80 Easter Dinner Ideas That Go Beyond Glazed Ham
Ham, we hate to break it to you, but you’re not the only star of the Easter Sunday spread anymore. Don’t worry, you’ll still get your 15 minutes of fame at family brunch—but with mouthwatering mains like slow cooker turkey breast and foolproof spring side dishes (harissa-roasted carrots, anyone?), we think it’s it’s time to reinvent the holiday menu and celebrate in the most delicious way possible. Here are 80 Easter dinner ideas that will impress the entire table. (Just save room for dessert.)
What Is a Traditional Easter Dinner Menu?
When you think “Easter dinner,” your mind probably does go straight to ham, and you’re not wrong: It’s a popular entrée for the spring holiday. But you could also serve lamb or roast chicken for a twist that’s not too far from tradition. As for sides, carrots and a creamy potato dish are classics—just don’t forget a fresh salad to balance the rich items on the menu. Last but certainly not least, there should be rolls…and plenty of butter.
35 Easter Cupcakes That Are Easy to Make *and* Adorable
Katherine Gillen
1. Skillet Roast Chicken with Schmaltzy Potatoes
Time Commitment: 5 hours, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: high-protein, one pan, special occasion–worthy
Thanks to a buttermilk brine, this burnished chicken looks and tastes impressive but is foolproof for all skill levels. (Plus, the side dish makes itself.)
Paul Brissman/Antoni: Let's Do Dinner
2. Antoni Porowski’s Strip Steak with Harissa Butter and Parsley Salad
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
You love to order steak in a restaurant, but you’re too nervous to cook it at home. Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski is coming to the rescue with this foolproof, flavorful NY strip.
Amanda Frederickson/Simple Beautiful Food
3. Seared Scallops with Green Peas, Mint and Shallots
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
Our biggest tip for success with scallops? Make sure they’re super dry before plopping them in a hot skillet. Otherwise, they’ll never get a gorgeous golden brown sear (and that’s kind of the best part).
Mark Weinberg/Baking with Dorie
4. Dorie Greenspan’s Potato-Parm Tart
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes (+ chilling time)
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Beautiful, versatile and overflowing with carbs and cheese—what more do you need to know? Perhaps that the crust is easily assembled (no pan!) and baked, or that you can replace the potato with apple for a twist.
Renée Kohlman/Vegetables: A Love Story
5. Jammy Upside-down Onion Tart
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
Onions usually take a backseat in most recipes, but when offered the spotlight, they shine. Don’t believe us? Try this tart, which is deeply savory and works as a side dish or main course.
Katherine Gillen
6. Strawberry, Basil and Arugula Salad with Lots of Black Pepper
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Proof that fruit salad doesn’t have to mean a bowl of grapes and flavorless melon. The dressing for this one comes together as you toss the berries in honey and vinegar, so it’s as easy as it can get.
Aran Goyoaga
7. Carrot, Fennel and Miso Soup
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, under 500 calories
Carrots for spring? Groundbreaking. Seriously—when roasted and blitzed together with fennel and miso, you won’t believe the depth of flavor of this soup.
Katherine Gillen
8. Smashed Brussels Sprouts
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, under 500 calories
Think smashed potatoes, but sub good-for-you Brussels sprouts instead of spuds. (Don’t worry, they’re dusted with plenty of Parmesan cheese.)
Katherine Gillen
9. Seared Scallops with Citrus-Shallot Salad
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Scallops should be at the top of your easy-yet-fancy dinner list. They take minutes to sauté and always manage to impress. The accompanying citrus salad is just gilding the lily.
Katherine Gillen
10. Pommes Anna
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, one pan
Only the French could turn a vegetable that grows underground into a work of art. This requires little more than butter, salt and spuds once you grasp the technique of layering the potato slices in the pan.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
11. Spicy Orange-Honey Glazed Ham
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, high-protein
For the sake of tradition, we couldn’t leave this main off the list. Our version is a little spicy (that’s the red pepper flakes) to keep things modern. Serve it warm or make it ahead and dish it up cold.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
12. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Orange and Herbs
Time Commitment: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
When you make a turkey in the slow cooker, there’s no basting, rotating or fiddling with tinfoil. (Plus, the oven is free for a batch of dinner rolls.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
13. Greek Chicken And Rice Skillet
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, high-protein, beginner-friendly
If one-and-done is more your speed, this one-pan dish is as pretty to look at as it is tasty. Garlic, green olives, feta and plenty of herbs ensure foolproof flavor.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
14. Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free, beginner-friendly
Easter and lamb are like peanut butter and jelly: a no-brainer. This recipe comes together in all of 40 minutes’ time. You’ll find pomegranate molasses in the international aisle of most grocery stores.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
15. Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, special occasion–worthy, gluten free, dairy free
Behold the most buttery, tender pork you’ve ever tasted. The pistachios add crust and a festive color. Best of all: It cooks from start to finish on a single baking sheet.
