The Best Recipes To Make For A Perfect Easter Dinner
Spring has sprung; Easter is here. It's time to make the perfect Easter dinner! We're pulling out all the stops with loads of fresh herbs, pretty colored eggs, and a big dose of lovely flavors.
Ham is a super traditional Easter main, and we've got a few tasty options the whole family will enjoy. From a simple baked ham to one bedecked with sweet pineapple and colorful maraschino cherries, you're sure to love these recipes. If ham isn't quite your thing, never fear! From impressive beef roasts to pretty seasonal tarts, we've got no shortage of delightful centerpieces for your Easter dinner table — and more than enough spring vegetable side dishes to serve along with them.
And of course, no Easter dinner would be complete without something sweet. For dessert, we've got more than a handful of festive surprises in store, including a cake shaped like the Easter bunny that's couldn't be easier to assemble. Let's hop to it!
Deviled eggs make the perfect passed hors d'oeuvre
Whether you're serving a buffet of dishes for your Easter dinner or simply looking for a fun appetizer or hors d'oeuvre to serve, these deviled eggs are a delightful choice. Made with a traditional mustard and mayo filling and dusted with paprika, they're also the perfect way to use up any eggs from the morning's hunt ... as long as you don't mind a little dye! Use a fluted piping tip for an even prettier presentation.
Baked ham for a traditional Easter feast
Baked ham is a traditional Easter main, and with this recipe, it's not hard to see why. A pre-cooked, spiral-cut ham is coated with a simple honey-mustard glaze spiked with cloves. Sprinkled with parsley, it's the ideal easy main dish that's sure to impress.
And if you're not feeding a big crowd, there's no need to fret: leftover baked ham is a real treat stirred into scrambled eggs, tossed into pastas, or simply layered on sandwiches.
A glazed pineapple ham for a touch of sweetness
For a more retro approach to the Easter meal, why not give this pineapple-glazed ham a try? The pineapple rings, aside from being deeply flavorful, are actually a Southern sign of hospitality. Affixed to the ham with toothpicks along with bright red maraschino cherries, they lend a rich, caramel sweetness to the ham, which also boasts a spiced glaze. The result is an impressive and beautiful centerpiece for your Easter dinner table.
Roasted pork loin you'll love
If ham's not your jam, pork loin might be the right Easter main for you. This lean, tender cut of pork is simply seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper and roasted alongside a jumble of carrot and onion. A delightful pan sauce is the perfect topping for not only the slices of pork but any side dishes you might cook up to accompany it. And of course, as with a whole roasted ham, any leftover pork is super tasty on a sandwich the next day.
Prime rib is a meal fit for a king
Prime rib is a steakhouse specialty for a reason, and with this recipe, it's easy to master at home. Coated with a flavorful combo of herbs and garlic and roasted until charred on the outside and tender and rare within, this prime rib is served with not one but two homemade sauces: a slightly spicy horseradish mayo and a rich blue cheese cream. Try some of both!
Beef chateaubriand for a delightful dinner (and tasty leftovers)
Center-cut beef tenderloin, also known as beef chateaubriand, is a delicious special occasion main. In this recipe, it gets all dolled up with a tasty shallot-garlic butter that couldn't be simpler to make.
Chateaubriand has a tendency to dry out, so be sure not to overcook this ultra-tender cut of beef. Those at the table who like their beef better done can choose the outer slices. And of course, any leftovers make the most phenomenal sandwiches the next day.
Yorkshire puddings are a crowning achievement
Traditionally in Lent, the pre-Easter season, people eschew butter and flour, so what better way to welcome Easter than by cooking up buttery, eggy Yorkshire puddings! These individually sized popovers cook up tall and majestic – the perfect side for ham or beef. Be sure to serve them nice and hot with even more butter on the side for a truly life-changing tasting experience. They're also tasty with garlic-infused butter or even with jam for breakfast or dessert.
Roasted asparagus are a simple, seasonal side
Spring is synonymous with new veggies, and asparagus are one of our all-time seasonal favorites. Pencil-thin green asparagus are particularly delightful when simply roasted in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, emerging wonderfully nutty and even greener than before. Serve with a side of mayo, aioli, or melted butter for dipping if you really want to gild the lily, or just top with a small squirt of lemon.
