Easy Easter Dinner Ideas
Mar 28, 2026
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Easter dinner doesn't need to take over your whole day to be delicious or memorable. From stress-free ham and classic sides to seasonal salads and show-stopping desserts, I have gathered my go-to Easter dinner ideas that will help you build a menu that looks like you spent all day cooking, even when you didn't.
My Favorite Easy Easter Dinner Ideas
Whether you are feeding a crowd or just your crew, these are the recipes I come back to year after year. They keep the prep minimal, but the flavors impressive.
1. Instant Pot Ham
This is my go-to when I want a stunning Easter centerpiece without tying up the oven for hours or I am entertaining a smaller crowd. The Instant Pot locks in moisture so every slice is incredibly juicy, and that honey glaze is pure magic.
2. Baked Ham - No Basting Required!
If you have a larger ham or simply love a classic baked ham but have zero interest in babysitting it, this is your recipe. After drizzling with a sweet and savory pineapple glaze, I wrap it in foil and let it go low and slow. No basting needed and it turns out tender and moist every single time.
3. New York Strip Roast
Feeling like something a little unexpected for Easter this year? This strip roast is decadent and genuinely impressive, yet far simpler to pull off than it looks. That optional brandy au jus takes it fully over the top.
4. Homemade Scalloped Potatoes
These are the rich, creamy, old-fashioned scalloped potatoes I grew up eating. The sauce is velvety, the potatoes bake up perfectly tender, and they pair beautifully with both ham and beef. They also can be baked in advance and reheated to keep Easter dinner that much easier.
5. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
These cheesy potatoes have been a long-time fan-favorite. I often make them with leftover ham AFTER Easter, but because they reheat beautifully, they are a great side dish to add to your menu. And the added ham is optional. 😉
6. Mashed Potato Casserole
This casserole can be prepped ahead, leaving you with one less thing to do on Easter Sunday. Simply pop it in the oven before dinner and these potatoes come come out hot, creamy, and perfectly decadent.
7. Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
If your crew loves classic mashed potatoes, this is the recipe for you! The potatoes not only cook right in the slow cooker, but they can be held warm for hours. Perfect for serving a crew after church.
8. Roasted Asparagus
We can't have Easter dinner at our house without an asparagus dish (or two) on the table. Roasted then finished with lemon and parmesan, this easy recipe takes minutes to prepare and is even a hit with the picky eaters. Or try my recipe for Air Fryer Asparagus to free up space in your oven!
9. Green Beans Almondine
Green Beans Almondine is one of those side dishes that looks like it came from a fancy restaurant but comes together in almost no time at all. The toasted almonds add a satisfying crunch that makes plain green beans feel genuinely special, exactly the kind of effortless elegance an Easter table calls for.
10. Maple Glazed Carrots
Sweet, glossy, and completely kid-approved, these glazed carrots are an Easter dinner natural. The sweet citrus glaze makes them taste special enough for the holiday table, yet they come together in under 20 minutes.
11. Asparagus Salad
This salad is everything I want on an Easter table. It's fresh, bright, and full of spring flavor. The crisp-tender asparagus and sweet peas are a beautiful combination, and the lemony dressing ties it all together perfectly. It's a stunning counterbalance to the richer dishes on the menu.
12. Strawberry Spinach Salad
This salad earns compliments every single time I put it on the table, and it couldn't be simpler to throw together. Sweet strawberries, salty feta, and that creamy poppy seed dressing, this recipe pulls the best details together for a salad that's fresh, balanced, and worthy of Easter dinner.
13. Carrot Raisin Salad
This salad is always a hit with the kids! Made shredded carrots, plump raisins, and sweet pineapple, it comes together quickly, can be made in advance, and is the easiest way to convince the picky eaters to eat their veggies.
14. Warm Spinach Salad
If savory salads are more your thing, don't skip this Spinach Bacon Salad. The combination of crispy bacon and tender spinach hits that perfect sweet spot between light and satisfying. And let's be honest, adding bacon to a salad is an easy way to win just about anyone over.
15. Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Creamy, tangy, and just the right amount of indulgent, these lemon cheesecake bars are my ideal Easter dessert. They feel like a proper spring treat without any of the fuss of a full cheesecake. They slice up beautifully, which makes serving a crowd (and saving leftovers for yourself) completely effortless.
16. Instant Pot Carrot Cake Cheesecake
Nothing screams Easter like carrots and when you can turn them into a stunning dessert, even better! With layers of creamy cheesecake and spiced carrot cake, this dessert has it all! And because it is best prepped ahead, you can focus on everything else without the stress.
17. Strawberry Crumb Bars
Fresh, fruity, and just the right amount of sweet, these strawberry crumb bars come together without the fuss of a traditional pie and taste even better when prepared a day in advance. They are just the kind of spring dessert that lets me put something really special on the Easter table for dessert without a lot of effort.
18. Banana Pudding
You may not think of bananas for Easter dessert, but this layered banana pudding is one of those recipes you can count on to please a crowd. It is best when chilled overnight before serving, which leaves you more time to enjoy Easter with your family.
I truly hope these recipes help you plan an Easter dinner to remember, without spending the whole day in the kitchen!
And if you're still mapping out the rest of your menu, don't forget to peek at my Easter brunch recipes for a relaxed start to the day, brush up on foolproof hard-boiled eggs (because someone will always ask how you made them so easy to peel), and of course, save room in your Easter basket for peanut butter eggs.
Wishing you an Easter filled with good food, a little laughter, and someone else on dish duty! 😉
xo, Kristen
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