in a tender, juicy, classic Sunday roast. It has been a Sunday tradition in our family for years. Cook low and slow for fall-apart slices and flavorful drippings for gravy.
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Stuffed Pork Loin
Looking for an easy yet impressive dinner? This stuffed pork loin recipe is easier to make than you might think and the flavor is out of this world!
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Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Grilled Pork Tenderloin is perfectly tender, smothered with a sweet and savory homemade barbecue sauce. Simple to make and oh so delicious!
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Lemon Salmon
This zesty Lemon Salmon is such a light, fresh meal. Try our creamy tzatziki sauce with Greek yogurt as an optional topping to the salmon. It really puts it over the top!
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Herb Crusted Salmon
This Herb Crusted Salmon always turns out amazing. You will love the perfectly cooked flaky fish crusted in fresh herbs and drizzled with a tangy sauce.
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Baked Cod in Cream Sauce
This Baked Cod in Cream Sauce is hands-down, my favorite fish dish. It turns out perfectly flaky every time. The flavorful, creamy sauce puts it over the top!
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Easter Side Dishes
The side dishes are what truly make an Easter dinner feel special. From cheesy potatoes to bright, fresh vegetables, these tried-and-true favorites are the recipes our family comes back to year after year.
Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe
Our Cheesy Potato Casserole is sure to please a crowd! You'll love the tender potatoes, lots of cheese and a unique crunchy topping.
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Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Passed down from Mom’s Sunday dinners, this recipe makes the creamiest, most comforting mashed potatoes you’ll ever try!
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Roasted Red Potatoes
Red potatoes are ideal for roasting because their thin skin crisps up beautifully, and their naturally buttery flavor makes them absolutely delicious. This simple, versatile dish is a must-try for any roasted vegetable fan!
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Creamed Peas and Potatoes
Creamed Peas and Potatoes are a versatile side dish with vibrant crisp peas and tender potatoes. Creamy comfort food at its finest!
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Roasted Carrots and Potatoes
Discover the perfect harmony of flavors and textures in our Roasted Carrots and Potatoes recipe. A delectable side dish for any meal!
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Easy Lemon Rice Recipe
This bright, zesty Lemon Rice Recipe is the perfect Mediterranean side dish! Easy to make, fluffy, and full of flavor. Pairs beautifully with chicken, pork, or fish.
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How to Make Yellow Rice
Super Easy Yellow Rice complements just about any meal! You can make this on the stove top or in the rice cooker. So tasty!
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French Onion Rice
This easy French Onion Rice is a rich, savory side dish that complements any meat. Perfect for family dinners, holidays, and potlucks.
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Lemon Pesto Rice
This lemon pesto rice makes the most amazing side dish to just about any meal. It has a delicious pesto flavor with a kick of lemon.
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Lemon Orzo Salad
Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that is popular in Greek and Italian cooking. This easy salad uses orzo and vegetables to make a tasty side dish.
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Pasta with Peas
Make this Italian classic yourself, a fresh and flavorful pasta dish ready in under 30 minutes. Budget friendly and made with pantry staples, this is the perfect weeknight meal!
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Sweet Sautéed Asparagus
Sweet Sautéed Asparagus is the best way to prepare this gorgeous springtime veggie. The low-calorie side dish is sautéed, slightly sweet, and healthy!
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How to Cook Frozen Peas (the RIGHT way)
Learn how to cook frozen peas so they turn out perfectly every time—sweet, tender, and vibrant green, never mushy or bland. This quick and easy stovetop method takes just 10 minutes and uses simple ingredients you already have on hand.
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Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with lemon, garlic, and Parmesan. Buttery, bright, and ready in 20 minutes. The side that wins over sprout skeptics.
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Oven Roasted Green Beans
Oven roasted green beans are a vibrant, crisp side dish for any meal. Quick and low carb, these roasted veggies are also a delicious snack!
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Artichokes Recipe
Follow this easy method for cooking artichokes to perfections. Dip them in lemon aioli for a delicious appetizer or side dish.
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Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey-glazed carrots are such an easy side dish to throw together, and they go with everything! We have got a traditional recipe, plus two variations with flavors you will love!
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Oven Roasted Vegetables
Make Oven Roasted Vegetables that caramelize beautifully in about 30 minutes. Learn the best temp, seasoning options, veggie swaps, and tips for perfect results.
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Easter Breads
Nothing quite compares to the aroma and taste of freshly baked bread. Homemade rolls are always a good idea. Our classic Easter bread also looks beautiful on the table.
Easter Bread
This festive Easter Bread is similar to a brioche bread, the flavor is just a little sweeter. The dyed eggs are raw and will cook in the oven along with the loaves of bread.
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Homemade Dinner Rolls
These homemade dinner rolls have been a favorite in our family for generations. We serve them with soup, salad, and of course, Thanksgiving dinner!
