26 Easter Dinner Ideas and Recipes (2024)

Updated on 03/7/22

• 01 of 26

  Basil Lemonade

  

  Bright, invigorating, and perfect for spring, this basil lemonade is ideal for Easter dinner. It's as easy as any other lemonade recipe, but with a basil-lemon simple syrup. Add extra flavor with citrus like limes, oranges, or grapefruit, or whole fruits like berries. You can even make it boozy with a splash of bourbon, vodka, or gin.

• 02 of 26

  Easter Bunny co*cktail

  

  It's customary to indulge in all sorts of treats for Easter, and drinks are not an exception. For the adults, mix up a fun and sweet Easter bunny co*cktail. This chocolate-kissed vodka co*cktail is simple and you'll love the hint of cherry brandy.

• 03 of 26

  Elderflower co*cktail With Champagne

  

  This simple drink is also called the St. Germain co*cktail, because of the elderflower liqueur that is often mixed into it. If you prefer, you can skip using the St. Germain and ​make your own elderflower cordial, which is a fun springtime project when the tiny white flowers come into bloom.

• 04 of 26

  Feta With Olive Oil and Herbs

  

  No cooking is required for this quick and easy feta appetizer. The preparation, which is actually more an assembly of the ingredients, takes less than 10 minutes. However, that does not mean that you have to eat it right away, the feta is also very suitable to make ahead. If you let it sit for a little while longer, the herbs will impart even more flavor to the cheese.

  Continue to 5 of 26 below.

  See Also

  50 Old-School Cookie Recipes Grandma Knew By HeartHomemade Resurrection Rolls recipe from scratchScalloped Potatoes in Cast Iron Recipe on Food52Spicy Stir-Fried Tofu With Kale and Red Pepper Recipe

• 05 of 26

  Easy Vegan Spinach Dip

  

  We love just about any way to eat more greens, and we love the convenience of using frozen chopped spinach in just about any way, including this recipe.In this simple and easy vegan spinach dip, you use a vegan packaged soup mix, frozen spinach, and anon-dairy sour creamand just mix it all up together.It really couldn't possibly be easier or more foolproof.

• 06 of 26

  Easter Deviled Eggs

  

  Pastel-hued deviled eggs are the cute and colorful Easter appetizer you didn't even know you were missing. Delightfully cute, they are a snap to prepare, especially if you boil the eggs in advance, and stash them in the fridge. The gussied-up eggs are sure to disappear quickly at your party.

• 07 of 26

  Super Easy Pea and Mint Soup

  

  Sweet, velvety, and bright, our pea and mint soup is a refreshing starter for your holiday meal. Peas are in season in April, but you can use frozen peas for this rustic soup that comes together easily on the stove-top, and finishes in the blender. Garnish with freshly cracked black pepper and Parmesan cheese for a fantastic first course. The soup can be made and chilled up to 3 days ahead, and leftovers taste great warmed up or eaten cold.

• 08 of 26

  Green Pea Salad With Easy Creamy Dressing

  

  This green pea salad is as pretty as it is flavorful, with bright green peas, shredded carrots, red bell pepper, red onion, and celery. Use a combination of red, yellow, and orange bell pepper for even more color.

  Continue to 9 of 26 below.

• 09 of 26

  Bistro Salad With Warm Goat Cheese Croutes

  

  Bring the taste of a French restaurant to your Easter table with a bistro salad featuring warm goat cheese. You can bake the panko-crusted goat cheesecroutesor cook them on the stovetop. They're then laid over a bed of fresh lettuce and herbs with homemade mustard vinaigrette.This recipe works well for brunch as well.

• 10 of 26

  Traditional Italian Easter Bread

  

  Set a loaf of braided bread on the table and you'll impress anyone. This Italian-American Easter bread is great for beginning bakers. The slow-rising dough that's easy to work with, and has a fantastic anise-lemon flavor. Serve it with butter or turn it into a sweet-meets-savory dessert bread with lemon icing.

• 11 of 26

  Classic Easter Hot Cross Buns

  

  Hot cross bunshave a long history as sweet breads made for offerings to ancient deities. This basic hot cross bun recipe makes a sweet dough that is shaped into 12 rolls. Each roll is topped with a deliciously sweet icing, making it a special treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.

• 12 of 26

  Zucchini and Stuffing Casserole

  

  Are you ready for the most scrumptious casserole that would fill even the Easter bunny with envy? Sliced zucchini and shredded carrots team up to make this tastyzucchinistuffing casserolerecipe. Some of the stuffing cubes add flavor and body to the filling, while some make up the buttery topping.

  Continue to 13 of 26 below.

