60 Easter Side Dishes to Go with Ham, Lamb and Everything in Between
It’s Easter Sunday, which means two things: You made it through winter (huzzah!) and you’re about to whip up a gorgeous spring spread to celebrate the holiday. No meal would be complete with a few tasty side dishes to complement the mains. (And no, we don’t mean dessert.) Whether you’re going the classic route and serving a glazed ham, getting fancy with lamb chops or breaking tradition and putting a whole fish on the table, there’s a side for that. (We’d recommend smashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts slaw and citrus salad, respectively.) Here, 60 Easter side dishes that are so tasty, they just might steal the show.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, low carb, gluten free
Put Parmesan cheese and black pepper together and they’ll work magic on pretty much any ingredient, Brussels sprouts included.
Erin McDowell
2. Whole Roasted Carrots
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pan
Would the Easter Bunny protest if you borrowed his favorite snack for your brunch? We don’t think so.
Erin McDowell
3. Swiss Chard au Gratin
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, under 500 calories, crowd-pleaser
Everything is better when you top it with buttery breadcrumbs. It’s just a fact.
Erin McDowell
4. Oven-Roasted Beets and Potatoes
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories
Root vegetables never looked (or tasted) this good. Bonus, there’s only one dish to clean, which means more time to enjoy that Easter basket.
Jacqui Melville/Apple
5. Goat Cheese, Apple and Honey Tarts
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, under 500 calories
Well, aren’t you fancy? (The crust is store-bought puff pastry, but shh.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
6. Spring Panzanella Salad
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian, low sugar
This salad is packed with peas, asparagus and wild mushrooms to showcase the best produce of the Easter season.
Eva Kolenko/Bread Toast Crumbs
7. Spicy Broccoli Sauté
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Crushed red pepper flakes and garlic give this simple, crowd-pleasing side dish its signature kick.
Karen Tedesco/Family Style
8. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, low carb
We love the combination of juicy cherry tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini, but feel free to switch it up based on your own Easter menu.
Ola Smit/Dinner’s in the Bag
9. Baby Vegetables with Orange and Thyme
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, vegan, gluten free, sheet pan recipe
Flavorful? Check. Minimal cleanup? Check. Cute as can be? You know the answer.
Quentin Bacon/Modern Comfort Food
10. Ina Garten’s Roasted Broccolini & Cheddar
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, ready in <30 minutes, kid-friendly
While we wish Ina Garten (and Jeffrey) could grace our Easter table, we’ll settle for one of the Barefoot Contessa’s recipes instead.
Kirsten Buck/Buck Naked Kitchen
11. Shaved Spring Vegetable and Apple Salad with Ginger-Dijon Dressing
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, no cook, under 500 calories
The tangy-sweet-spicy dressing is pretty much impossible to mess up—just blitz all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Kirsten Buck/Buck Naked Kitchen
12. Sweet Potato, Bacon and Broccoli Egg Muffins
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, low carb, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Easter brunch wouldn’t be complete without at least on eggy dish on the menu.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
13. Easy Dinner Rolls
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Ditto for rolls. These ones are 1,000 times softer and more buttery than the kind from a tube.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
14. The Best Potatoes au Gratin Ever
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Why are these potatoes the best? Well, they’re smothered in cheese and cream and they can be made ahead. Any other questions?
Nicole Franzen/Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?
15. Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, low sugar, vegan, <10 ingredients
The natural sweetness of the beets and citrus complement the peppery arugula to a T.
Emily Dorio/The Saltwater Table
16. Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Horseradish and Sea Salt
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, low sugar, special occasion–worthy
Save the mashed potatoes for another holiday. These crispy bites are festive and fresh.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
17. Scallion and Chive Flatbread
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
The flatbread itself is simple to prepare, which leaves you with ample time to create an Easter masterpiece with the decorative garnishes.
