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79 Delicious Easter Dinner Ideas The Whole Family Will Love

Make this Easter dinner the most memorable yet.

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wine spiked ground beef and vegetable mixture topped with fluffy parmesan mashed potatoes, all wrapped in a golden brown pie crust and topped with flaky salt
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

What better way to celebrate spring, fresh seasonal veggies, and Lent finally being over than with the perfect Easter dinner, right? Right. If you're on the search for classic ham and lamb centerpieces or just low-key, easy one-pot pasta dish, these recipes will appeal to everyone at your table. No matter if it’s your first time making holiday dinner or you’re an old pro, our list of 90 Easter dinner mains is sure to inspire.

An Easter ham is a classic, and we’ve got 5+ solid recipes for you to try (including one in made easy on a sheet pan). If you’re looking to branch out, check out our recipes for other meaty holiday showstoppers, like braised lamb shank, pork loin roast, and beef wellington. Not a big red meat fan? Don’t fret, we’ve got chicken and fish dishes that’ll be just as impressive on your dinner table, like our one-pan crispy chicken primavera, our feta & herb-crusted salmon, and our chicken saltimbocca.

Heads up: all our Easter dinners make great leftovers—check out our top things to do with leftover ham and lamb if you’re lucky enough to have extra. To fully round out your holiday meal, get inspired by our Easter appetizers, side dishes, and desserts too.

1

Roast Chicken

roast chicken tied in a skillet with rosemary
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

The perfect centerpiece to any holiday dinner, the steps to make this chicken are simple: You season the bird (just salt & pepper!), then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy.

Get the Roast Chicken recipe.

2

Sheet-Pan Easter Dinner

sheet pan easter dinner with glazed ham, gruyere scalloped potatoes, roasted carrots, roasted asparagus, and rolls
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

Think you don’t have enough time or space to cook Easter dinner? Think again. Featuring cheesy potatoes au gratin, maple-glazed ham, garlicky asparagus, and paprika-spiced carrots, our streamlined version of this notoriously complicated meal is as simple as 2 sheet pans and 30 minutes in the oven.

Get the Sheet-Pan Easter Dinner recipe.

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3

Honey Baked Pulled Ham

honey baked pulled ham
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Pulled pork is undeniably a game day favorite, but level up the classic by making pulled ham. This is one ham dinner that will not only upgrade the basic baked ham at your Easter spread, but is the perfect post-holiday meal piled high onto sliders.

Get the Honey Baked Pulled Ham recipe.

4

Cheesy Asparagus Orzotto

creamy orzo with asparagus
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Orzo—the "rice" of the pasta world—gets the risotto treatment in this recipe, and it’s a game-changer. Aromatic leeks, grassy asparagus, and sweet peas bring bright, springy vibes to the dish, while rich cream, nutty Parmesan, and just the right amount of butter stirred in at the end make it super-luxe.

Get the Cheesy Asparagus Orzotto recipe.

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5

Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

brown sugar pineapple ham with maraschinos
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LAURA REGE

This zingy retro classic glazed ham is a stunner set in the center of a table, and just a few easy sides short of a fantastic feast. Beyond the eye-popping pineapple rings and bright maraschino cherries, the glaze lends a shine and texture to the ham’s caramelized crust too.

Get the Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham recipe.

6

Shepherd's Pot Pie

wine spiked ground beef and vegetable mixture topped with fluffy parmesan mashed potatoes, all wrapped in a golden brown pie crust and topped with flaky salt
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This blend of two comfort food classics—chicken pot pie and shepherd’s pie—will become a staple in your Saturday dinner lineup. The inside is just like shepherd’s pie, with a wine-spiked ground beef and vegetable mixture topped with fluffy Parmesan mashed potatoes, all wrapped in a golden brown pie crust.

Get the Shepherd's Pot Pie recipe.

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7

Slow-Cooker Brisket

this easy slow cooker brisket is fork tender and comes with an irresistible umami packed gravy.
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you've always avoided making this hearty meal for Sunday dinner because of how labor intensive it may seem, let us introduce a a superhero: the slow cooker. Turning this classic dish into a slow-cooker recipe takes out all of the work—in fact, you'll barely lift a finger. Be prepared—this dish will make your kitchen smell divine.

Get the Slow-Cooker Brisket recipe.

8

Rack Of Lamb

roasted rack of lamb served with lemon wedges
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

A roasted rack of lamb is the perfect showstopper, especially when it comes to Easter dinner. If working with lamb isn't something you do often, it can seem intimidating, but trust us—it's quite simple.