What's Gaby Cooking
16. Whole Roasted Branzino with Shaved Fennel Slaw
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein, gluten free, dairy free
Cooking a whole fish at home sounds intimidating, but it’s actually so simple. Start with cleaned fish from the supermarket, then just stuff it with citrus and roast until its meat is juicy, flaky and perfectly done. Prepare to blow your dinner guests away.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
17. Baked Sesame-Ginger Salmon in Parchment
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe, under 500 calories
For those who love cooking but hate the post-feast cleanup, this recipe has almost none of the latter, thanks to the parchment paper cooking technique known as “en papillote.” More time for Easter baskets, right?
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
18. Grilled Flank Steak with Lemon-Herb Sauce
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: low carb, paleo, special occasion–worthy
If the weather treats you well, fire up the coals. If not, this can easily be cooked on a griddle pan on the stove. Serve it with a festive salad and a potato side dish for a complete feast.
Erin McDowell
19. Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Tender, juicy meat? Check. Crispy, golden skin? Double check. Another plus to roasting an entire chicken? If you’re lucky enough to end up with leftovers, use them in salads, soups and pastas all week long.
Quentin Bacon/Modern Comfort Food
20. Ina Garten’s Tuscan Turkey Roulade
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein, gluten free
That’s right, the Barefoot Contessa is coming over for dinner. This main looks so impressive, but it’s actually super easy to make. (That’s Ina for you.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
21. Pork Scallopini With Lemon, Capers And Radicchio
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, low sugar
It’s ready in 20 minutes, so you can whip up a side to go with it—perhaps some salt and vinegar potatoes?—and not lose your entire evening to the kitchen.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
22. Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Barley Risotto
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, under 500 calories, high protein
This one goes out to the vegetarians at the table. (And even if you’re not vegetarian, you’ll want a second helping.) If you’re not a fan of barley, use another grain such as quinoa or farro.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
23. Foolproof Cheater’s Confit
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly
Confit (aka cooking something slowly in fat) is luxurious and elegant, albeit a little time-consuming. Our recipe is streamlined, and can be made with chicken or duck.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
24. Orecchiette With Spring Greens
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, kid-friendly, vegetarian
Pasta is always a good idea. Dress it up in its spring Sunday best with seasonal greens, and suddenly it’s an ideal Easter dinner. (We’d pair this one with a hearty salad and a crisp white wine.)
Ellen Silverman/Everyday Dorie
25. Dorie Greenspan’s Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken with Baby Potatoes and Mushrooms
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, high protein
Prepare for everyone to ooh and ahh when this comes out of the oven. Just don’t tell them how easy it was to put together. If you’ve got a crowd coming, double the recipe and use two pans.
Nisha Vora
26. Creamy Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, one pan, crowd-pleaser
Yep, it’s plant-based, but it still tastes super indulgent thanks to a homemade cashew cream sauce. To make this gluten-free, omit the breadcrumbs in the topping topping and garnish the casserole with simply toasted pine nuts.
Peter Som
27. Sheet Pan Honey Tahini Salmon with Chickpeas and Couscous
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Minimal prep, modest cooking time and almost no cleanup after? This is our idea of an Easter dinner. Even the couscous is cooked on the same pan.
Amy Neunsinger/Magnolia Table, Volume 2
28. Joanna Gaines’s Spring Vegetable Risotto
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Take a trip to the farmers market and buy whatever produce looks good. Voilà, you’re hallway done already. It’ll taste delicious no matter what you choose, thanks to all that butter, white wine and Parm.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
29. Bacon-Wrapped Black Cod with Spinach and Capers
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
Bacon-wrapped anything gets our seal of approval. A bed of sautéed spinach keeps the dish light, but you could trade it out in favor of any of the salads on this list.
Erin McDowell
30. Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, under 500 calories
It’s unconventional and dramatic, aka the perfect thing to serve at a holiday meal. (You’ll get bonus points for pleasing the vegetarians at the table, because yeah, they’re sick of eating just bread and sides.)
