This collection of over 25 Easter sides has something for every celebration, from bright spring salads, cozy roasted potatoes, and crowd-pleasing mac and cheese, to make-ahead appetizers and individual desserts. Whether you’re serving ham, lamb, or turkey, these Easter Side Dishes recipes will be the perfect complement to your special meal.
Appetizers
Appetizers and finger foods might not be a part of your big meal’s menu, but if you’re entertaining guests for the whole day, you can keep the hungry tummies happy with some small plate options.
Baked Artichoke Olive Dip
This cheesy, crowd-pleasing, hot baked dip can be served with crackers or crostini for a light snack. Baked Artichoke Olive Dip is always a popular dip at parties!
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Spicy Pimento Cheese
Traditional pimento cheese has nothing on this spiced up version! Smoky with just the right amount of heat, this Spicy Pimento Cheese spread is a well-loved appetizer for any holiday gathering.
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Fried Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are a popular, almost must-have, appetizer at Easter. This lovely twist is inspired by Jacques Pepín's Eggs Jeanette. A surprisingly light pan-frying of the stuffed eggs intensifies flavors and surrounds the egg with a delightful texture.
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Soups
Whether served as a side or light brunch to tide people over on the day of your big feast, homemade soup is always a welcome side dish.
Ham and Bean Soup
If you're baking up a big ham for the holiday feast, this Ham and Bean Soup is the perfect dish to use up both the bone and the leftover meat. It's hearty and filling but not cloyingly heavy.
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Avgolemono Turkey Soup
Lemony and subtly creamy, Avgolemono Soup is a lovely light option as a side to an Easter meal or brunch. This recipe calls for turkey, but you can easily substitute chicken.
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Carrot Lemongrass Soup
Carrot Lemongrass Soup is one of my favorite spring soups. Tender sweet carrots get a citrusy zing from the lemongrass, and it's all blended with coconut milk. Bonus: Using the Instant Pot to cook your homemade soup keeps the stove free as you're preparing the rest of the meal.
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Broccoli Cauliflower Soup
Loaded with flavor and lots of spring veggies, Broccoli Cauliflower Soup is creamy (but dairy-free) and delish, and glows like sunshine, thanks to a generous dose of colorful turmeric.
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Creamy Cauliflower Soup
Sometimes simple recipes surprise you with their humble preparations and short ingredient lists. This is one of those soups. Spring brassicas like cauliflower (and broccoli) make particularly flavorful soups, with their bold, astringent flavors. Lightly creamy and wholly satisfying, this Creamy Cauliflower Soup is perfect for festive brunches and holiday sides.
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Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup with Horseradish Sour Cream
Classic Potato Leek Soup gets a zesty boost from a dollop of horseradish sour cream. Another soup option cooked in the Instant Pot to keep your stove and oven freed up.
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Hot Side Dishes
Here at Casa SoupAddict, sides are just as/more important than the big baked ham or pork roast. Blasphemous to some, but heavenly to us! There’s nothing better than a big plate full of potatoes, mac and cheese, and maybe some fancy-schmancy, once-a-year asparagus.
French Onion Mac and Cheese Recipe
French Onion Mac & Cheese is an indulgent, crowd-pleasing dish that's perfect for extra special holiday dinners! It's a gourmet-level blend of caramelized onions and tender macaroni in a rich and creamy cheese sauce. Make the caramelized onions ahead of time, and the final dish assembles quickly.
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Roasted Asparagus with Miso Butter and Feta
Roasted Asparagus becomes extra special when brushed with miso butter and topped with feta cheese and capers. So easy, elegant, and delish!
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Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Tahini Drizzle
I personally could do without the sickly sweet marshmallow sweet potato casserole now and forever. But sweet potatoes in general are very welcome, especially when cooked with savory leanings. These Roasted Sweet Potatoes have a lovely tahini drizzle that beautifully flavors the vegetables within.
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Cheese Grits
Grits is a Southern tradition on Easter tables and is, in my opinion, an under-appreciated side dish everywhere else. It's impossible to be grumpy about these cheesy carbs. As a bonus, if you have nightshade avoiders on the guest list (and that include russet and Yukon gold potatoes), these Cheesy Grits would make an excellent stand-in.
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Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Tender boiled potatoes, smooshed flat and then roasted in the oven until their edges are perfectly cruncy. Crispy Smashed Potatoes are a fun alternative to potato cakes and fresh fries, topped with a creamy tzatziki dip.
