Easter Dinner Ideas

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 is 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 Easter 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 have to worry about ingredients being out of stock.
• Clean out the fridge to make room for ingredients and dishes that need to stay cool. 
• Plan. Make a list of times that can be made ahead of time, and what items need to be cooked/heated in what order.
• Various cooking methods. Utilize the oven, stovetop, and crockpot. 

Presentation: Ask yourself these questions to plan the presentation of dinner.

• 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

Littles. 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! 

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, and an ice cream date inside select eggs.
• Do a Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt.

perfecting your easter dinner menu

Be sure you have enough food for everyone, use these simple tips to help.

Easter appetizers. Plan for each guest to have 4-6 appetizers, just enough to whet 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 8 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 oz per person if you are serving one main dish. If you have more than one main course plan for 8 oz total per person.

Desserts 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.

Meat as a Main Dish

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 turkey are both great Easter options. Adding herbs such as fresh thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley, and oregano really gives 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, flaky, and will pair well with your favorite 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:

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easter dinner recipes

These are our most popular choices for an Easter main dish. They are all delicious options!

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!

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 a holiday feast.

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!

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.

Fried Pork Chops

Crock Pot Brisket

Juicy and delicious meat, easily made in your slow cooker! This crock pot brisket is so tender it just falls apart.

Pot Roast Recipe

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!

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.

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 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.

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EASTER CHICKEN RECIPES

Chicken is one of the most popular meats for holidays and tends to be the 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, and some are baked. There are loads to choose from in case you want chicken for 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.

Fried Chicken Breast

Crispy breaded chicken topped with arugula, shaved parmesan cheese, and a delicious lemon vinaigrette!

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. 

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!!

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.

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!

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 Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken is crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside, with the perfect hint of lemon!

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!

Lemon Chicken With Veggies

Roasted Lemon Chicken with Veggies including green beans and red potatoes. One of the easiest and yummiest dinner recipes!

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.

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EASTER PORK RECIPES

Pork is the most popular meat served at Easter.

Besides ham, pork chops are also an Easter favorite. Here are some of the most popular pork recipes on the site that are perfect for your Easter menu.

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!

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.

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 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!

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!

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!

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!

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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:

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Have a Delicious Easter feast!

There’s sure to be something here that you can use for your Easter feast. No matter what main dish you choose for dinner, I hope you get to enjoy it with family and loved ones.

Be sure to check out all our other Easter collections to complete your Easter dinner.

More Collections: Easter Side Dishes, Easter Dessert Recipes, Easter Appetizers