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Eden Grinshpan
31. Harissa and Honey-Roasted Carrots
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, sheet pan recipe
Easter side dishes have the potential to be a snooze-fest, but not these carrots. They’re smothered in a spicy-sweet harissa and honey mixture that’s irresistible at first bite.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
32. The Best Potatoes au Gratin Ever
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
They’re an Easter classic for a reason: cheese, cream and crispy bits. This one can be assembled ahead for ease, too. We’ve opted for nutty Gruyère to balance out the creaminess of this classic French dish, you can—and should—experiment with different cheeses (cheddar would work well).
Let’s Stay In
33. Salt and Vinegar Roasted Potatoes with Feta and Dill
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, gluten free
If you’re more of a crispy-potato person, these salty spuds are sure to impress. They taste like a potato chip in the best way possible. Use new potatoes, which will get shatteringly crisp on the outside but maintain their creamy interiors.
Linda Pugliese/Help Yourself
34. Melted Onions
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, under 500 calories, beginner-friendly, gluten free, vegetarian
Never served onions as a side dish? Tonight’s the night. They become tender and sweet after a long roast in the oven, and thanks to your muffin tin, look like little rosettes.
Erin McDowell
35. Whole Roasted Radishes
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: Vegetarian, one pan, <10 ingredients
Radishes lose some of their peppery bite when roasted in the oven, so all you’re left with is tender, buttery goodness. These would taste mighty fine alongside a roast chicken, just saying.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
36. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories, low carb, gluten free
Is there anything Parmesan cheese can’t improve? (That’s a rhetorical question.) This five-ingredient side dish will please even the biggest green vegetable haters.
Simon Pask/The Happy Balance
37. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
You can make these in a cast iron pan over high heat if grilling isn’t an option. A grating of lemon zest transforms the flavor, so don’t skip that step.
Eva Kolenko/Bread Toast Crumbs
38. Spicy Broccoli Sauté
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
The key to keeping broccoli interesting is the crispy breadcrumb topping. It’s also an excellent way to use up the stale loaf of bread you can’t bring yourself to toss. Simply tear up a loaf, blitz it in the food processor and use as needed to instantly upgrade a dish.
Erin McDowell
39. Whole Roasted Carrots
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Glazed carrots? Yawn. Give the veggie a modern update with onions, cumin, red wine vinegar and lots of fresh lemon zest. (Make sure you choose vegetables that are about the same size so they roast up evenly.)
Matt Russell/Provençal
40. Domino Potatoes
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
These might be the most gorgeous potatoes we’ve ever seen. We’ll take another helping, please. Use a mandoline or extra-sharp chef’s knife for the neatest slices.
Karen Tedesco/Family Style
41. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, under 500 calories, low carb, sheet pan recipe
Pick and choose everyone’s favorite vegetables and toss them all on a sheet pan. It doesn’t get simpler, and the heat of the oven will intensify the flavors of whatever you choose.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
42. Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high-protein
Two of our go-to cruciferous veggies, together in cheesy harmony. Even the kids table will be singing your praises (really).
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jake Cohen
43. Charred Sweet Potatoes with Pistachio-Chili Pesto
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
It’s the pistachio-chili pesto that will have everyone coming back for more. It’s spicy, tangy and salty, and it adds a bit of texture to those roasted spuds.
Jeanine Donofrio/Love & Lemons Every Day
44. Broccoli Rabe and Burrata with Lemon
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, low carb, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
A side dish featuring burrata is already a treat, but this one happens to be ready in ten minutes and surprisingly low in carbs. Win-win.
Ola Smit/Dinner's In the Bag
45. Baby Vegetables with Orange and Thyme
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, low carb
Orange and thyme are a welcome change to the typically too-sweet pairings for carrots you’re familiar with. Everything gets cooked in its own parchment parcel, so there’s almost no cleanup.
Erin McDowell
46. Oven-Roasted Beets and Potatoes
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: one pan, under 500 calories, <10 ingredients
It’s part side, part work of art. The combination of golden and red beets and Yukon Gold potatoes is just the right balance of savory and slightly sweet.
Emily Dorio/The Saltwater Table
47. Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Horseradish and Sea Salt
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, gluten free
Covered with Parmesan cheese, lemon zest and herbs, these potatoes are an indulgence. It’s like serving French fries at your Easter spread, but fancier.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
48. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
To be honest, we can’t think of a bad way to serve cauliflower. But this definitely ranks up at the top. Cheese and black pepper are magical like that.
