Easter Dinner Ideas

Easter is a big celebration around the world and it’s a great time to get together with family over a special meal. So I’m sharing some of my go-to recipes for your dinner table.

It may be a lot for one person so it’s fine to spread the tasks among everyone, potluck style. Just pick out your entrée, your sides, and dessert from the list below. But if you’re gathering together early in the day, be sure to check out our Easter brunch ideas.

What to Serve for Easter Dinner

Here’s a good place to start if you’re serving 8 people. If you have more simply add another dish to each category, or host it potluck style and let guests contribute to the meal. And don’t forget to set a festive Easter table that’s inviting for guests!

• 1-2 appetizers
• 1 salad
• 2-3 side dishes (hot and cold options, starch option)
• 1 bread or rolls
• Baked Ham or lamb, and a vegetarian option if needed
• 1 signature cocktail or punch
• 2 dessert options

Appetizers

Hold your guests over before dinner by serving some Easter appetizers.

Set out a party cheese board for people to nosh on while they sip a cocktail. Add Easter themed appetizer crackers with sweet creamy cheese spread that looks like little carrots.

You can’t have an Easter meal without the best deviled eggs with bacon!

Main Dish

For an elegant dinner serve lamb chops and goat cheese polenta. This dish is chef quality and it’s one of my favorite meals! Plus, you can increase the recipe easily if you have more guests.

Just as turkey is key for Thanksgiving, so is ham a must for Easter. The recipe for my spiral ham with peach glaze is simply out of this world and gets all the thumbs up from my guests.

How Much Ham to Serve?

We live by our spiral sliced bone-in ham for the holidays. A serving size can vary from person to person, so I recommended about 10 pounds for 10 to 12 people. However, I like to have leftovers so I tend to go with eight people for that size.

You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months, or use it within a few days in casseroles, or for making ham biscuits.

Sides & Starches

Bread

The bunny rolls are a hit with kids and adults. Serve with softened regular or flavored butter. Classic Jiffy cornbread casserole is moist and sweet and full of corn flavor. It’s a must-have at most holiday gatherings. You can serve one or the other, or both!

Hot Sides

Pick one or two.

• I love serving this broccoli casserole any chance I get. It’s a heavenly alternative to the green bean version and has cheese throughout with a crisp topping.
• Since it’s Easter, why not add stovetop glazed carrots or simple roasted carrots with cumin? They’re an easy vegetable to make and if you use the colorful carrots (for roasting) they look so pretty on the table.
• Dress up brussels sprouts with bacon and a drizzle of honey, or make green peas with Parmesan and cashews. Both are stovetop recipes and an awesome vegetable side dish.
• This creamy baked macaroni and cheese makes a large dish to serve a crowd. This decadent version has 3 kinds of cheese and is a family favorite. If you’re serving a smaller crowd or just want to keep the recipe simple, make this mayonnaise macaroni and cheese. You won’t believe how 5 simple ingredients taste so good!

Cold Side Dishes

Pick one or two. The vegetable items can take the place of a green salad, for freshness.

• Asparagus is synonymous with spring, so this marinated asparagus is the ideal complement to your meal. The marinade has some Asian-style flavors and it’s make ahead. Another fresh alternative is marinated green bean salad that’s got peppers and onions, and a classic vinaigrette.
• If it’s a potluck party then you’re sure to find this classic potato salad on the table. It’s creamy with bacon and hard boiled eggs throughout. As an alternative, my creamy pasta salad with mayonnaise, hard boiled eggs, celery, peppers and sweet relish. There’s so much texture and flavor in this recipe!
• Savory and sweet broccoli salad is another easy cold dish you can serve. It’s got tomatoes, raisins, and crispy noodles for tons of flavor and crunch.

Drinks

Set up an iced tea bar with flavored juice add-ins for a festive party atmosphere. Self-serve stations are always fun. Or make a family friendly pomegranate peach lemonade for the kids and non-alcohol drinkers.

An easy peach party punch is a fantastic drink to welcome your adult guests.

Desserts

When it comes to dessert, people love options! Plan to have at least 2 choices for a party of 8, and make sure they each have a different flavor profile. For instance, serve something chocolate along with something fruit-forward.

• Easter garden dirt cake – Chocolate pudding, cream cheese and Oreo cookie crumbs make this easy dessert a decadent treat.
• Pineapple layer cake – Use a box cake mix to make this elevated pineapple sunshine cake with loads of Cool Whip frosting.
• Orange layer cake – This fruity layer cake has mandarin oranges and whipped topping for a lightly sweetened option.
• Pecan pie trifle – Turn the traditional Southern pie into an over-the-top treat with layers of creamy filling and chocolate chips added.

For something super easy and fun, put together a sweet Easter dessert board that’s cute and festive for the whole family. Add chocolate nests and fill in with themed candy and treats from the store.

I hope you and your family love these Easter dinner ideas as much as we do. These are some of our favorite recipes year after year.