18 Best Easter Side Dishes in 8 Categories
Easter is a time for celebration – and also some mouth-watering meals. Unsure about which side dishes you should prepare this Easter? We show you 18 delicious Easter side dishes that are sure to be a hit.
For many, one of the most important parts of an Easter celebration is sharing a meal with loved ones. If you are responsible for some of this meal preparation, you may be struggling to come up with ideas for some amazing Easter side dishes. That’s where we come in.
Today, we’ll be taking you through 18 incredible ideas for Easter side dishes that will taste phenomenal and impress your guests. Let’s go ahead and jump right into it!
Vegetable Easter Side Dishes
Vegetables are an important component of any balanced Easter meal. That being said, you don’t want to be serving vegetables just for the sake of it; you also want them to taste amazing.
Lucky for you, we’ve got some delicious vegetable-based Easter side dishes for you to try out.
Roasted Asparagus with Lemon
Asparagus is one vegetable that can taste absolutely incredible when cooked correctly – which is why roasted asparagus with lemon is one of our top picks for vegetable Easter side dishes.
This dish is quick and easy to make but tastes so delicious that it seems as though you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. Roasting the asparagus gives it a rich, smokey flavor that the lemon cuts through perfectly.
You are then left with a perfectly balanced, mouth-watering side dish that pairs incredibly well with other classic Easter dishes.
Honey Glazed Carrots
For a sweeter vegetable Easter side dish, you can’t go wrong with some honey-glazed carrots. This beloved side dish is a wonderful hit of warm sweetness and pairs well with the other savory food that you are sure to be enjoying during your Easter dinner.
This side dish is super simple to whip up and will take you no time at all. Honey-glazed carrots also provide a festive, comforting flavor that warms you from the inside out. It is hard to find a vegetable side dish that is a better fit for a holiday dinner.
Easter Sides with Ham
A well-prepared ham is a classic Easter dinner staple and often can act as the star of the meal. This means that you are going to want to make sure it is cooked to perfection.
So, how exactly do you prepare it? What side do you serve with it? Let’s take a look at some great Easter sides to prepare with your ham.
Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
Does it get any better than warm, creamy potatoes and ham? Whipping up a batch of scalloped potatoes is a great go-to side for your Easter ham.
You can cook your potatoes in your favorite herbs and seasonings (along with plenty of cheese) for a truly flavorful, decadent side dish. Creamy, cheese-scalloped potatoes pair wonderfully with the salty taste of ham – leaving you with a well-balanced meal.
The best part? Scalloped potatoes are super easy to make; simply season and sauce them in your baking dish and pop them in the oven.
Pineapple Glazed Ham
Another beloved ham-based dish that is served up during many different holidays is pineapple glazed ham. The combination of ham and pineapple is seriously incredible. The sweet, fruity flavors of the pineapple and the salty taste of the ham are a match made in heaven.
While this dish is one that looks like something out of a fancy cookbook, in reality, it does not take that much time or effort. Simply dress the ham up with pineapple rings and brush on the glaze, then into the oven with it. It really is as simple as that.
Easy and Quick Sides for Easter
Easter is a time for family and catching up with loved ones – so you don’t want to be spending the entire day in the kitchen.
This is where super quick and easy Easter side dishes can come in handy. We’ve picked a couple of side dishes for Easter that you can whip up in no time at all.
Garlic Butter Green Beans
Green beans are one of those vegetables that an Easter dinner table just doesn’t feel complete without. The good news: they are dead simple to make and take no time at all to cook. Garlic butter green beans are one Easter side dish that you’re definitely going to want to include this year.
The rich, buttery sauce gives the green beans a super comforting and homely taste. At the same time, the garlic gives the dish a powerful hit of flavor that really takes this dish to the next level.
Garlic butter and green beans also pair well with other traditional Easter dishes, such as ham and potatoes.
Buttered Corn on the Cob
There is a reason why buttered corn on the cob is such a beloved side dish of both dinner guests and hosts alike. This dish is unbelievably quick and easy to make, yet tastes absolutely incredible.