Amanda Frederickson/Simple Beautiful Food
49. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Sriracha and Lime
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, under 500 calories
Give the Easter feast a little kick with sriracha and lime. (Just warn everyone about the spice level before digging in.) Want to up the ante? Add a simple lemon-yogurt sauce for dipping.
Erin McDowell
50. Swiss Chard au Gratin
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, under 500 calories, crowd-pleaser
Here’s definitive proof that anything can be holiday-ready when topped with breadcrumbs. Good news, it can be prepped in advance, in individual portions or in one big family-size baking dish.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
51. Spring Panzanella Salad
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, beginner-friendly, ready in <30 minutes
Instead of a boring mixed greens salad, whip up a medley of spring’s finest produce. Asparagus, watercress and peas make a lively trio.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
52. Prosciutto and Fig Salad Board
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
Bowls are fine, but boards are better. Why? Because you can put all the delicious toppings on display, like a salad collage.
Kirsten Buck/Buck Naked Kitchen
53. Shaved Spring Vegetable and Apple Salad with Ginger-Dijon Dressing
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <30 minutes, gluten free
After a long, cold winter, this fresh salad is a sight for sore eyes. The tangy-sweet-spicy dressing, while homemade, is impossible to mess up (it comes together entirely in a blender).
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga
54. Radicchio, Lentil and Apple Salad with Vegan Cashew Dressing
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, special occasion–worthy
The cashew cream is completely dairy free, but no one would know just by tasting it. Here, combined with bitter radicchio, lentils and apples, it serves as the ultimate foil to a crunchy, crispy salad.
Ana Cuba/The Modern Cook's Year
55. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, no cook, dairy free
This slaw is surprisingly versatile: You can use pretty much any winter greens or cabbage as long as you shred them thinly. The cheese can be left out or swapped for whatever you have (any blue or hard cheese) and you can use any soft herbs in your fridge.
Aubrie Pick/Kitchen Remix
56. Minty-Fresh Zucchini Salad with Marinated Feta
Time Commitment: 15 minutes (+ marinating time)
Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, make ahead
This side tastes best when you make it ahead of time, which is music to our ears. The marinade becomes a dressing, which is even more convenient.
Lauren V. Allen/Chèvre
57. Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Chèvre Ranch
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, low carb, crowd-pleaser
’Tis the season for peas—why not turn them into a crisp, fresh salad? Goat cheese is whirled into an irresistibly tangy dressing and crumbled on top for double the flavor.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
58. Asparagus Caesar Salad
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, low carb, crowd-pleaser
We’re super excited for the in-season asparagus, sure, but don’t tell anyone we’re even more looking forward to the croutons.
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
59. Cast Iron Cornbread
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
The cast iron skillet is the key to a golden-brown, toothsome edge—preheat it before pouring in the batter. Serve it with lots of butter and a sprinkle of flaky salt, of course.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
60. Kale Salad With Crispy Chickpeas
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
This salad is simple, and sometimes that’s exactly what your menu you needs. The homemade dressing has Dijon, garlic, lemon and anchovies for a savory je ne sais quoi.
Erin McDowell
61. Citrus, Fennel and Avocado Salad
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients
You can use any mix of fresh citrus you like, such as grapefruit, tangerines and blood oranges. (Just make sure you have a ripe avocado at the ready.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
62. Easy Dinner Rolls
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
Skip the freezer-section rolls in favor of these fluffy cuties, which are way easier to make than they seem. Most of the cooking time is spent proofing the dough, so you can tend to other dishes while the rolls rise.
Eva Kolenko/Bread Toast Crumbs
63. 6-Ingredient Peasant Bread
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
This bread comes together with just six ingredients and you don’t even have to knead it. Genius? We think so. You’ll use instant yeast instead of active dry, which doesn’t need to be activated in liquid and gives a fast rise to the dough.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
64. Sweet and Spicy Cornbread
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser
The cornbread gets brushed with honey before it’s done in the oven, but you should definitely serve it with extra on the side. Don’t want to make the whole pan spicy? Easy, just leave the pepper slices off half.
Robert S. Cooper/A Real Southern Cook
65. Sprightly Biscuits
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
These biscuits have a secret: They’re made with lemon-lime soda, which lends a fluffy texture without any leaveners.
