Whether it’s ham or chicken or pork chops that you love for Easter, this collection is a delicious list of all the most popular Easter dinner ideas to help you plan your Easter menu.
Everyone has different ideas of what they want for dinner when gathering for Easter. As popular Turkey is for Thanksgiving, ham is the same for Easter, but that doesn’t mean you HAVE to have ham.
There are a myriad of options your family can enjoy for the Easter holiday!
Today, we are rounding up all of the most popular Easter dinner recipes. From ham to pork chops to chicken to roast – all of these simple recipes would make great additions to your dinner menu.
Dinner Planning Tips
Prepping and cooking:
Create your menu beforehand. This will be handy if guests ask if they can help bring a dish. You will already know what you need and where they can help out.
Hit the grocery store early. Not only will you skip large crowds, but you will not chance them running out of a needed item.
Clean out the fridge to make room for ingredients and dishes that need to stay cool.
What can be made ahead of time?
What items need to be cooked/heated and in what order?
Utilize the oven, stovetop and crockpot.
Decide how you’ll keep things warm. Crockpots, chaffing dishes, insulated cooler are all helpful tools.
Presentation :
Will you serve a plated or buffet style dinner?
Will you have tables and chairs for everyone or will there be chairs, couches and other alternative seating? One tip I use when choosing seating is: if anyone will need a knife to cut their food, then I’ll provide a table and chairs. (No one likes to try cutting food while holding a plate on their lap)
Will there be a separate area for children? We often set up tables and chairs out on the lawn for adults and have picnic blankets spread around for children.
Use similar themed serving dishes. Pastel colors and floral patterns are particularly fun at Easter.
Tips for younger guests
Keep these tips in mind if you’ll have littles at your Easter dinner.
Provide a space for baby care such as where guests can change diapers.
Depending on the time of your dinner consider having a space for a nap. It’s worth the extra effort when children get cranky!
Have indoor and outdoor games for children. Such as these cute easter printable games or an outdoor egg hunt.
Also think about these things for an Egg Hunt…
Make a checklist for kids to find certain types of eggs such as 1 bunny egg, 3 purple eggs, 2 glitter eggs, etc…
Get big kids excited again: Place golden tickets in a few select eggs for a special prize, money also works well to get big kids involved.
Place coupons such as skip a chore, pick the family movie, ice cream date inside select eggs.
You want to make sure you have enough food for everyone, so here are some tips for that. 😉
Easter Appetizers: Plan for each guest to have 4-6 appetizers, just enough to wet their appetite as they mingle, but not enough to fill them up. Also, provide a variety of hot and cold, savory and sweet, light and heavy. Be sure to check out our collection of Easter Appetizers.
Easter Sides: Plan to have 3-4 different sides for 6 or fewer guests. Add another side dish for every 5 more guests. Once you have the traditional starch, veggie and salad recipes picked out go ahead and add something new that you think your guests will love. Be sure to check out our collection of Easter Side Dishes.
Main Course: Plan to serve 6 ounces per person if you are serving one main dish. If you have more than one main course plan for 8 oz total per person.
Dessert:Plan to have at least 2 dessert choices for every 10 guests. I always have at least one chocolate dessert and one fruit based dessert. After that I just have some fun. Easter themed desserts are especially cute to have. Be sure to check out our collection of Easter Desserts.
Easter Main Dishes
Easter Main Course Recipes
We’ve broken it down for you and hope you enjoy this delicious list of dinner ideas for Easter. Here are some of the most popular recipes:
Main CourseBrown Sugar Ham Recipe
This crock pot ham is made entirely in the slow cooker, which makes for quick prep time and minimal effort. With a deliciously sweet brown sugar glaze, it's our favorite way to make a holiday ham!
This is Our All-Time Favorite Steak marinade! It requires only four ingredients, and makes our steak taste SO amazing! Everyone always asks for this Easy Steak Marinade recipe because it's just that good!!