Matt Russell/Provençal
18. Domino Potatoes
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
A potato side dish is always a beautiful thing, but this one is especially so. If you have a mandoline, use it to make the slices super thin.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga
19. Radicchio, Lentil and Apple Salad with Vegan Cashew Dressing
Time Commitment: 30 minutes (+ soaking time)
Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
Even if you’re not vegan, you’ll be blown away by this creamy dressing, which is made without any dairy at all.
Ana Cuba/The Modern Cook’s Year
20. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, vegan
This refreshing side dish is a combination of a few of our favorite things: kale, Brussels, slaw and Caesar salad.
Simon Pask/The Happy Balance
21. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
Why not start grilling season at Easter? It’s never too early, if you ask us.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Sarah Copeland
22. Spring Crudités with Romesco Sauce
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegan
Make an extra batch of the sauce and keep the leftovers in the fridge for up to five days to spread on sandwiches, serve with seafood and use as a dip for any veggie you love.
Jeanine Donofrio/Love & Lemons Everyday
23. Broccoli Rabe with Burrata and Lemon
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
If we’re being honest, we were sold at the first mention of burrata.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Eden Grinshpan
24. Harissa and Honey Roasted-Carrots
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
For an elegant twist on the usual glazed carrots, try harissa and honey. It’s sticky, spicy and goes great with yogurt sauce.
Abra Berens/Chronicle Books
25. Blistered Green Beans with Tomatoes, Pounded Walnuts and Raw Summer Squash
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, under 500 calories
Boiled green beans? Yawn. These babies are lightly blistered in a hot skillet for a major texture and flavor upgrade.
Lauren V. Allen/Chèvre
26. Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Chèvre Ranch
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, low carb, under 500 calories
Yes, you can serve ranch at the Easter feast—it’s made with goat cheese, so it’s classy.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
27. Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
This salad is simple on paper, but the contrasting textures make every bite more exciting than the last.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
28. Asparagus Caesar Salad
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories, low carb
Go ahead, skip the lettuce in favor of a seasonal vegetable. Just don’t skimp on the Parmesan.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
29. Creamed Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, one pan, beginner-friendly
While we love crispy Brussel sprouts, this creamy casserole is just the right amount of indulgent for a holiday.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
30. Brussels Sprouts Skillet with Crispy Pancetta-Garlic Breadcrumbs
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
But if you’re not into creamy vegetable dishes, you should try pancetta-garlic breadcrumbs to jazz things up.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
31. Asparagus, Pea and Ricotta Tarts
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, under 500 calories
They look like you spent all morning in the kitchen, but they start with store-bought dough. No one will even realize.
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jake Cohen
32. Charred Sweet Potatoes with Pistachio-Chili Pesto
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, under 500 calories
We know sweet potatoes are more of a winter thing, but we love this spicy side so much that we’re serving it at our own Easter dinner.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
33. Zucchini Ricotta Galette
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
We have a soft spot for savory pies, and this one is particularly delicious thanks to a layer of creamy cheese.
Aubrie Pick/Kitchen Remix
34. Minty-Fresh Zucchini Salad with Marinated Feta
Time Commitment: 15 minutes (+ marinating time)
Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, vegetarian
The longer this salad sits, the better it tastes. (We love to hear those words.)
Erin McDowell
35. Whole Roasted Radishes
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: low carb, low sugar, <10 ingredients, vegan
Raw radishes are peppery and a little harsh, but pop them in the oven for 30 minutes and they become sweet, tender and Easter-ready.
Linda Pugliese/Help Yourself
36. Melted Onions
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
We bet you’ve never served onions as a side dish before. You should.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
37. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Remember what we said about Parm and pepper? Yep, it works for cauliflower too.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Sarah Copeland
38. Shaved Moroccan Carrot Toast
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Here’s proof that toast isn’t just for breakfast. Pair it with your farmers market haul and it becomes an Easter-ready side.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Sarah Copeland
39. Baked Feta with Dill, Caper Berries and Citrus
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, low carb, beginner-friendly
We’ll never say no to feta—marinated and baked until melty just happens to be one of our favorite ways to prepare it.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
40. Prosciutto and Fig Salad Board
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Salads are a necessary part of the spread, but they’re not always impressive. This one is built on a cutting board so you can see all the pretty toppings.
