From festive Easter breads to pretty Easter pies, browse our favorite recipes for this all-important Christian feast day. Not only do we have Easter dinner covered, but we also have some egg-cellent Easter brunch ideas if that’s more your speed. Think spring—starting with yellow eggs, orange carrots, light green peas and asparagus, and pretty pink rhubarb.
Easter 2021 will be celebrated on Sunday, April 4. From all of us here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we hope you are able to get together with your loved ones (if only virtually) and enjoy the holiday.
See the meaning of Easter and why it changes so dramatically each year.
Easter Appetizers
Start the meal off right! Here are two delicious appetizer options.
Classic Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are a quick and easy appetizer that anyone can make—it’s as simple as boiling water! Plus, these savory treats are packed with protein and flavor.
Photo by Elena Shashkina/Shutterstock
Roasted Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
This prosciutto-asparagus recipe is always a hit. If you do have any left over, serve it chilled.
Photo by Ekaterina Smirnova/Shutterstock
Easter Soups
If you’d like to serve soup, choose a recipe which highlights the flavor of early spring vegetables—in this case, green pea and pink radish.
Cream of Green Pea Soup
Even when made with frozen peas, this soup has fresh-from-the-garden flavor. Of course, fresh peas will also work nicely, if you’re lucky enough to have some.
Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner
Red Radish Soup
Unpeeled red radishes are cooked and then puréed to create a creamy soup with a delicate pink blush.
Photo by Sam Jones/Quinn Brein
Easter Salads
In our opinion, a good salad has a balance of different textures and flavors. Here are two options:
Spinach-Strawberry Salad
Not your usual spinach salad, but a winning combination of strawberries and spinach tossed with a crunchy sweet-sour poppy-seed dressing.
Photo by Oleksandra Naumenko/Shutterstock
Pea, Lemon, and Asparagus Salad Starter
A refreshing and nutritious salad of spring vegetables that will impress your guests time and again.
Photo by Sam Jones/Quinn Breinn
Easter Main Dishes
We enjoy the traditional Easter ham but here are two other options for a special feast.
Nanna’s Baked Ham
This is a wonderful baked ham recipe with a flavorful glossy glaze—so it’s moist with a sweet and spicy taste. (Cloves are optional.)
Grilled Salmon With Maple Mustard Glaze
The fragrance of sweet maple, tangy mustard, and lively ginger comes together for a flavorful dish.
Leg of Lamb Roasted With White Wine and Herbs
This wonderful way to prepare Easter lamb for a special occasion. Note that you’ll need to marinate for a few hours or overnight.
Easter Side Dish Options
Carrot Puff
No Easter rabbits allowed! Everyone loves this carrot souffle (even folks who don’t eat carrots!). It’s sweet, silky, light, and colorful.
“Light” Green Bean Casserole
Scalloped Potatoes (Great with ham!)
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Sweet Oranges
Easter Breads
Hot Cross Buns (a Good Friday tradition)
Italian Easter Bread (a sweet bread)
Lambropsomo (Greek Easter Bread)
Photo Credit: Pasta/Shutterstock
Easter Desserts
The only thing better than Easter dinner is the dessert that comes after it! Here are some of our favorite Easter dessert recipes.
Lemon Meringue Pie
Carrot Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
(Or make a cake: Best-Ever Carrot Cake)
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Photo by Africa Studio/shutterstock
Cococut Cream Pie
Easter Brunch Recipes
Eggs are a symbol of fertility and spring renewal across many cultures. Here are a few egg-cellent Easter brunch ideas.
Asparagus Frittata
Photo credit: zi3000/Shutterstock
Lemon Souffle Pancakes
Broccoli and Cheddar Strata
Glazed Lemon-Coconut Loaf
Dyeing Easter Eggs
To make easy (and edible) Easter decorations, consider dyeing eggs with ingredients from the pantry!
If you make any of these Easter recipes, let us know how they turn out! Happy Easter!
Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
Easter and Spring recipes
These are all so pretty and delicious looking. I've always liked Easter, even more than Christmas. There's something so light and joyous about it.
Carrot Puff
I am so thrilled to get this carrot recipe. I haven't baked it yet but will be trying it soon. Thank you!