Whole roasted carrots aren't just for bunnies
While the Easter bunny would surely love a bite of these whole roasted carrots, they're perfect for your human holiday guests too. Roasting the carrots whole doesn't just make for a beautiful presentation; it also results in carrots that are caramelized outside and soft and tender within. Sweet and moreish, they're the perfect accompaniment to whatever Easter roast you choose to serve. The garnish of parsley really makes their color pop!
Fingerling potatoes with a garlicky twist
Fresh fingerling potatoes are a delightful springtime arrival on market stands, which makes them the perfect Easter side. In this recipe, they're massaged with a rich, roasted garlic compound butter before taking a trip through the hot oven. They emerge crispy and richly aromatic -– a side dish so good they may steal the show!
This recipe is great for holidays when you're scrambling to get everything done, as much of the work can be done in advance. Make the butter and slather the potatoes with it a day ahead, then pop them in the oven for about half an hour or until crispy on the outside and tender within.
Scalloped potatoes so good they're nearly sinful
Rich and creamy, scalloped potatoes are a comfort food fave for a reason. In this recipe, sliced potatoes are layered with sweet softened leeks, smoky bacon, and cream for a decadent side dish that everyone will demand seconds of. Yukon gold potatoes give this recipe a beautiful golden color and a rich, creamy texture that pairs perfectly with the sauce. Use a mandoline to make quick work of the slicing, and this recipe will go off without a hitch!
Hasselback potatoes combine the best things about chips and baked potatoes
These funny-looking potatoes boast all of the best qualities of a good baked potato and a crispy, homemade chip. Hasselback potatoes are made by carefully slicing a potato into thin slices without going all the way through the bottom. The resulting accordion-shaped potato is baked until crispy on its (many) edges and tender within. Brushed with sage butter, they're a pure delight for any holiday meal.
Quiche lorraine for a French-accented dinner
Quiche is a simple dinnertime option, and this French quiche lorraine with bacon and Gruyère cheese is a delightful Easter treat. Since this recipe relies on store-bought pie crust, it's a snap to pull together. Serve this as part of an Easter dinner buffet warm or cold; a simple green salad with a zingy vinaigrette is the ideal accompaniment. The recipe is easily doubled if you're feeding a crowd.
A vegetarian asparagus tart
If you're on the lookout for a vegetarian main that's as impressive on the plate as it is on the palate, this springy asparagus tart is one for the books. And it couldn't be simpler to pull together! Store-bought puff pastry is spread with herbed cheese and topped with skinny spring asparagus. After just 15 minutes in the oven, it emerges puffy and golden brown. Garnish with some fresh herbs for a lovely finishing touch.
Italian Easter bread as pretty as it is delicious
For a unique loaf traditional to Italian Easter celebrations, why not give this Italian Easter bread a whirl? Made with dyed eggs that are baked into the butter-enriched dough, this fluffy bread makes a gorgeous dinner table centerpiece for the holiday.
If you're feeling particularly crafty, consider making your own all-natural egg dyes to color these eggs. Otherwise, just rely on food coloring — or you could even repurpose some of the eggs from the morning hunt, if you prefer!
The cutest Easter bunny cake
The whole family will fall head-over-tails for this cute Easter bunny cake decorated with grated coconut. And it's so simple to make! Bake two beautiful buttermilk cakes and slice one of them to make the ears and dapper bow tie. Ice with homemade buttercream frosting, and get the kids to lend a hand decorating with coconut and candy. Jellybean eyes and licorice whiskers are fun to arrange and even more fun to devour.
Cadbury Creme Egg cupcakes that are too good to resist
For those who wait all year long for Cadbury Creme Eggs to appear on supermarket shelves, these are the cupcakes for you. A homemade chocolate cake base hides a mini Creme Egg surprise within. Topped with rich buttercream frosting, each cupcake also gets a halved mini Creme Egg garnish, which spills its filling tantalizingly over the top. These cupcakes are truly impossible to resist — we're sure you'll agree!