32 Easter Dinner Ideas Whether You Want Ham or a Modern Meal

We've got Easter menu ideas for all types of entertaining.

Stuffed Spiral Ham serving platter oranges
Photo: Jacob Fox

Hosting this year's get-together? Our Easter dinner menus and recipes are here to help. Get nostalgic with a traditional brown-sugar ham or leg of lamb. Try a beef Easter dinner showstopper like our coffee-crusted beef tenderloin. You could even shake things up with spicy seared scallops or roast duck in a mouthwatering blackberry-citrus sauce. Each menu features Easter side dish recipes and delectable spring desserts. Now hop to it and get planning!

01 of 32

Garlic- and Pineapple-Glazed Ham

Garlic Pineapple Glazed Ham
Kritsada Panichgul

Hawaiian pizza lovers will be all over this new take on Easter ham. Top it with pineapple, honey, and garlic for the best ham your Easter buffet menu has ever seen.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

02 of 32

Panko-Crusted Beef Roast with Hasselback Zucchini

Panko-Crusted Beef Roast Hasselback Zucchini
Jacob Fox

Tangy homemade mustard makes all the difference in this fennel- and panko-crusted roast. Bonus: If you dig hasselback potatoes, you'll love this fun take made with in-season zucchini.

Complete Your Easter Roast Beef Menu:

03 of 32

Orange-Roasted Chicken

Orange-Roasted Chicken
Andy Lyons

Dress your usual Easter chicken recipe in its new Sunday best: bacon! Our secret vinaigrette gives it a sweet-and-savory finish while orange slices and sage leaves make it extra photo-worthy.

Complete Your Easter Chicken Menu:

04 of 32

Steamed Crab Legs

Steamed Crab Legs Butter Dipping Sauce Lemons
Blaine Moats

What's better than fresh crab legs dunked in butter? This recipe feels fancy but comes without the typical holiday hassle. All you need is just four ingredients and 15 minutes, and dinner is served!

Complete Your Easter Seafood Menu:

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Sunday Brisket and Potatoes

sunday brisket potatoes
Andy Lyons

Easter slow cooker recipes make prep a breeze! Get this timeless brisket going with the help of Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and vinegar. Even better, you can toss your root veggies directly in the slow cooker, too!

Complete Your Easter Brisket Menu:

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Pan-Roasted Pork Chops with Lemon-Caper Sauce

pork chip lemon sauce caper
Jason Donnelly

The buttery lemon-caper sauce is everything when it comes to perfecting these pan-roasted Easter chops. A little bit of brown sugar gives them an unexpected sweetness. One of our tastiest Easter recipe ideas yet!

Complete Your Easter Menu:

07 of 32

Lemon-Roasted Tuna and Asparagus

Lemon-Roasted Tuna Asparagus
Jacob Fox

Looking for healthy Easter recipes? Drizzle tuna steaks in olive oil and a squeeze of lemon then pop in the oven alongside asparagus for two delicious Easter menu ideas in one.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

08 of 32

Pan-Seared Five-Spice Scallops

Pan-Seared Five-Spice Scallops
Andy Lyons

Seafood lovers joining the table? Surprise them with fresh scallops! Thanks to a plethora of spices and a shaking of cayenne pepper, these scallops are hot!

Complete Your Easter Menu:

09 of 32

Carbonara-Style Pasta with Peas and Shiitake "Bacon"

Carbonara-Style Pasta with Peas and Shiitake "Bacon"
Carson Downing

Serve up a twist on classic carbonara for Easter dinner. This spring pasta dish is loaded with in-season sweet peas, mushrooms, and fresh chives. Finish the vegetarian Easter dish with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Complete Your Easter Pasta Menu:

10 of 32

Berry Crisp Spiral Ham

Berry Crisp Spiral Ham
Chia Chong

Our stunning Easter ham recipe is not only scrumptious but also surprisingly easy. The sweet yet spicy honey-glazed ham has just five ingredients and features the tantalizing mix of jalapeño and raspberries.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

11 of 32

Roast Duck with Blackberry-Orange Sauce

Roast Duck Blackberry-Orange Sauce
Andy Lyons

Rich and tender roast duck is the perfect choice for this year's traditional Easter dinner menu, especially when prepared with our mouthwatering blackberry-citrus sauce. Bonus: The leftover duck fat makes the roasted veggie side dish taste great.

Complete Your Easter Duck Menu:

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Artichoke Flatbread

Artichoke Flatbread
Andy Lyons

Vegetarians will love our Easter flatbread that takes advantage of in-season artichokes and bright veggies. Top it off with a sprinkling of garlic-herb goat cheese for an unexpectedly bold flavor.

Complete Your Vegetarian Easter Menu:

13 of 32

Lamb Chops with Blackberry Chutney

Lamb Chops with Blackberry-Pear Chutney
Karla Conrad

Fresh pears and blackberries take on an incredible layer of depth when flavored with green onions and cloves in the chutney for this Easter lamb recipe. And with a topping this delicious, you won't need to worry about loads of seasoning on the chops themselves.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

14 of 32

Stuffed Spiral Ham

Stuffed Spiral Ham on serving plate oranges greenery
Jacob Fox

It may look over-the-top elegant, but a baked spiral ham is a snap to prepare. Layers of sliced citrus, garlic, and fresh herbs make this a showstopping Easter ham your entire family will love.

Complete Your Easter Ham Menu:

15 of 32

Broccoli and Tempeh Quinoa Salad

bowl of Broccoli and Tempeh Quinoa Salad with lime wedges and wooden spoon on side
Adam Albright

This colorful salad will be the star of your vegan Easter menu. Prep the quinoa ahead of time so you'll just need to cook the veggies and tempeh the day of serving. Serve the salad with fresh lime wedges and a sprinkle of salted peanuts.