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
66. Apple Focaccia with Blue Cheese and Herbs
Time Commitment: 12 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
It’s part cheese plate, part carb-y side. We’re smitten. Focaccia is a perfect homemade bread for beginners, since it requires zero shaping and no kneading.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
67. Spicy Ricotta-Stuffed Phyllo Rolls
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, under 500 calories
An Easter meal wouldn’t be complete without a little cheese. If you can’t find the tart and lightly sweet peppadew peppers for the filling, you can substitute jarred roasted red peppers.
68. Utica Greens
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, low sugar
Spice up your side dish rotation with this Central New York favorite, which stars escarole, prosciutto, bread crumbs and spicy cherry peppers. If you can’t find fresh peppers, you can substitute pickled, or use any other hot red pepper.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
69. Scallion And Chive Flatbread
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, under 500 calories
It’s almost too pretty to serve—almost. (Psst: It’s also super simper to put together. The dough is a lot like making pizza crust or focaccia, and it only needs an hour to rise.)
70. Deb Perelman’s Carrot Tarte Tatin
Deb Perelman/Smitten Kitchen Keepers
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
A tarte tatin is a French pastry, traditionally made with apples, that involves flipping a flaky slab of puffy pastry out of a skillet to reveal the buttery, caramelized topping. That makes this savory version sounds much more finicky than it actually is—you’ve got this, trust.
71. Bitter Greens Salad with Herby Ranch Dressing
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
When a salad needs to have enough pizazz to cut through a rich meal, we reach for a recipe that’s more complex than plain old greens. With biting radicchio and frisée (plus tart apples and pistachios), this dish checks all the right boxes.
72. Bacon Roasted Rainbow Carrots
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
This Easter, we’ve sworn off making overly complicated dishes for company…which leads us to this elegant, four-ingredient side. If you can’t find rainbow carrots, use the standard orange. They’ll taste just as good.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
73. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
This one’s like monkey bread, but savory and fancy for Easter. It’s time-consuming but worth the effort, especially if you serve it warm from the oven.
74. Sheet Pan Roast Chicken with Potatoes, Radishes and Olives
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients
Behold, an entree that’s both special enough to serve to company and ready in about an hour. The secret? Spatchcocking the chicken, which speeds up the cooking time and increases the surface area for more browned, crispy skin.
75. Lamb Loin Chops Over Minty Pistachio Butter
SUECH AND BECK/A GENEROUS MEAL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
These chops are seasoned with vinegar and garnished with a creamy, nutty sauce. If you’re not familiar with loin chops, well, they’re a lot like rib chops but without the long bone (and with a slightly richer flavor).
76. Lamb Chops With Buckwheat and Black Pepper Strawberries
EE BERGER/PULP
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
If minty pistachio butter isn’t your thing (to each her own), try this twist on lamb. This seven-ingredient spring dinner sounds super fancy (and tastes like it too), but actually comes together in a single pan. Even if your strawberries aren’t perfectly ripe, they’ll sweeten up as they cook.
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
77. Easy Pretzel Buns
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Are you a professional baker or something? You have us fooled. (Hot tip: Make some small, dinner roll size, and a few large for leftover ham sandwiches.)
78. Joanna Gaines’s Garlic Shrimp Over Parmesan Risotto
AMY NEUNSINGER/MAGNOLIA TABLE, VOLUME 3
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free
While we’ll admit this dish requires some watchful stirring, we promise the resulting creamy, dreamy rice is worth the labor. You’ll be rewarded with an elegant meal that’s ideal for serving a smaller group.
79. Pan-Roasted Cabbage with Brown Harissa, Sour Cream and Turmeric Oil
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: low carb, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
This underrated veggie is finally getting the glow-up it deserves, thanks to a spicy-sweet mixture of harissa and brown sugar, brown butter and a dilly sour cream dip for serving. Make it as an Easter side dish and blow your guests away.
80. Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Fennel and Mandarin Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
REN FULLER/DOWNSHIFTOLOGY: HEALTHY MEAL PREP
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <15 minutes, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
As much as we want to serve a bounty of tender greens and fresh vegetables, Easter is often early in the spring season (and the farmers market is still kind of bare). This salad is bright, crisp and make-ahead friendly, plus it features seasonal ingredients you’ll still be able to find.
60 Easter Side Dishes to Go with Ham, Lamb and Everything in Between