A buttered cob of corn looks right at home at your Easter dinner table, and will only take you a few minutes to whip up. The sweet, juicy taste of corn on the cob and the creamy drizzle of butter make for a rich and satisfying vegetable Easter side dish.
The burst of freshness that you get when biting into a cob of corn helps to cut through the savory saltiness of the rest of your Easter dinner.
Healthy Easter Sides
If you are someone who is dedicated to eating healthy, that is no reason to miss out on meals such as a traditional Easter dinner. The good news is: you don’t have to.
We have gathered some healthy Easter side dishes so that you can enjoy a meal with friends and family this Easter, entirely guilt-free.
Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables
A quinoa salad with roasted vegetables is the perfect pick for a healthy Easter side dish for a variety of reasons.
For one, smokey roasted vegetables not only taste incredible on their own, but they pair perfectly with quinoa. These flavors also fit the bill for an Easter dinner side dish: warm, rich, and comforting.
Both quinoa and roasted vegetables are also hearty and satisfying, meaning you aren’t going to feel as though you are missing out on anything due to choosing to eat healthy on a holiday.
Another great part of this side dish is the fact that it is highly customizable. You can choose your favorite vegetables to roast and season them with your favorite herbs.
Grilled Zucchini and Tomato Salad
This Easter side dish is one that is a little less popular (or, in our opinion, extremely underrated) but is definitely worth trying out next Easter. The grilled zucchini provides a hearty, satisfying base to the salad and the tomatoes add a burst of freshness to the dish.
You can also add any other vegetables that you like to this salad, building it into your perfect healthy Easter side dish.
This is a well-balanced side dish with both comforting, hearty flavors and some pops of sweetness due to the tomatoes. The dish pairs wonderfully with other Easter dishes, making it a great addition to the dinner table.
Vegan Sides for Easter
If you are a vegan or have friends and family visiting who follow a vegan diet, then chances are you’re going to want to include some vegan options in your Easter dinner. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
Here are some absolutely amazing vegan side dishes for you to include this Easter.
Vegan Potato Salad
A vegan potato salad is definitely a top pick of ours when it comes to vegan Easter side dishes. You don’t want to just provide a green salad for yourself or your vegan dinner guests; everyone should be able to enjoy a satisfying meal, no matter what their diet requirements are.
Vegan potato salad is super filling and hearty, which makes it a great choice as a vegan side dish. It is also super quick and easy to make, meaning you won’t have to slave away in the kitchen for hours.
You can also add any other vegetables that you want to this salad in order to bulk it up and add some extra flavor. Zucchini ribbons are great, for example.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Brussel sprouts are a staple dish at a holiday dinner. The only question: how do you make them taste truly incredible? The answer is roasted brussel sprouts with a balsamic glaze.
This rich and flavorful side dish is one of the best ways to serve vegetables this Easter. The balsamic glaze on the brussel sprouts adds a whole new level of flavor to the dish and perfectly complements the smokey flavor that comes along with roasting the vegetable.
The hearty brussel sprouts make for a satisfying and filling side dish that is sure to hit the spot.
Best Appetizers for Easter Dinner
If you plan on serving appetizers this Easter but aren’t too sure what you want to cook up, then stick around. We’ve got some tried and true appetizers for your Easter dinner that are sure to taste amazing and impress your guests.
Not only that, but these appetizers are quick and easy to make, so you can get back to the festivities in no time.
Deviled Eggs
You can’t go wrong with some classic deviled eggs. This side dish only requires a few ingredients and the end result is seriously addictive.
Deviled eggs are a perfect appetizer to eat before dinner as they are packed full of flavor, yet not so filling that your guests will lose their appetite before dinner.
The rich and slightly spicy taste of these stuffed eggs is the perfect bite to eat before Easter dinner. You can whip up a batch of deviled eggs in just a few minutes, making it the perfect appetizer if you are in a bit of a time crunch.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
A classic spinach and artichoke dip is always sure to go down a treat before any holiday dinner. This dip is rich and packed full of flavor, and can be served with a variety of different pairings. Whether it be bread, crackers, or sliced vegetables, this dip is sure to taste incredible.
