Easter is all about gathering the people you love and sharing a meal that feels like a celebration…
Whether you’re looking for that classic Sticky-Sweet Glazed Ham, a budget-friendly Slow Cooker Roast, or the perfect Soft Sourdough Rolls, I’ve gathered all my favorite easter dinner recipes right here. Let’s make this Easter table one your family will remember!
Easter Main Dishes
Aromatic roasts, gorgeous glazes, and the clinking of forks against plates… Easter’s table overflows with a love language of mouthwatering meals we share with friends and family.
These dishes aren’t just for feasting; they’re tradition… Symbolizing abundance and the triumph of Easter’s message! Whether you’re a believer or just savoring the spirit of the season, Easter’s meaty masterpieces invite everyone to gather, share, and create memories that linger long after the last bite.
What is a Traditional Easter Dinner Menu?
Easter dinner feast with classic masterpiece main dishes for generations of shared joy.
At the heart of the traditional Easter table, glazed ham is the go to main dish on Easter… Its sticky-sweet glaze caramelizes into a sticky sweet flavor that perfectly compliments the salty ham roast!
For those wanting something different for their main course, a fresh ham roast, or classic roast beef goes wonderfully with traditional Easter sides like, Candied Yams, roast asparagus and strawberry salad.
And for those who favor fowl, a golden-roasted turkey, crowned with cranberry sauce, is always a great option!
Modern Easter Dinner Menu Ideas
- Apricot-Glazed Pork Tenderloin: This sweet and savory pork tenderloin is a modern take on the traditional Easter ham. The apricot glaze gives the meat a tangy and fruity flavor that pairs well with roasted vegetables.
- Herb-Roasted Whole Chicken: If you’re looking for a lighter and more budget-friendly meat dish for Easter, herb-roasted chicken is a great option. It’s simple to prepare and can be seasoned with your favorite herbs and spices.
- Smoked Salmon: For a non-traditional Easter meat dish, smoked salmon can be a delicious and elegant choice. It can be served with cream cheese and bagels for a brunch-style meal or with roasted vegetables for a more savory dinner.
- PRIME RIB Roast! I’ve got the best prime rib recipe here for you!
Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Easter Meats
Instant-pot Pork Shoulder Roast: This delicious pork roast is made easy in the instant pot and is perfect as pulled pork served on soft sourdough rolls with a drizzle of BBQ sauce and sauerkraut!
Slow Cooker Rump Roast: This easy recipe makes a meal in and of it’s self with potatoes, carrots and fall apart roast beef!
I have to share a little “insider tip” for this roast because I want your Easter dinner to be absolutely perfect! Rump roast is a leaner cut, which means it can be a bit picky if you aren’t careful with the temperature.
To get that melt-in-your-mouth texture, you have to choose one of two paths: For Thin, Juicy Slices: You’ll want to pull it out early! Aim for Medium-Rare (130°F – 135°F) or Medium (140°F – 145°F). This keeps it tender enough to slice thin for a beautiful platter.
For Shredded “Fall-Apart” Beef: If you want it to pull apart with a fork, you actually have to keep cooking it until it hits 200°F – 205°F. If your thermometer says 160°F and the meat feels a little tough, don’t worry—you just haven’t reached that “shredding stage” yet! Just give it more time in the slow cooker, and I promise it’ll relax and get perfectly tender.
Slow Cooker Pork Roast: A slow-cooked pork roast can be a delicious and budget-friendly Easter meat dish. Add your favorite seasonings and vegetables to the slow cooker along with the pork roast and let it cook on low for several hours until it’s tender and juicy.
The Best Side Dishes to Serve with Easter Ham or Lamb
Sourdough Easter Bread: This sweet bread is the star of the show… It’s a traditional long fermented sourdough loaf that’s slightly sweet, and goes great with any meal!
Simple Fruit Salad with citrus dressing! This easy fruit salat is beautiful and delicious… Almost a desert, but healthy this fresh berry and fruit salad hits the spot and screams Easter spirit. Loaded with berries, or customize it to the fruits you have on hand with a sweet homemade citrus dressing!
Candied Yams – Super Easy to make in the oven… Caramelized slices of sweet potatoes in a delicious buttery sauce, is the perfect side dish for easter dinners! .. Everyone loves these!
Soft Sourdough Rolls or simple Yeast Dinner Rolls are a staple at most Easter Dinners and they go wonderfully with roasts! They’re the perfect vessel for mopping up that homemade gravy!