Get the Rack Of Lamb recipe.

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9

Brie, Asparagus, & Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken

brie asparagus and prosciutto stuffed chicken
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Our brie, asparagus, & prosciutto bundles are one of our most-popular appetizers, so we decided we needed an excuse to enjoy it even more. Instead of puff pastry, we swapped in chicken for a rich and creamy weekend, date night, or holiday meal.

Get the Brie, Asparagus, & Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken recipe.

10

Instant Pot Easter Ham

sliced ham cooked in an instant pot with a brown sugar glaze
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Who said Easter dinner had to be stressful? Orange marmalade, orange juice, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard combine in your Instant Pot for the MOST flavorful Easter ham ever.

Get the Instant Pot Easter Ham recipe.

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11

Pastitsio

pastitsio
LUCY SCHAEFFER

Derived from the Italian word pasticcio, which means “mix” or “hodgepodge,” pastitsio is a classic Greek casserole best described as a cross between lasagna and moussaka. Rich and hearty, creamy and comforting, it’s well worth the extra effort it takes to put together.

Get the Pastitsio recipe.

12

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breast

chicken breasts coated in crushed up pretzel pieces
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you need a really simple chicken dinner idea that isn’t just a plain chicken breast, this pretzel-crusted chicken is just the thing. The whole thing comes together in under an hour, saving you plenty of time to make some mashed potatoes or caramelized Brussels sprouts to go with it.

Get the Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breast recipe.

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13

How To Cook A Ham

baked spiral ham with a ham glaze
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you're making ham for the first time this Easter, then this should be your go-to baked ham guide. Our recipe not only perfects a moist, delicious ham, but is glazed with a classic brown sugar glaze, which adds incredible flavor and creates those sought-after caramelized edges.

Get the recipe for How To Cook A Ham.

14

Pizza Rustica

Pizza Rustica - Delish.com
Parker Feierbach

This is an Italian Easter pie that, despite its name, doesn't have anything to with pizza! Think of it as better, more decadent version of quiche Lorraine.

Get the Pizza Rustica recipe.

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15

One-Pan Crispy Chicken Primavera

crispy chicken thighs with roasted radishes, asparagus, and peas on a platter
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLIST: BROOKE CAISON

Just when you thought pasta primavera was the king of spring comfort food, we’re dropping this one-pan chicken primavera. It it, crispy-skinned chicken thighs are roasted alongside spring veggies and topped with a confetti of goat cheese and herbs for a dinner that captures the promise of warmer days.

Get the One-Pan Crispy Chicken Primavera recipe.

16

Salmon En Croute

layers of salmon and cream spinach inside of puff pastry
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This recipe is big on elegance, flavor, and wow factor. Salmon en croute is just a French way of saying “in a crust” (puff pastry in this case). Everything is nestled together in the dough, and after about 30 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a buttery, flaky crust with perfectly tender salmon inside.

Get the Salmon En Croute recipe.

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17

Glazed Spiral Ham

spiral ham recipe delishcom
Parker Feierbach

Some hams will come with a glaze packet. That’ll do, right? Think again. Making your own glaze is super easy, and so much more delicious than a store-bought packet.

Get the Glazed Spiral Ham recipe.

18

Creamy Dijon Chicken

chicken breasts topped with a creamy dijon mustard sauce and fresh herbs
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you need a new chicken dinner to add to your holiday meal lineup, then this creamy Dijon chicken should be first on your list. In this one-pan meal, chicken breasts are covered in a creamy Dijon mustard sauce with white wine and lemon juice for brightness.

Get the Creamy Dijon Chicken recipe.

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19

Braised Lamb Shank

braised lamb shanks
Parker feierbach

Lamb shanks can tend to be a tougher cut of meat so to get tender, fall off the bone lamb, it works best to cook them low and slow. They'll braise in a savory tomato sauce that gives the meat so much flavor, and the sauce becomes extra silky after the wine and butter gets stirred in.

Get the Braised Lamb Shank recipe.

20

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

pork tenderloin
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you're tired of old standbys like a whole chicken or ham for your holiday meal, look no further than pork tenderloin. It’s quick-cooking, takes extremely well to countless flavors, and is easy enough for a chill family meal but remarkable enough for a special Easter dinner too.

Get the Roasted Pork Tenderloin recipe.

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