Being a simple dip, this appetizer is another dish that is safe to eat before dinner without a huge risk of your guests' appetites being spoiled. That being said, this dip is so phenomenal that it can be addictive. Be sure to make a large batch.
Best Desserts for Easter
While the Easter dinner is important, you also may want to consider what you are going to serve for dessert.
A sweet treat after dinner is always an Easter highlight, so you’re going to want to make sure that you have a great dessert ready to go. We’ve got a few wonderful Easter dessert ideas for you to consider.
Carrot Cake
A classic carrot cake is always a winner in our books. This sweet and festive cake is the perfect choice for an Easter dessert.
A moist, decadent cake with delicious cream cheese icing – what more can you ask for? This is also a creative and unexpected way to use up any carrots and get an extra dose of vegetables in your system.
The hints of brown sugar and cinnamon that come through in a carrot cake make it perfect for festive occasions such as Christmas and Easter. The flavors in this cake give it a warm, homely taste that radiates comfort.
Lemon Bars
Lemon bars, also known as lemon bars, are a seriously underrated dessert that works perfectly as an Easter after-dinner treat. The shortbread base is satisfying and comforting, while the lemon curd filling gives the dessert a hint of zesty flavor.
While lemon bars may appear super impressive and elegant, they are dead simple to make in reality and require only a few simple ingredients.
Chances are you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen after preparing a whole Easter dinner, making simple lemon bars a great pick for dessert.
Coconut Cream Pie
There is nothing better than a homemade coconut cream pie as an after-dinner treat. The rich and creamy coconut custard filling creates a decadent dessert that is sure to impress.
Topped with whipped cream, this is a dessert that is perfect for all sweet tooths. The strong coconut flavor makes for a truly unique and mouth-watering dessert that is perfect for after your Easter dinner. If you are a coconut fan, then this cream pie is definitely a must.
Easy Easter Dinner Ideas
Easter can be a stressful time of year without taking food into account. There is traveling, getting the kids organized, and hosting friends and family; the last thing you want to do is add the stress of cooking to the mix.
That is why we’ve collected some super easy Easter dinner ideas to make your holiday just a bit easier.
Honey Glazed Ham with Roasted Potatoes
Having a ham on your Easter dinner table is a must – and the truth of the matter is, it is not as difficult as you may first expect.
A honey-glazed ham is a dish that is surprisingly easy to make but is going to both look and taste incredible. All this dish requires is for you to brush your glaze on and pop the ham in the oven.
Of course, you’re going to want to have some sort of vegetable to pair with your ham, and potatoes are the obvious choice. Potatoes are delicious, satisfying, and pair perfectly with ham.
The best part is that you can add some potatoes to the roasting dish with your ham and cook them together, saving both time and dishes.
Spring Vegetable Risotto
A one-pot meal that is going to be hearty, packed full of flavor, and will appear impressive despite taking virtually no effort? Yes, please.
A spring vegetable risotto is the perfect easy Easter dish to whip up using just a few ingredients and can be altered to include all of your favorite vegetables.
This dish is a seriously underrated Easter dish and is super warm and comforting. The strong flavors and rich, creamy consistency are going to give off the impression of a dish that requires endless time and effort. In reality, this is a dead simple dish to whip up.
Stuffed Leg of Lamb
Lamb is another great meat that can act as the star of the show at your Easter dinner. A stuffed leg of lamb is so simple to make but has so many complex flavors it seems as though it took all day.
Lamb also pairs incredibly well with many other classic Easter dishes, making it a safe bet when planning your meal.
You can include all of your favorite herbs while stuffing your lamb, and can toss a few vegetables such as potatoes or pumpkin into the tray alongside the lamb. By the time it is done cooking, you will have a tender, perfectly seasoned leg of lamb and a side of roast vegetables.