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Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Rolls)
Pani Popo is a Samoan sweet roll baked in a delicious coconut sauce. One of my favorite Pacific-Island dishes from my bakery days in Hawaii.
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Homemade Crescent Rolls
These Homemade Crescent Rolls are light and fluffy and flakey! This recipe makes a large batch, great for a crowd or for freezing some for later.
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Sweet Coconut Bread
Sweet Coconut Bread is a moist coconutty bread with a hint of almond. Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or just for a sweet treat!
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Easter Desserts
Celebrate the season with desserts that are as beautiful as they are delicious. These Easter treats feature fresh spring flavors, soft pastel colors, and just the right amount of indulgence to make your holiday feel extra special.
Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut
This Classic Carrot Cake is perfectly moist and delicious, with fluffy cream cheese frosting, a true classic recipe passed down in our family for years. If you're looking for the perfect carrot cake, look no further!
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Bunny Cake
This easy Bunny Cake is the perfect Easter dessert. Made with cake mix, frosting, strawberries, and blueberries, it is simple, cute, and fun for kids to help decorate.
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Carrot Bundt Cake
This Carrot Bundt Cake recipe has all the flavors of classic carrot cake, with a lighter texture that is more like the Nothing Bundt Cake's Carrot Cake. Light, fluffy, so delicious!
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Coconut Cream Cake
This Coconut Cake Recipe is layer upon layer of coconut flavor in every bite! Coconut cake, coconut cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with toasted coconut. A coconut lover's dream!
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Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe
This Nothing Bundt Cakes Lemon Cake Copycat recipe tastes just like the original! A sweet, tart cake with an AMAZING cream cheese frosting.
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Lemon Pound Cake
Buttery, moist, and bursting with fresh lemon zest—this homemade, classic lemon pound cake is even better than Starbucks!
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Raspberry Lemon Jello Poke Cake
Raspberry Lemon Jello Poke Cake is a cold, refreshing treat! You'll love this moist, tangy lemon and raspberry flavor with light pudding frosting.
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Easter Cupcakes
Spring has finally sprung, and what better way to celebrate than with these deliciously colorful Easter cupcakes.
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Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Frosting
These Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Frosting taste like cupcakes you would buy at an expensive cupcake shop. Creamy lemon flavor in every bite!
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Chessmen Banana Pudding
This chessmen banana pudding is stacked with bananas, a pudding cheesecake filling, and crunchy cookies. This Paula Deen recipe is one of our favorite desserts and we're so excited to share it with you.
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Oreo Dirt Cake
This easy Oreo Dirt Cake recipe is a nostalgic no-bake dessert made with creamy chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo cookies, and gummy worms. Perfect for Easter, Halloween, or just for fun!
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Coconut Cream Pie (From Scratch)
This from-scratch Coconut Cream Pie uses canned coconut milk for bold coconut flavor and half-and-half for a silky, sliceable custard — no pudding mix needed.
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Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie
Lemon Meringue Pie is one of my all-time favorites. Smooth, tart lemon filling with light and fluffy meringue that melts in your mouth. The best lemon pie you will ever taste!
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Key Lime Pie
This authentic Key Lime Pie recipe comes straight from Savannah, Georgia. It is smooth and creamy with the perfect blend of tart and sweet.
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Sour Cream Lemon Pie
Sour Cream Lemon Pie is a creamy, zesty, dessert perfect for holidays, summertime, anytime! It is fresh and tangy and super easy to make.
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The Very Best Lemon Bars
Lemon Bars are a tart,yummy dessert with a tangy lemon layer, cookie crust and dusting of powdered sugar. A real summer treat!
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Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
These Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are a MUST for carrot cake lovers! You will love the frosting. So many delicious flavors in one little cookie!
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Cadbury Egg Cookies
These soft, chewy Cadbury Egg Cookies are the perfect Easter treat! Packed with mini Cadbury Eggs and melty chocolate, they’re easy to make and irresistibly delicious.
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White Chocolate Bird Nests
These Chocolate Bird Nests are a favorite for Easter in our family. My kids love helping to make the little nests and adding little chocolate eggs to the middle.
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Italian Easter Cookies
These buttery soft Italian Easter Cookies are perfect for Easter, tea parties, or anytime you want a sweet treat! Decorate them with colorful icing and festive sprinkles for a beautiful and delicious Easter dessert.
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Homemade Peanut Butter Easter Eggs
These Peanut Butter Easter Eggs are a family tradition at Easter. A smooth peanut butter filling covered in chocolate is decorated with icing flowers.
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Sample Easter Dinner Menu
Here is a sample menu plan for an easy traditional Easter dinner. Slow Cooker Ham, Cheesy Potato Casserole, Sautéed Sweet Asparagus, and a Chessman Banana Pudding for dessert. This is a basic, simple Easter dinner. Add in appetizers, salads, rolls, and additional side dishes from our ideas above, or invite guests to contribute. Follow our preparation and timing guidelines for an stress-free Easter Sunday that you can enjoy cooking and eating with your family and friends.
