Easter Dinner Ideas (4 Classic Easter Menus)

Menu 1: Classic Easter Ham

If there’s one dish that says “Easter dinner,” it’s a glazed ham fresh from the oven. This menu is the one to make if you’re going for traditional, and most of it can be done ahead of time so you’re not scrambling on Sunday morning.

Main Dish

• Baked Ham with the Best Ham Glaze: A spiral-cut ham with an irresistible brown sugar and orange glaze. My baked ham recipe includes everything you need to know, from which type of ham to buy to how much ham you’ll need per person.

Side Dishes

• Scalloped Potatoes: Creamy, cheesy, and completely irresistible alongside ham. You won’t believe how easy this recipe is, and it’s make-ahead friendly, too.
• Roasted Asparagus: A fresh, spring side dish that takes just 15 minutes to make. It’s the perfect pop of green on the plate.
• Glazed Carrots: Tender, buttery, and just a little sweet. Kids and adults both love these.
• Dinner Rolls: Soft, fluffy, and made for soaking up all that delicious ham glaze. You can make and freeze the rolls a few weeks ahead, then thaw and rewarm them before dinner.

Dessert

• Sugar Cookies: Decorating them with frosting and Easter-themed sprinkles is a fun project for the kids.
• Or serve a Blackberry Pie or Blueberry Cobbler if you prefer a fruit dessert.

Make-Ahead Tips: Make the ham glaze the day before and refrigerate. Prep the scalloped potatoes 1-2 days ahead. Bake the dinner rolls weeks in advance and freeze, just pull them out the night before to thaw in the fridge.

Menu 2: Roast Chicken

Not everyone wants to make ham for Easter and I think a beautifully roasted chicken is just as impressive. This is my pick for a smaller gathering. It’s elegant, easy, and the kind of meal that feels special without a ton of fuss.

Main Dish

• Roast Chicken: Juicy and golden with garlic herb butter, this is one of those recipes that looks like you spent all day in the kitchen but is actually so easy.

Side Dishes

• Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes: Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. These potatoes are a staple in my house.
• Roasted Asparagus: Keep it simple with just olive oil, salt and pepper, or add a squeeze of lemon and some grated Parmesan.
• Strawberry Spinach Salad: This is my favorite springtime salad. The combination of flavors is just so good!
• Honey Yeast Rolls: My family adores these rolls, and they’re perfect for a holiday meal.

Dessert

• Lemon Bars: Bright, tangy, and this recipe feeds a crowd. Make them the day before and dust with powdered sugar right before serving.

Make-Ahead Tips: The salad dressing can be made up to one week ahead, and you can wash and dry the spinach a few hours before dinner. The rolls can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed and warmed before dinner. The lemon bars are best made the day before and refrigerated until ready to serve.

Menu 3: Easy Baked Pork Tenderloin

This is what I made for Easter dinner last year, and it was such a hit! If you want to impress without spending all day in the kitchen, this is the menu for you. Pork tenderloin is fast to cook, easy to scale up for a crowd, and it always gets rave reviews. Pair it with some fresh spring sides and you’ll have a delicious meal everyone will love.

Main Dish

• Baked Pork Tenderloin: Seasoned with a simple spice rub and baked in the oven until perfectly juicy and tender.

Side Dishes

• Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Rich, creamy, and loaded with garlic flavor. You can make these a day ahead and reheat in the oven, or just roast the garlic ahead of time. My Crockpot Mashed Potatoes are another great option if you want a simple, make ahead side.
• Roasted Carrots: Tender in the middle and caramelized on the edges, these carrots take just minutes to prep for the oven.
• Roasted Asparagus: We pretty much always have roasted asparagus on our Easter table!
• Strawberry Spinach Salad: This salad is such a favorite, and it’s perfect for spring.

Dessert

• Apple Crisp: Warm, comforting, and easy to make. You can’t go wrong with this classic dessert, served with vanilla ice cream.
• Or try my Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. They’re always a crowd-pleaser, and you can bake them the day before.

Make-Ahead Tips: Mix the spice rub for the pork up to a week ahead. Prep the mashed potatoes the day before and reheat covered in a 350°F oven, stirring in a little milk to keep them moist. The salad dressing can be made up to one week ahead, and you can wash and dry the spinach a few hours before dinner. Apple crisp can be assembled up to one day ahead and then baked before serving.

Menu 4: Vegetable Lasagna

This is my family’s go-to for holiday meals, and it’s a fantastic option for Easter. Especially if you want a vegetarian dinner option or just want a dish you can prep the day before!

Main Dish

• Vegetable Lasagna: Layers of vegetables, noodles, creamy ricotta, and bubbly mozzarella. This lasagna can be assembled a full day ahead and popped in the oven when you’re ready. It’s a crowd-pleaser, even for the meat-eaters at the table.

Side Dishes

• Italian Salad: Crisp, zesty, and the perfect fresh contrast to the hearty lasagna. Prep all the components ahead and then toss everything together right before serving.
• Garlic Bread: Garlic bread is a must with lasagna! You can prep it and refrigerate a few hours ahead, then bake it while the lasagna rests.

Dessert

• Lemon Bars: Their bright, citrusy flavor is the perfect way to end this meal.
• Or you can never go wrong with Strawberry Shortcake!

Make-Ahead Tips: Assemble the lasagna up to one day ahead, cover, and refrigerate before baking. Plan to add about 15 minutes to the covered baking time since it’s coming straight from the fridge. Prep the garlic bread a few hours ahead and refrigerate. Prep the salad and dressing one day ahead, refrigerate, and then toss together right before serving. Make the lemon bars a day ahead, refrigerate and then dust with powdered sugar right before serving. Strawberry shortcake components can also be made ahead and you can find all the details in the recipe post.