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.
For more Easter collections, check out: Easter Brunch Ideas, Easter Appetizers, Easter Side Dishes, Easter Desserts
most Popular Easter Dinner Recipes
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.
Tips for hosting easter dinner
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?
- 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!
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.
- Do a glow in the dark egg hunt.
perfecting your easter dinner menu
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, vegetables 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 Dinner Tips
What types/cuts of meat are most popular for an Easter Dinner main dish?
Lamb is very popular to serve on Easter not only because of its symbolism, but also because of the various delicious ways it can be prepared. You can find many different ways to season and cook lamb tenderloin, rack of lamb, lamb chops, leg of lamb and more.
Ham is my family’s favorite Easter dish, and a classic. We slow cook a Honey Glazed Ham every year. It is also very good roasted or smoked. It pairs well with many kinds of herbs, spices and flavors.
Roast Beef, particularly prime rib or beef tenderloin, is another family favorite and is often served alongside ham at our large family Easter Celebrations.
Roasted Chicken or Roast Turkey are both great Easter options. Adding herbs such as fresh thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley and oregano really give a flavorful cook. Don’t forget to save the juices to make a delicious Gravy.
Salmon is an enticing alternative to some of the more traditional cuts of meat. It can be slowly roasted in the oven or easily pan fried. It’s light, flakey, and will pair well with your favorite Easter dinner sides.
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:
easter dinner recipes
Crock Pot Ribs – Juicy BBQ Crock Pot Ribs is the best and easiest dinner idea! Great for a small family, big family, or cooking for a crowd!
Best Steak Marinade – 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!!
Crock Pot Brown Sugar Ham – 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!
Fried Pork Chops – 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.
Crock Pot Pork Roast – 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.
Pulled Pork – 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 – 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.
Pot Roast – 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!
Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops – 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.
Crock Pot Brisket – Juicy and delicious meat, easily made in your slow cooker! This crock pot brisket is so tender it just falls apart.
EASTER CHICKEN RECIPES
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.
Chicken Divan – Easy Chicken Divan is loaded with chunks of tender chicken and broccoli and smothered in a cream sauce. It is perfect to freeze for later!
Creamy Swiss Chicken Bake – Delicious Creamy Swiss Chicken Bake – a simple and delicious dinner recipe that includes Swiss and Parmesan cheese.
Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu – EASY Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe – delicious, breaded chicken filled with ham and cheese. Serve over pasta, rice, or veggies, for a delicious dinner idea.
Fried Chicken Breast – Crispy breaded chicken topped with arugula, shaved parmesan cheese, and a delicious lemon vinaigrette!
Best Roast Chicken – Simple and delicious roast chicken tastes like you spent all day cooking it! It is the the perfect go-to dinner recipe.
Bruschetta Chicken – Baked Bruschetta Chicken is marinated in Italian dressing and topped with cheese. It is simple and delicious!!
Easy Chicken Tetrazzini – Easy and delicious Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini – Chicken and pasta in a creamy sauce with lots of flavor. It’s a family favorite dinner meal!
Lemon Pepper Chicken – 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 Pot Pie – This chicken pot pie is the definition of comfort food! It’s warm, rich with flavor, full of veggies, and has the best flaky crust.
Ranch Chicken – 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!
Baked Ranch Chicken – Change up your typical chicken dinner by making this Crispy Baked Ranch Chicken! Chicken breasts seasoned in Hidden Valley ranch mix, garlic salt, lemon pepper, parmesan cheese, and panko, then baked in the oven. This is a meal the whole family approves of – and it’s SO simple!
Buttery Baked Chicken – Creamy Buttery Baked Chicken is simple and full of flavor. It is another great dinner idea for any occasion!!
Ritz Cracker Chicken – 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 – 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.
Lemon Chicken With Veggies – Roasted Lemon Chicken with Veggies including green beans and red potatoes. One of the easiest and yummiest dinner recipes!
EASTER PORK RECIPES
Pork is the most popular meat served at Easter.
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.
Crock Pot Brown Sugar Ham– 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!
Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops – 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.
Smothered Pork Chops -This creamy Lemon & Thyme Smothered Pork Chops recipe always gets rave reviews. It’s flavorful and ready in 35 minutes or less.
Honey Glazed Ham – Simply place a spiral cut ham in the crock pot, cover with a 5-ingredient glaze, and 4 hours later you’ll have a tender and juicy Honey Glazed Ham!
Fried Pork Chops – 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.
Italian Pork Chops – 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!
Crock Pot Pork Roast – 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.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops – 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!
BBQ Pork Chops – These baked pork chops are simple, delicious and smothered in a homemade BBQ sauce. They’re the perfect easy meal for the pork loin lover.
Dr. Pepper Ribs – Pork ribs cooked in Dr. Pepper, grilled to perfection, and smothered in BBQ Sauce. These Dr. Pepper ribs are fall off the bone delicious!
What’s your Fav?
We always have ham for Easter. It’s tradition, and it’s a meat the whole family loves. We often do a Brown Sugar Ham, and sometimes we do a Honey Ham. Both good!
Here is the rest of the menu we usually have:
- Deviled Eggs
- The Best Dinner Rolls
- Funeral Potatoes
- Tortellini Salad
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Creamed Corn
- Easter Dirt Cake
Those are the must-haves but we also sprinkle in other favorites too.
Here is one of our favorite Easter Ham Recipes:
35+ Easter Dinner Ideas – Easter Ham + MORE
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 TB Dijon mustard
- 10 whole cloves
- 1 4-5 pound Sam’s Choice spiral cut ham (cooked)
Instructions
- Cut ham slices and place in your slow cooker.
- Add the brown sugar, honey, water, mustard and cloves to a small pot. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove cloves from the glaze and pour over ham. Cook on LOW for 4 hours making sure to baste ham with the glaze every hour.
- Serve warm with the glaze.
The COmplete List
Here are the picture cards for all of the delicious Easter Dinner Ideas listed above.
Putting together a fabulous Easter Dinner has never been easier with so many choices for simple and delicious main dishes!
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!
The perfect place to suit all your Easter needs. The recipes are delicious and help you in preparing for special food and time with your family!
I sure love Easter dinner!! We used your ham recipe last year & it was a hit!! Juicy & delicious & wasn’t hard to make, which is a bonus! Excited to add some more of these recipes to our Easter menu!
This Easter dinner looks so amazing! I love this time of year to get with family and friends!
This recipe turned out great and I love that it utilizes the crock pot. In my opinion its the best way to cook on a busy holiday.