35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (2024)

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (1)

Planning an Easter meal can be stressful, so we've put together an assortment of stunning co*cktails, easy hor d'oeuvres, savory main courses and (of course) decadent desserts. These recipes are proof that an elegant feast can also be an easy one.

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1

co*cktail: Limoncello Citrus Sangria

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (3)

This bright and tangy sangria serves as the perfect palette cleanser.

Get the recipe from The Marvelous Misadventures of a Foodie »

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2

co*cktail: Cotton Candy Champagne

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (5)

Clouds of cotton candy, a dash of St. Germain and your favorite bubbly makes this picture perfect aperitif.

Get the recipe from Lauren Conrad »

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3

co*cktail: Lavender Lillet

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (7)

This springy co*cktail, which calls for homemade lavender simple syrup, stands out in a sea of mimosas and bellinis.

Get the recipe from Camille Styles »

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4

co*cktail: Spiked Peeps

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (9)

Because the kids don't get to have all the fun.

Get the recipe from Sugar and Cloth »

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5

co*cktail: Strawberry Chamomile Paloma

Chamomile is known for its calming properties — which makes it a perfect ingredient for a tequila co*cktail. Grapefruit juice, ripe strawberries and fresh chamomile flowers make this one a stunner.

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest »

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6

Appetizer: Pimiento Cheese Finger Sandwiches

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (13)

These bite-size sandwiches are filled to the brim with cheesy goodness (oh, and a few vegetables).

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

More: 15 Easy Easter Appetizers to Kick Off Your Feast

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7

Appetizer: Hot Cross Buns

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (15)

This classic recipe — with just a hint of cinnamon — will become a tradition at your table for years to come.

Get the recipe from Donna Hay »

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8

Appetizer: Asparagus Gruyere Tart

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (17)

Is there anything that puff pastry can't make? When topped with melted gruyere and roasted asparagus, puff pastry transforms into the ultimate "pizza" app.

Get the recipe from Hip Foodie Mom »

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9

Appetizer: Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (19)

Deviled eggs are a staple during Easter celebrations for good reason — and here's your proof!

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

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10

Appetizer: Pea and Feta Crostini

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (21)

Cheese and crackers have met their match. Ground peas and crumbled feta create a simple yet flavorful spread.

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

What you'll need: food processor ($30, amazon.com)

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11

Appetizer: Carrot Chorizo Blini

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (23)

These spicy, chorizo-filled pancakes are delish on their own, but are out of this world when served with a lime juice Greek yogurt dipping sauce.

Get the recipe from Country Living »

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12

Appetizer: Brie and Apple Tart

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (25)

Everything's better after a mouthful of a cheesy pastry drizzled with honey.

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

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13

Appetizer: Curried Carrot and Apple Soup

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (27)

Carrot soup is undoubtedly traditional, but a touch of curry gives this dish a kick.

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

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14

Main Course: Apricot-Mustard Ham with Herb-Roasted Vegetables

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (29)

Serve a colorful variety of vegetables alongside a sweet and sticky ham for an eye-catching main course.

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

More: 35 Easter Dinner Ideas Your Family Will Love

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15

Main Course: Steak with Lentil and Grapefruit Salad

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (31)

Tart grapefruit, juicy steak and soft lentils come together for the ultimate springtime salad.

Get the recipe from Country Living »

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16

Main Course: Lemony Herb Roast Chicken

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (33)

Take a classic chicken dish to the next level with accompanying notes of citrus and thyme.

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

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17

Main Course: Herb Crusted Pork Loin

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (35)

Tender pork loin, with an earthy herb crust, gets an extra zing of flavor when served with sliced lemons.

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

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18

Main Course: Lamb Chops with Mint Gremolata

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (37)

Lemon and mint are the quintessential flavors of the season — these lamb chops are proof.

