Easter Dinner Menu Ideas
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Easter is just around the corner. Do you need a few Easter Dinner Menu Ideas to consider? Some folks like to serve a Holiday Ham, Turkey, or even Roasted Chicken. If you’d prefer a change from the traditional, here are some recipes to consider for this year’s event.
(Post modified with new photos on 3/19/23.)
When it comes to holiday dinners in our family, Easter ranks right up there with Christmas and Thanksgiving. It’s good to have at least one big family meal each season, right? My side of the family always serves ham, with scalloped potatoes, green beans, corn, and lots of salads. But the following recipe ideas would certainly rank right up there with the best in terms of quantity and quality. They are simply delicious. Plus, I think they are rather lovely when served on a platter in the middle of the table. Right?
Easter Dinner – Main Dishes
I made this Stuffed Pork Tenderloin based on an Italian “Rosa di Parma”–which is so wonderfully tender and delicious you have to try it! Treat yourself to an Italian dinner and serve this as a Secondi or meat course.
This Elk Wellington with Madeira Sauce is the perfect choice to wow your dinner guests. Start with a pan-seared elk tenderloin fillet, brushed with Dijon mustard, cloaked in mushroom Duxelles and prosciutto, and then wrapped in a homemade sourdough puff pastry that has been baked to golden perfection. Finish off by topping it with a generous spoonful of silky Madeira sauce that has simmered in a demi-glace sauce of vegetables and herbs.
Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu is an easy, yet elegant recipe for a special dinner. Tender and lightly seasoned chicken breasts rolled up in ham and oozing Swiss cheese baked in a golden brown crust. It’s so good. Your family or guests will think you’ve slaved in the kitchen all day.
The secret to making a Savory Pot Roast with Vegetables is searing in the juices at the very beginning. Once that’s done, let is simmer slowly on the stove. Then use the yummy juices to season the vegetables for roasting in the oven. So good.
Of course, if you’d prefer to serve a more traditional dish for Easter, here is an easy recipe for Slow-Cooked Holiday Ham that never fails.
A Few Sides for Your Easter Table
Baked Italian Zucchini Boats has become one of my go-to side dishes when I want something a little special. Especially for an Italian dinner, but really, it goes well with many dishes. It’s quite pleasing to the eye and is a great way to use up your garden zucchini!
I enjoy making Refrigerator Mashed Potatoes for family gatherings or church potlucks. They are so easy to make and can be prepared a day ahead. I’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s still one of my family’s most requested potato recipe.
I like to serve Asparagus with Mushroom Cream Sauce for special meals, such as with Chicken Cordon Bleu. A creamy dill sauce with mushrooms and garlic, served over steamed asparagus and julienned carrots.
It took me 50 years before I tried Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and I must admit that I adore and love them! Lesson learned: It shouldn’t take a person so long to try new things!
Easter Dinner Menu Ideas – Breads
Hot Cross Buns are perfect for an Easter dinner. Studded with raisins (or black currants) and lightly sweetened with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, they provide a tasty and special treat on your holiday table.
Onion Crescent Rolls is a fantastic recipe I like to make for my family that is amazingly easy to prepare. So light and soft–like little fluffy pillows! I hope you’ll take the time to try these and that you’ll love them as much as we do!
Ranch Loaves are a favorite at our house. They are incredibly tasty and a perfect fit for chicken, beef, or pork dinners. Even sliced with a piece of cheese or slathered with butter makes a great snack.
Cottage Cheese Butterhorn Rolls is a fun little recipe when you’re called on to make something for your next family gathering. They are simply fabulous. Full of flavor and so very tender with just a hint of sweetness. They are small, so perfect for a buffet table where you grab-and-go. Plus, they would work for a brunch, a dinner, or even as a surprise treat at a picnic.
Salads to Grace Your Table
This Glorified Rice Salad recipe is a family favorite. I’ve been making it for years and take it to family gatherings at Christmas and Easter. It works very well for church potlucks, too.
Broccoli Raisin Salad is one of my favorites. I love the combination of fresh broccoli, bacon, cheddar cheese, and raisins all tied together in a creamy dressing. Yum!
Frog Eye Pasta Salad also known as Acini di Pepe Salad, is made from a tiny pasta that when boiled, resembles little balls of pasta – aka frog eyes. It’s a great salad to serve at a family gathering, as it makes a big bowl.
Orange Carrot Gelatin Salad is a tried-and-true recipe we enjoy at family gatherings. Filled with juicy pineapple and mandarin oranges with shredded carrots surrounding it in an encasement of orange gelatin, it’s certain to please kids of all ages!
Orchid-Buffet Strawberry Fluff Salad – This fluff salad is perfect for a large family gathering or a potluck dinner.
Easter dinner would not be complete without a plate of Deviled Eggs. Here’s an easy recipe for you to try.
Grandma’s Pistachio Salad is especially nice for family gatherings or church dinners. This salad is also kid-friendly. Not only to make with little hands, but also to eat. Kids love to dip their spoons into this salad. In fact, it’s one of our grandchildren’s favorite dishes.
Easter Desserts
Everyone loves a little something sweet following a big family dinner. Whether you’re looking for cake recipes, cheesecake, cookies, pie, or maybe even a little chocolate for an Easter basket, here are some of our favorite desserts for Easter. See even more Dessert Ideas Here. Browse Cake Recipes Here.
These Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Eggs are perfect for your Easter celebration. They are simple to make and similar in taste to a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Kid’s of all ages love them, plus they can help make them at home!
This homemade Angel Food Cake is light and airy with a hint of vanilla and citrus, and the 7-Minute Frosting is so marshmallowy good!
Cherry Cheesecake is an easy dessert when you have last-minute company or want something special for a family gathering.
Kids love baking these Rolled Sugar Cookies with Icing for Christmas or Easter! Or anytime you want a decorated cookie. I love the simple no-fuss icing on this cookie. Just spread it on and let it set up to harden. This recipe makes a large batch, so if desired, you may cut it in half.
Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies remind me of cookies my grandma made as a school cook. She made the most wonderful cookies.
Lemon Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting is a perfect choice for a spring or summer family gathering or potluck. Three layers of moist, lightly lemon-flavored cake, topped with a citrusy buttercream frosting that will have you licking your lips. It’s so yummy!
Coconut Cream Pie is my husband’s favorite pie. A delicious vanilla pudding flavored with sweetened coconut flakes and topped with a fluffy, light-as-clouds meringue.
Whatever you decide to make, may you have a blessed Easter with your family and friends.
See ideas for Hosting an Easter Tea Party Here. Browse more Entertaining Ideas Here.
Deborah, I love getting your newsletter in my inbox! These specific recipes you suggested are so familiar to me, but with different names. Regional differences, I guess. Gotta love Easter, Spring is such a pretty and welcome time of year. Our forsythia is blooming, red buds starting to break out and the paper white narcissus along with the beautiful daffodils brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart…..and then it’s suddenly 29 degrees overnight! That’s the 4-States for ya! Going to peruse some of these recipes….been hanging out in your pizza recipes section today….hope you have a great week!
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon. I’m delighted that you are enjoying the weekly newsletters with featured recipes. Yes, it’s been cold the last few days, and now I’m bracing myself for the heat. LOL