These delicious Fried Pork Chops in a Lemon Butter Sauce are crispy on the outside and so delicious and tender on the inside! Everyone loves these pan fried pork loins that are so flavorful and simple.
These Parmesan Pork Chops are so flavorful and easy to make. With less than 10 minutes of prep work, you can make the most delicious baked pork chops that everyone will love.
Prepare to be amazed by this ultra tender, fall off the bone crock pot pork roast. It only takes a handful of ingredients to make, including the complimentary gravy.
This Crock Pot Roast Recipe is one of our favorite Sunday dinners. It takes only 3 minutes of prep time and then the slow cooker does the rest! The chuck roast ends up being SO tender and full of flavor from the brown gravy, Italian, and ranch dressing mix!
This Delicious and Easy Pulled Pork Recipe is one that is made in the slow cooker and takes just minutes to prep. Use the pork for any recipe, including Pulled Pork sandwiches, and you'll love just how simple and tasty it is.
Instant Pot Ham is the easiest entree! An Instant Pot is a great way to free up oven space when you’re cooking up an Easter feast, and it heats the ham in record time.
Chicken is one of the most popular meats for holidays and tends to be first or second choice for most during holiday meals.
With that in mind, we wanted to share our most popular recipes. Some include pasta, some are fried, some are baked… there are loads to choose from in case you want chicken at your Easter dinner.
Main CourseBest Roast Chicken Recipe
Simple and delicious roast chicken tastes like you spent all day cooking it! It is the the perfect go-to dinner recipe.
EASY Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe - delicious, breaded chicken filled with ham and cheese. Serve over pasta, rice, or veggies, for a delicious dinner idea.
Easy and delicious Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini - Chicken and pasta in a creamy sauce with lots of flavor. It's a family favorite dinner meal!
4.89 from 149 votes
Main CourseLemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
Flavorful and tender Lemon Pepper Chicken is simple and requires just a few ingredients. Served on its own or over rice, this buttery chicken dish is perfect any night of the week for a simple, quick dinner idea.
Chicken breasts with potatoes and carrots, tossed in ranch seasoning and baked to perfection. This delicious dish is SO simple, quick, tasty, and allows you to cook your meat and sides in one shot!
Crispy Cheddar Chicken is coated in sour cream, cheddar cheese, and ritz cracker crumbs and baked to crispy perfection. Top it with a creamy sauce, and it's to die for!
Chicken piccata is flavorful and beyond easy to make! This tasty dish requires surprisingly few ingredients and is cooked in a lemon butter sauce topped with capers.
Behind hams, there are pork chops that are also an Easter favorite. Here are some of the most popular pork recipes on the site that are perfect for your Easter menu.
Main CourseBrown Sugar Ham Recipe
This crock pot ham is made entirely in the slow cooker, which makes for quick prep time and minimal effort. With a deliciously sweet brown sugar glaze, it's our favorite way to make a holiday ham!
These Parmesan Pork Chops are so flavorful and easy to make. With less than 10 minutes of prep work, you can make the most delicious baked pork chops that everyone will love.
These delicious Fried Pork Chops in a Lemon Butter Sauce are crispy on the outside and so delicious and tender on the inside! Everyone loves these pan fried pork loins that are so flavorful and simple.
These Italian Pork Chops require just a few ingredients and are baked in the oven with loads of veggies. Have it ready and on the table in just 30 minutes!
Prepare to be amazed by this ultra tender, fall off the bone crock pot pork roast. It only takes a handful of ingredients to make, including the complimentary gravy.
These Simple and delicious Slow Cooker Pork Chops are sure to become a family favorite. They are so tender and juicy and are topped with an amazing gravy that we love to serve over the chops and mashed potatoes!
My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!
Thank you so much for the wonderful ideas and recipes for Easter dinner. So much to choose from but am sure dinner will be delicious.
You are so welcome! I hope you have a wonderful Easter dinner this year!