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
41. Easy Pretzel Buns
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Easter is a celebration, and we like to celebrate with bread. Make these buns on the smaller side (so you can eat more than one).
David Loftus/Ultimate Veg
42. Greens Mac and Cheese
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, high protein
It’s a veggie and a carb all in one bubbly, cheesy dish. What more could you want?
Robert S. Cooper/A Real Southern Cook
43. Sprightly Biscuits
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
These biscuits have a secret: They’re made from boxed mix and lemon-lime soda (and they’re impossibly fluffy).
Emily Dorio/The Saltwater Kitchen
44. Charred Cauliflower with Crunchy Garlic Chile Oil
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, low carb, special occasion–worthy
Make extra chile oil—it’s that good.
Abra Berens/Chronicle Books
45. Cauliflower with Roasted Tomatoes, Parsley and Breadcrumbs
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
Everything roasts on a single sheet pan so you can relax after the big meal instead of worrying about the dishes.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
46. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Easter seems like as good a reason as any to whip up this savory monkey bread.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
47. Spinach Artichoke Squares
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, under 500 calories
It’s like our favorite dip, in pielet form.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
48. French Onion Cups
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, low carb, under 500 calories
For the record, we would devour these as an appetizer or a snack too.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
49. Greek Wedge Salad
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Swap the usual blue cheese dressing for vinaigrette, and suddenly, a wedge salad sounds modern.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
50. Make-Ahead Farro and Brussels Sprout Salad
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, make ahead, beginner-friendly
A filling side that you can make four days in advance? Happy Easter to us.
Katherine Gillen
51. Smashed Brussels Sprouts
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, low carb, beginner-friendly
Have you heard? Brussels sprouts are the new potatoes. This six-ingredient wonder is practically foolproof.
Kristen Kilpatrick/The Comfortable Kitchen
52. Balsamic-Thyme Roasted Mushrooms
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, under 500 calories
They’re meatless, flavorful and ready in 30 minutes—the ideal accompaniment to any entrée. Might we suggest pork tenderloin or strip steak?
Jennifer Davis/The Southern Baking Cookbook
53. Bacon, Apple and Cheddar Waffles
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, low sugar
Choosing between sweet and savory on Easter brunch? We couldn’t possibly have that.
Mark Weinberg/Baking with Dorie
54. Dorie Greenspan’s Potato-Parm Tart
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes (+ chilling time)
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
You’ll look like a professional pastry chef, and your guests will get to nosh on a rich, cheesy potato pie. Win-win.
Colin Price/Dinner Then Dessert
55. Balsamic-Brown Sugar Carrots
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
These are not your typical, mushy glazed carrots. Instead, they’re crisp-tender, just sweet enough and brightened up with a touch of vinegar. The Easter Bunny would approve.
Katherine Gillen
56. Blistered Green Beans with Bacon Vinaigrette
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free
The tangy dressing that will make you rethink all your former opinions on green vegetables. (Try it on Brussels sprouts next.)
Katherine Gillen
57. Utica Greens
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Spice up your side dish rotation with this Central New York favorite, which is like an Italian-American take on your typically hearty green vegetable. If you can’t find fresh cherry peppers, just use jarred.
CLARE WINFIELD/THE SHORTCUT COOK ALL IN ONE
58. All-Year-Round Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <30 minutes, vegetarian
As it turns out, a little olive oil, salt and heat can do wonders for out-of-season tomatoes, so you can dream of summer even if there’s till an early spring chill in the air.
Nicole Franzen/The Last Bite
59. Celery Salad with Walnuts and Pecorino
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, gluten free
Poor celery almost never gets the spotlight, but we know you have some hiding in your fridge. Transform it into this unexpected salad, which hits all the right notes of creamy, crunchy and bright.
Katherine Gillen
60. Cacio e Pepe Zucchini
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, gluten free
We said it once (see no. 1) and we’ll say it again: Parm and black pepper for president. They really do make everything taste *that much* better.
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Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she’s an avid home cook and fanatic baker.