Complete Your Vegan Easter Menu:

16 of 32

Lemon-Thyme Split-Roasted Turkey

Lemon thyme split roasted turkey
Andy Lyons

A classic flavor pairing, such as lemon and thyme, makes roast turkey taste extra holiday-worthy. And by split-roasting the Easter dinner recipe, you're saving time over other methods for cooking turkey.

Complete Your Easter Turkey Menu:

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Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin
Andy Lyons

We can't get enough of the java-inspired rub on this mouthwatering beef tenderloin. Ground coffee, brown sugar, and garlic powder turn it into one of our favorite Easter dinner ideas.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

18 of 32

Farro, Cherry Tomato, and Asparagus Casserole

tomato asparagus casserole
Andy Lyons

This beautiful casserole is one of our favorite vegetarian Easter recipes, boasting seasonal asparagus, nutrient-rich farro, and bold Asiago cheese. Prepare with vegetable broth in place of chicken broth to make it meat-free.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

19 of 32

Peppercorn-Crusted Ham

Peppercorn-Crusted Ham
Con Poulos

Our peppercorn-crusted Easter ham is extra flavorful thanks to our apricot-mustard glaze. Even better, each serving of the tender, juicy meat rings in at under 300 calories.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

20 of 32

Short Ribs with Black Barley and Mushrooms

Short Ribs Black Barley Mushrooms
Andy Lyons

When cooked slowly with velvety short ribs and mushrooms, chewy black barley turns into a delicious risotto-like Easter side dish. It's worth the wait!

Complete Your Easter Menu:

21 of 32

Honey Roast Chicken with Spring Peas and Shallots

chicken honey peas shallots
Andy Lyons

A light champagne-and-honey sauce gives this impressive Easter chicken recipe a gorgeous bronze glaze. Balance the sweetness of the honey with a few lemon slices added during the last few minutes of roasting.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

22 of 32

Beef Tenderloin with Parmesan-Herb Stuffing

Beef Tenderloin with Parmesan-Herb Stuffing
Andy Lyons

Sink your teeth into a juicy forkful of shallot-stuffed steak this Easter Sunday. We use a plethora of savory seasonings, such as rosemary, thyme, and garlic, to make this Easter dinner.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

23 of 32

Warm Salad with Lamb Chops and Mediterranean Dressing

Warm Salad with Lamb Chops and Mediterranean Dressing
Jason Donnelly

Juicy red and yellow cherry and grape tomatoes give this holiday salad recipe a burst of freshness. Toss everything together in our savory Mediterranean dressing for a zippy finish.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

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Pineapple-Glazed Ham

Pineapple-Glazed Ham
Blaine Moats

Make an easy Easter dinner that's both delicious and simple. Just follow our three-step process, and you'll have a pretty pineapple ham in no time.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

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Chipotle Pork Tenderloin with Squash-Bean Salad

Chipotle Pork Tenderloin with Squash-Bean Salad
Kelsey Hansen

Just because you're hosting, dinner doesn't have to be complicated to make. This Easter meal idea cooks in one pan and calls for just 10 minutes of hands on time. Lime zest and a homemade chipotle seasoning ensure this dinner isn't short on flavor.

Complete Your Easter Pork Menu:

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Holiday Rib Roast with Grain Mustard Sauce

Holiday Rib Roast with Grain Mustard Sauce
Andy Lyons

You're looking at one of our favorite Easter dinner ideas. When it comes to a rich roast, it's all about the au jus. Adding a splash or two of white wine during cooking will help soak up each and every savory flavor featured in our garlic-infused herb sauce.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

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Cauliflower Steaks

Cauliflower Steaks with Hazelnuts & Browned Butter
Blaine Moats

Creating a main dish-worthy cauliflower steak is all in how you slice it. Instead of removing the core, you'll want to cut the cauliflower from top to bottom to create thick slices. You should get about six slices from a large cauliflower. Cook them until caramelized and top with a buttery hazelnut sauce.

Complete Your Vegetarian Easter Menu:

28 of 32

Brown Sugar- and Whiskey- Glazed Ham

Brown-Sugar- and Whiskey-Glazed Ham
Kritsada Panichgul

This brown sugar ham is packed with flavor thanks to a sweet cola and whiskey glaze. Serve alongside classic cheesy scalloped potatoes and glazed carrots.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

29 of 32

Lamb Shanks with Barley

Lamb Shanks Barley
Blaine Moats

These braised lamb shanks are the perfect Easter dinner menu idea. Plus, they're made in the slow cooker to help make dinner prep all the easier!

Complete Your Easter Menu:

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Herb-Roasted Chicken

Herb-Roasted Chicken
Peter Krumhardt

The whole family will love this herb-roasted chicken. Serve it up with a quick Italian Easter bread recipe and green bean casserole for a memorable Easter meal you will crave year-round.

Complete Your Easter Menu:

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Roasted Leg of Lamb

Roasted Leg Lamb
Blaine Moats

Learn how to intensify the deep, rich flavor of lamb in one simple step: roasting! It's the perfect way to serve lamb this Easter. Round our your leg of lamb Easter dinner menu with a new take on salad and donut holes made in the air fryer!

Complete Your Easter Lamb Menu:

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Flank Steak Tagliata with Arugula and Parmesan

Flank Steak Tagliata with Arugula and Parmesan
Carson Downing

This juicy flank steak is seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and black pepper. Serve this beef Easter dinner with a fresh arugula salad, shaved Parmesan cheese, and blistered cherry tomatoes. A squeeze of grilled lemon gives the dish bright flavor.

Complete Your Easter Steak Menu:

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