Creamy Mashed Potatoes and homemade gravy! – Super simple to make, and they go great with all the easter meat recipes! Only a few simple ingredients, that you probably already have, and they cook pretty fast too!
Green Bean Casserole! You can make this with canned or fresh green beans! This is a super popular side dish that my family LOVES. If you used canned cream of mushroom soup and premade French fried onions, it’s a snap!
Maple Roasted Butternut Squash! Butternut squash is a beautiful side that’s bright orange, tender, and sweet… One of my all-time favorites!
Hot Cross Buns – These aren’t just a side dish; they’re a piece of history! My Sourdough Hot Cross Buns are naturally leavened and filled with citrus and cranberries… perfect for mopping up extra glaze from your ham!
Roasted Asparagus: Spring vegetables like asparagus are traditional and perfect for easter! Seasonal Asparagus is tender, flavorful, and easy to prepare, roasted asparagus is a classic Easter side dish that’s always a hit…. One of the most popular easter sides!
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes: These are a total crowd-pleaser. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes and bubbly cheese make this the ultimate comfort side for a salty ham.
Deviled Eggs… The easiest way to cook fresh eggs for dying or bacon jalapeno deviled eggs… Need I say more?
Easter Desserts Ideas
These are 3 of my favorite desserts perfect for your Easter Dinner, Brunch, and Sunday Lenten tables! They are easy recipe to follow, and festive!
Sourdough Carrot Cake! _ Moist and hearty carrot cake made with sourdough, whole grain flour, carrots, cinnamon, and cream cheese frosting!
Moist Lemon Layer Cake – Moist and tangy lemon cake with fresh lemon juice, tangy lemon curd filling, lemon buttercream frosting… All topped off with candied lemons!
Easter Sugar Cookies: These soft sourdough sugar cookies are perfect for decorating with the kids, like easter eggs… And they’re soft and delicious, with a subtle sourdough tang that kids and adults love!
Sample Easter Meal Plans
I know how it goes… You see all these delicious recipes and it’s hard to choose! To help you get started, I’ve put together three different “menus” based on what kind of celebration you’re hosting.
Grandma’s Traditional Easter Menu
This is the classic, comforting Easter dinner we all grew up with.
- Main: Sticky-Sweet Glazed Ham
- Sides: Creamy Scalloped Potatoes, Candied Yams, and Green Bean Casserole
- Bread: Sourdough Hot Cross Buns
- Dessert: Sourdough Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting.
The Budget-Friendly Easter Meal Plan
Feeding a crowd doesn’t have to break the bank! These recipes are simple and use ingredients you likely already have.
- Main: Slow Cooker Rump Roast (Remember: Cook it to 205°F to get that fall-apart tender beef!) Or a gorgeous Spiral Pork Loin Roast!
- Sides: Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Homemade Gravy and Roasted Asparagus
- Bread: Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls
- Dessert: Easter Sugar Cookies (A fun one for the kids to help decorate!)
The Farmhouse Brunch Easter Menu
If you’d rather eat a little earlier in the day, this light and bright menu is perfect.
- Main: Smoked Salmon Platter or Apricot-Glazed Pork Tenderloin
- Sides: Strawberry Salad, bacon jalapeno Deviled Eggs, and fresh fruit.
- Bread: Sourdough Easter Bread (It’s so beautiful as a centerpiece!)
- Dessert: Moist Lemon Layer Cake
Juliea’s Easter Prep Timeline
To keep things stress-free in the kitchen, here is my little secret to a calm Sunday:
- 2 Days Before: Make your Sourdough Starter builds and bake your Hot Cross Buns or Easter Bread. (They stay fresh, or you can freeze them!)
- 1 Day Before: Prep the Green Bean Casserole and Scalloped Potatoes. Cover and keep them in the fridge. You can also bake your Carrot Cake or Cookies today.
- Easter Morning: Get your Rump Roast in the slow cooker or prep your Ham glaze.
- 2 Hours Before Dinner: Pop the refrigerated side dishes into the oven.
- 30 Minutes Before: Whip up the Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.
Now, all you have to do is set the table and enjoy your family!
About Juliea
Juliea is a mother of six, a sourdough baker, and a homestead builder living in Idaho. Alongside her husband and their horse, Dude, she manages a busy farmhouse and shares her love for scratch-cooking and simple homemaking. Through her blog and YouTube channel, she helps millions of families every year master the art of the handmade home.