Click on the images below for the full recipe of each dish and follow preparation timing for a relaxing and enjoyable Easter meal.
Preparation and Timing
- Day before: Prepare the banana pudding and refrigerate overnight.
- Three hours before dinner time: Prepare the ham to cook in the slow cooker. This will take about 10 minutes. The ham will slow cook on low for about 2 1/2- 3 hours and your house will smell amazing.
- One and a half hours before dinner time: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Make the cheesy potato casserole. Prep time will be approximately 15 minutes and cook time will be one hour.
- Prepare the asparagus: While the casserole is cooking, rinse and cut the asparagus, set the table, and make any other final preparations for the meal. The asparagus is best when it is hot and fresh out of the skillet, so prepare it about 10 minutes before you are ready to sit down and eat.
Happy Easter!
For more Easter planning, take a look at more of our Easter sweet and savory recipes!
Easter Brunch Ideas
Easter Side Dishes
Easter Appetizers
Easter Dessert Ideas
We hope you’ve found ideas and recipes here that will make your Easter celebrations memorable and special this year. Please let us know if there are traditional Easter dishes you make that you would like to see featured with our ideas. We would also love to hear what you made for your Easter dinner. Thank you! 🌷
The last few years we have had BBQ ribs, Cheesy Potaoes, Baked Beans, Rolls and a
Lemon Delight for dessert.
My favorite meal for Easter is ham with dressing and butter beans or field peas also potato salad.
We typically have a spiral ham with all the sides that our family enjoys like green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, and homemade yeast rolls. For dessert its a coconut layered cake- love spending time in the kitchen with my family around the holidays.
Please don’t use boxed pudding and ruin a great looking Nana Puddin’. The make from scratch is not that hard. Flour, sugar, butter, and vanilla. The other recipes look great.
So many recipe ideas. I like the sautéed asparagus. Then chessman cookies with bananas. The crock
Pot pork chops sounded so different and I think it would be moist and tender
Ham is usually what we’ve done in the past but this year I might try rainbow trout ( I prefer over salmon). But scalloped potatoes are always a must however I may try crock pot au gratin this year.
Delicious traditional Easter dinner. You can’t go wrong with this one.
My favorite Easter tradition is dying and hiding eggs for the kids and or dogs since the kids are grown. We now eat the dyed eggs and put out plastic eggs with treats inside for the dogs to find. Of course after they find them, we open them and get the treats out for them. Traditionally we cook ham, mashed or scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and homemade rolls with whipped butter and cream cheese.
amazzzzzziiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggg I love it soooo much!
Pasties 🥧 (Irish dish composed of roast beef slow cooked and potatoes in a pie crust covered in beef gravy) ♥.
That is one of our favorites as well! We have a yummy recipe for it: https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/irish-pasties/
Traditionally I make a ham for Easter dinner, this year I am going to do a beef roast with mushroom gravy, roasted red potatoes, asparagus and a salad (not sure yet what kind). For dessert I make my single layer carrot cake with a poured glazed that soaks into the cake. My recipe makes 2 so we eat one and freeze one.
Loved the over roast… delicious!
Always deviled eggs, spiral ham, and a mac & cheese dish. The Four Layer Banana Pudding will be on my table as well – looks delicious!
Thanks for your great recipes. I appreciate all the photos and how easy they are to follow. Hope you have a blessed Easter!
My favorite Easter menu item is the ham…..juicy homemade ham! I’ll be trying this crock pot ham for sure.
I will be making the crockpot ham with maple glaze. Maple being a favorite flavor for me. The side dish of creamed potatoes and peas looks amazing! I remember having this as a child at Easter. The peas and baby potatoes make it look Spring fresh. Dessert is a toss up between a lemon Bundt or the coconut cake. Thank you for all the scrumptious recipes to make this years Easter celebration a hit.
Thanks for this great post! Everything looks amazing!! We normally have ham and baked potatoes for Easter, but this year we will be eating at a restaurant near my daughter’s college. Looking forward to a nice brunch with no dirty dishes to clean up!
Brilliant ham recipe and easy
Gotta have cheesy potatoes, ham rollups and strawberry pretzel salad at every Easter dinner
My favorite Easter meal is ham, potato, macaroni, and pasta salads, baked beans, deviled eggs, and homemade yeast rolls. For dessert, a coconut cake shaped into a lamb ( I use the same shaped cake pan my mother did) For me holiday meals are filled with tradition and family.
My favorite & what I’m planning on making is the lemon salmon with asparagus. Not sure on which side yet but banana pudding for desert. All easy & super yummy so while I’m going to be cooking I’ll still be able to relax a bit. That’s a win win in my book