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Roasted Shrimp in Spicy Green Sauce
An herby, zesty sauce, fresh as spring, marinates plump shrimp as they cook, hands off, in the oven. Roasted Shrimp in Spicy Green Sauce are served over sauteed zoodles for a light meal.
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Cajun Mac and Cheese
Yes, I am, indeed, suggesting yet another mac and cheese dish because I feel so strongly about it being a must-have on the Easter table. Lol. This Cajun-spiced version with zesty andouille sausage gives a nod to the Southern roots of Mardi Gras season as it wraps up on Easter Sunday.
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Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro Sauce
More sweet potato options while still saying "no thanks" to the marshmallow-topped casserole from the other holiday. Roasted Spiced Sweet Potatoes achieve their first best culinary destiny with crispy edges, tender centers, and a savory – not sugary – crust of spices, all drizzled in a verdant cilantro chimichurri.
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Cheddar Risotto with Paprika
Part rice dish, part mac and cheese, this Cheddar Risotto with Paprika levels up risotto with smoky flavors in a creamy cheese sauce. It's a little sophisticated, a little whimsical, and wholly unique and delish.
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Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
If you’re gonna go all out with the homemade sides for your Easter feast, I say go all out on flavor, too. Creamy homemade mashed potatoes are awesome. Creamy homemade mashed potatoes touched with easy roasted garlic are awesomer.
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Oven-Baked Canned Baked Beans
This Oven-Baked Canned Baked Beans recipe takes ordinary canned beans and transforms into a flavorful, must-have-seconds side dish. It’s a dump-and-bake recipe with a blend of onions, green bell peppers, and rich and savory sauces, and baked until the top is caramelized, thick and delicious.
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Salads
While the main entree and carby hot side dishes are the stars of the show, I always have something light and vegetal on hand, to break up all the richness on the plate. A little bite of salad here and there is a very good thing.
Seven Layer Salad with Creamy Salsa Vinaigrette
A vegetable-heavy Seven Layer Salad is a reliable, crowd-pleasing side dish for just about any occasion. My version skips the goopy mayo dressing, replacing it was a fresh salsa-based creamy vinaigrette, for a light and lovely side. A salad for Easter, one might ask? Yes! It's a crisp, welcome bite to sit beside a salty ham and rich potatoes.
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Rainbow Ribbon Veggie Salad
So easy to prepare, the vibrant colors of this Rainbow Ribbon Veggie Salad will complement any meal. Naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, sneak in those servings of rainbow vegetables amongst the heavier options, topped off with a light, lemony dressing.
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Carrot & Harissa Salad
Ahh, old blog photos, love it! Anyway, this Carrot & Harissa Salad was the recipe that gave me a permanent love for the ribboned vegetable salads, and an immense appreciation for the lovely sweetness of the raw carrot. Tossed with herbs and feta, this colorful salad gets a zesty punch from a touch of harissa.
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Desserts
It’s not an Easter celebration without an indulgent selection of sweets. But instead of a big cake or pie, I like to create a dessert bar of sorts, with smaller portions that guests can enjoy in multiples.
Mini Pavlovas with Tangerine Curd
An individual sized portion of the traditional meringue dessert, these Mini Pavlovas are topped with a sweet-tart tangerine curd instead of the tradition berry sauce. For all of its dramatic appearance, they're actually quite easy to make and will bring ooohs and aaahs at your holiday gathering.
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Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie Bars
Sweet, swirly caramel and deep, rich chocolate fill these easy-to-make Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie Bars. An easy-to-please twist on the favorite pecan pie, this treat is for all the nuts in your life who love chocolate, too.
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Hungarian Shortbread
Tender layers of sandy shortbread surround a schmear of tangerine marmalade to create an irresistible sweet-citrusy treat. Hungarian Shortbread is always the hit of my dessert table, no matter the occasion.
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Tangerine Dream Meringue Swirls
Delicate swirls of color decorate these tender, citrus-vanilla-flavored meringue bites. Tangerine Dream Meringue Swirls are a light and tasty treat to complement the heavier dishes that are traditional for Easter dinners.
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I hope you’ve found a dish or two to help you create the perfect Easter feast that they’ll talk about year after year. Wishing those who celebrate a joyous occasion!