• 13 of 26

  See Also

  Best Ever Sticky Buns Recipe (No Machine) - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking

  Carrot Casserole With Cheddar Cheese Sauce

  

  A simple cheddar cheese sauce makes these slicedcooked carrotsextra special. Fresh ​breadcrumbs give this carrot casserole a nice look and crunch, but french fried onion rings would make a nice toppingas well.

• 14 of 26

  Roasted Asparagus

  

  Asparagus is one of the first vegetables of spring, which is why roasted asparagus is such a popular side for Easter dinner. Drizzling olive oil over the spears and sprinkling them with sea salt and a hint of lemon is an easy way to elevate the flavor.

• 15 of 26

  Twice-Baked Potatoes With Cream Cheese and Chives

  

  These twice-baked potatoes are a wonderful change of pace from everydaybaked potatoesor the "same-old"mashed potatoes. The potato skins are filled with the savory, creamy mashed potato mixture and then baked again until the topping is golden brown. If you're short on time or looking for even more flavor, try our loaded smashed potatoes casserole.

• 16 of 26

  Baked Macaroni and Cheese

  

  Baked macaroni and cheese with a rich and cheesy sauce is a thing of beauty, with or without the optional browned breadcrumb topping. Our must-know 30-minute recipe makes it easy to add this quintessential comfort food to your Easter meal. It is a popular side dish for Easter ham, and freezes beautifully for making ahead of the holidays.

  Continue to 17 of 26 below.

• 17 of 26

  Honey Butter Ham

  

  This is a delicious and simple way to turn a plain cooked ham into something special for Easter. Because it all starts with a fully cooked ham from the store, all you need to do is stir together the glaze and roast until caramelized to perfection.

• 18 of 26

  Roast Leg of Lamb

  

  Roast leg oflambis one of the easiest "special occasion" recipes there is, especially for Easter dinner. The simple herb, lemon, and garlic marinade is all thisgreat cutof lamb needs before it’s roasted to pink perfection.

• 19 of 26

  Easy Baked Ham With Pineapple

  

  Canned ham is a versatile andconvenientingredient to use when in need of an easy meal that canfeed many. Our classic combination of savory and smokey ham with sweet pineapple rings makes a beautiful center dish that is delicious,budget-friendly, andeasy to make.

• 20 of 26

  Savory Easter Pie

  

  This is no ordinary pie! Our savory Easter pie loads the buttery crust with savory Italian ingredients, including prosciutto, salami, sausage, and mozzarella cheese. It's perfect for brunch and a brilliant way to show off your culinary prowess.

  Continue to 21 of 26 below.

• 21 of 26

  Ham Pot Pie

  

  Whether you're looking for an all-encompassing main or simply want to find a way to use up leftovers, this ham pot pie can do it all. Using ready-made frozen pastry—and even frozen vegetables if you're short of time—you can have a crowd-pleasing family dinner on the table in an hour.

• 22 of 26

  Lamb-Shaped Pound Cake

  

  Get ready for cheers of surprise and awe. Beyond simple, and made with a boxed pound cake mix, you'll need a special cake mold for this sweet Easter lamb cake. The cute lamb is finished with cream cheese frosting, and lays in a bed of coconut "grass."

• 23 of 26

  Best Carrot Cake

  

  Our best-ever carrot cake is just what the Easter bunny ordered.Super-moist, and spiced to perfection, with three layers of colorful, carrotty crumb, and topped with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting, it's the kind of cake of which dreams (and bake sale profits) are made. We bet you'll want to bake it all-year round.

• 24 of 26

  Ukrainian Easter Babka

  

  Ukrainian babka andpaskaare two sweet yeast breads served at Easter. Unlike fluted Polishbabka, Ukrainian babka is tall and cylindrical like Italian panettone. You can ice or serve plain with butter or jam.

  Continue to 25 of 26 below.

• 25 of 26

  Bunny Butt Cake

  

  Absolutely adorable, this bunny butt cake will charm anyone. You start by mixing up a coconut-flavored batter, for baking into a cake and extra cupcakes. These are then assembled into a bunny shape, and covered in frosting, and shredded coconut. Crushed chocolate cookies become the dirt, green-tinted coconut flakes are used for grass, and pink jelly beans are the pads on the bunny's feet.

• 26 of 26

  Easter Cupcakes

  

  These little bird nest cupcakes are perfectly cute for anEaster gathering. They’re so easy to make, but look like they came from a professional bakery. All you need is your favorite cupcake (we included a recipe for a delicious lemon-vanilla cake), somecream cheese frosting, toasted coconut, and Easter egg candy.You can make these as homemade or as semi-homemade as you wish usingcake mix, store-bought cupcakes, and/or canned frosting.

• Easter Main Dishes
• Easter Recipes
• Dinner
• Easter Brunch