Get the recipe from Country Living »

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19

Main Course: Apricot Spice Glazed Ham

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (39)

Instead of honey glazed ham, try using apricot. Like honey, an apricot glaze adds sweetness to an otherwise savory dish, but in a new, fresh way — your guests will remember this meal for sure.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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20

Main Course: Spinach and Pine Nut Stuffed Leg of Lamb

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (41)

Sweet golden raisins and buttery pine nuts are the perfect compliment to this flavorful leg of lamb.

Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »

35 Effortless Recipes to Freshen Up Your Easter Menu (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional food served for Easter? ›

Cook a classic Easter dinner with recipes for ham, lamb, scalloped potatoes, spring vegetables—and our best treats and cakes.

What is a traditional Catholic Easter dinner? ›

Traditionally, the baskets are filled with: decorated hardboiled eggs (representing Christ's Resurrection); lamb-shaped butter or sugar (representing Christ as the “Lamb of God”); bread (reminding us that Jesus is the “Bread of Life”); meats, such as ham (symbolic of great joy and abundance), sausage (symbolic of God's ...

What is the most popular meal for Easter? ›

Here in the United States, one of the most traditional Easter foods is a big glazed ham.

What's the most popular food to eat on Easter? ›

Our 22 Most Popular Easter Recipes That You'll Want to Cook Year After Year
  • 01 of 22. Deviled Eggs With Relish. ...
  • 02 of 22. Cheesy Spinach-Potato Egg Casserole. ...
  • 03 of 22. Hummingbird Carrot Cake. ...
  • 04 of 22. Roasted Leg of Lamb. ...
  • 05 of 22. Asparagus Gruyère Tart. ...
  • 06 of 22. Coconut Custard Pie. ...
  • 07 of 22. Scalloped Potatoes. ...
  • 08 of 22.
Mar 5, 2024

What is a traditional Easter menu for a crowd? ›

What's a traditional Easter menu include? The main dish for an Easter meal varies, but some typical dishes include honey-baked ham, pot roast, pork chops, and fish. Some popular side dishes include scalloped or mashed potatoes, spring vegetables, and dinner rolls.

What is a typical Easter brunch menu? ›

Easter brunch traditionally features a ham at its center, but frittatas, quiches, savory bread puddings, waffles, and pancakes can also play a starring role. And there's no reason to stop there—mix and match several, especially if you have a crowd.

What do Mexicans eat on Easter? ›

Favorites include Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding), Chile Relleno, Baja Fish Tacos, Camarones A La Diabla, and Crockpot Lentil Soup.

Why is ham eaten on Easter? ›

Not only were hogs cheaper to raise than sheep, but the farmers could slaughter the hogs in the fall and let the meat cure throughout the cold winter months. By spring, the cured meat was ready to eat—just in time to prepare for the Easter feast. The best part of the holiday ham may just be the leftovers.

What side goes with ham? ›

13 of the Best Side Dishes to Serve with Ham
  • Milk-Simmered Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Popovers. ...
  • Minty Radishes and Snap Peas. ...
  • Butter-Roasted Carrots with Za'atar and Pomegranate Molasses. ...
  • Oeufs Mayonnaise. ...
  • Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower and Cheese Sauce. ...
  • French Carrot Salad. ...
  • Roasted Potatoes with Gouda and Thyme.
Mar 7, 2024

What did Jesus eat for Easter dinner? ›

Local experts believe that Jesus ate simple meals of bread and locally caught fish. Aside from simple meals of bread and locally caught fish, local experts believe that Jesus also ate olives. Local experts believe that Jesus drank wine with his meals.

Can you eat meat on Easter Sunday? ›

Can you eat meat on Easter Sunday? Yes. Easter is a day of celebration, and with Lent over, Christians can eat meat. However, some still abstain from certain foods, like red meat, depending on their religious practices and personal beliefs.

Why is ham a traditional Easter dinner? ›

The tradition of eating ham on Easter is deeply rooted in the agricultural calendar. Before the advent of modern refrigeration, pigs were often slaughtered in the fall, and the meat was preserved through the winter months using salt and smoke.

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