We may earn a commission when you click on the affiliate links in this post.
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
Simple Charcuterie Board
Elevate your gatherings with our guide on crafting a stunning yet simple charcuterie board. Impress guests effortlessly with our expert tips!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
Veggie Dip
Make eating vegetables fun and delicious! Our creamy and flavorful vegetable dip turns veggies into your new favorite food!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
Frog Eye Salad
Frog Eye Salad is a creamy, sweet salad made with couscous, fruit, marshmallows, and homemade pineapple curd. Perfect for potlucks!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
Waldorf Salad Recipe
Waldorf Salad is fresh, crisp, crunchy, and sweet. So refreshing and filling, the perfect side dish to any meal!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Passed down from Mom’s Sunday dinners, this recipe makes the creamiest, most comforting mashed potatoes you’ll ever try!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
Artichokes Recipe
Follow this easy method for cooking artichokes to perfections. Dip them in lemon aioli for a delicious appetizer or side dish.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
Lemon Pound Cake
Buttery, moist, and bursting with fresh lemon zest—this homemade, classic lemon pound cake is even better than Starbucks!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
Easter Cupcakes
Spring has finally sprung, and what better way to celebrate than with these deliciously colorful Easter cupcakes.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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!
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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.
View This Recipe
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 Chessmen Banana Pudding has now become a family favorite. Thank you
Potato Salad recipe is fantastic tasting and easy to make.
So delicious and appetizing looking!
My favorite Easter dinner is ham, cheesy potato casserole and asparagus. I can’t wait to add the banana pudding into the tradition. And we always have mac n cheese for all the kids! Happy Easter everyone! 🐰 🐣
Our traditional Easter dinner is turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, creamed corn casserole, pickles, jello salad, and carrots. Our tradition is to do this meal on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yes, same meal for all occasions. The only item that changes is the dessert. Usually pie though.
All of these recipes are great! I have tried most of them already but have seen some tweaks I can use.
I am planning on ham, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, knoxblocks for the young grandchilldren, and carrot cake for dessert…
We always had roast leg of lamb, sometimes also had ham, always had mashed potates, carrots & asparagus with hollandaise sauce
Ham with pineapple and maple syrup. Baked macaroni and cheese. Deviled eggs 🥚. Mashed potatoes and gravy.
We have to make deviled eggs with ham and we do the old fashion way of making banana pudding but this year we will try the 4 layer banana pudding recipe. Yummy
For years and years ham for Easter has been our family tradition. I loved it as a child when my mother prepared it, I shared it with my beloved husband when we were married and now tradition has been passed on to our son and daughter. Cannot go wrong with ham, potatoes, 1 – 2 veggie casseroles and warm, buttered rolls!
Glazed spiral ham, scalloped potatoes, oven-roasted asparagus, buttermilk dinner rolls, and layered carrot cake for dessert! 🙂 Happy Easter, everyone!
traditional easter dinner at this house
Crockpot Ham, baked beans. And corn pudding are my go to Easter Dishes. The Cheesy Potatoes will make a great addition.
Love these ideas! To me the perfect meal for Easter is honey baked ham with green beans & mashed potatoes with dutch apple pie for dessert!
Love using your recipes
Easter Dinner includes honey-glazed ham, rosemary-infused lamb chops, smashed redskins, cheesy hash brown casserole, homemade Mac n cheese, sweet potato casserole, asparagus with hollandaise, pickled eggs, deviled eggs, roasted Brussel sprouts, rolls and we love the chessman banana cream pie! Of course, there are more delicious desserts, but the chessman banana cream pie is permanently gone.
Easter sweet bread is a must at Easter. Other favourites are ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans and a pistachio lush. I also make homemade dinner rolls. Lemon meringue pie always finishes off our dinner.
All looks good! Our tradition is also ham, candied sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, etc. but this year my hubby has requested a garlic herb flavored pork loin from Smithfield and butternut squash. Still have to make the deviled eggs, though!! I’ll try your recipe for this year’s dessert since we don’t have a traditional Easter dessert.
Both the crockpot ham and cheesy potatoes are my go to Easter. You just can’t wrong with this delicious food.
Ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, sweet Hawaiian rolls with butter and desserts Mom and Gram(s) always make our holiday meals so special and delicious. I can’t wait to try the 4 layer banana pudding and the cheesy potato casserole as they sound soooo good. Thank you for such wonderful ideas/recipes
I just went through every recipe.
I can’t wait to make the 4 layer banana pudding. It’s my husband ‘s favorite and this version will have him smiling all day!!