Easter should be colorful! So many flowers are awakening from their winter slumber so our tables should match the stunning colors coming back to life. I have put together 20 of the most mouthwatering Easter recipes that are not only delicious but also bright and pretty. All of these recipes I have made personally several times, so you can rest assured that they are tried and true and family approved. Everything is easy, user friendly, and fresh for spring. Several of the recipes can be made a day or two ahead of time to save yourself work on the big day. Take a gander:
Appetizers
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
There are very few people I have met who can resist a bowl of piping hot spinach dip. When I put this spinach artichoke dip out as an appetizer, it’s usually gone before I can get a few bites. Everyone huddles around it hoping to get the last bite! The best part is that you can make this in the slow cooker and keep it on warm while everyone mingles. I usually serve it with tortilla chips, but sourdough bread and pita chips work well too.
Roast Beef Tortilla Roll Ups
Tortilla Roll Ups are a bright and tasty addition to your Easter recipes collection. The swirls of color from the spinach, cheese, roast beef, and tortilla make a colorful and eye-catching display. Plus, these are a cinch to make! I usually make them ahead of time and leave them on a tray in the fridge, but even if I leave them until the day of, they only take about 7 minutes. I find that kids love them since they are easy to grab and transportable.
Cinnamon Coconut Fruit Salad
No Easter is complete without a big fruit salad! It’s a refreshingly easy way to bring the vibrant colors of spring to the dinner table. But why settle for a regular bowl of fruit when you can add a warm tropical twist with the subtle flavors of cinnamon and coconut? Use whatever kind of fruit you want and let it sit in the sweet sauce for a few hours or even overnight. This is a great way to keep you free for the more involved food items on Easter Sunday.
Homemade Cilantro Lime Salsa
All you need to make this fresh and vibrant cilantro-lime salsa is 5 minutes and a food processor. Making salsa at home has never been more easy! If you like mild salsa, leave the jalapeno out. But if you like to live on the wild side, toss a whole pepper (seeds and all) into the processor. You can even make both types! Tailor this salsa to your exact needs and watch it disappear at the appetizer table!
The Main Course
At first I thought the combination of red pepper jelly and coffee on top of a ham sounded crazy. But boy am I glad I tried it! The coffee acted as a tenderizer and broke down the pork meat so that it was moist and tender. The red pepper jelly sweetened the sauce and added a subtle kick. It was the juiciest ham I’ve ever had! Altogether it takes about 2 hours for this masterpiece, but it is pretty hands-off except for basting. Try out this ham and I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Coca-Cola Glazed Holiday Ham
This is a classic holiday ham recipe I have been making for Christmas and Easter for several years. The glaze is made with sugar and Coca-Cola, but I have also made it with Dr. Pepper. The recipe comes with instructions on how to make the diamond pattern on top of the ham, a really easy but elegant way to decorate your centerpiece. The leftovers from this ham also make great soups and sandwiches.
Oven Baked Ribs with Spicy Rub
If you want to give your Easter recipes a facelift this year, try out these oven baked ribs with spicy rub. The rub makes enough to spread across two full racks of ribs. Simply put them in the oven on top of a foil lined cookie sheet and bake with your favorite BBQ sauce. If you like your ribs tender and falling off the bone, tent the ribs in foil. If you prefer a crunchy outside, leave them unwrapped. Either way, these ribs have a sensational taste and they will make the Easter table irresistible!
3 Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese
For vegetarians and kids, having a big dish of mac and cheese is always a popular choice. This is my family’s favorite recipe and it comes with three different types of cheeses. I like to prep this dish the day before and leave it in the fridge until go time. Simply bake it for an hour at 350 degrees and you’ll have a yummy vegetarian option ready in no time!
Side Dishes and Vegetables
Cranberry, Apple, and Broccoli Salad
I think side dishes should be full of fun colors and textures. This broccoli salad is just that because it has bright green and red colors mixed in a creamy white dressing. Some parts are smooth and others crunchy. It’s fun to eat and tastes delicious! It’s also a healthier side dish that will help you save room for dessert!
Grandma Ruth’s Chunky Potato Salad
Tasty side dishes are what really make a holiday meal fun. Everybody pulls out their best Easter recipes and you get to pile your plate full of the most delicious food of the year. Staples like Grandma Ruth’s Potato Salad are a must! This potato salad has been in my family for 5 generations! It is crunchy, creamy, smooth, and has just the right amount of tangy pickle goodness. Check out my Grandma Ruth’s 2 secret ingredients and make this side dish your new family favorite!
10 Minute Roasted Asparagus
Sometimes simple is best. That’s exactly what these asparagus are. All you need is a foil lined cookie sheet, olive oil, salt, and pepper. They’ll be ready in 10 minutes and they’ll add a lot of color and texture to the Easter buffet. Clean-up is a breeze too: roll up the foil and call it done!
Apple, Broccoli, and Horseradish Slaw
Another pretty offering is an apple, broccoli, and horseradish slaw. This bowl is full of julienned fruits and vegetables mixed in a creamy but light dressing. Before you start worrying about all the prep work, you can save some time by buying broccoli slaw in the refrigerated section of the produce department. The soft pastel colors will surely complement the spring decorations and the signature taste will dazzle the palates of your guests.
Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
If you want to put something healthier on the table this year, these oven roasted brussel sprouts are a good option. They can be crispy and golden brown in just 10 minutes. They have a delicious, nutty flavor and will complement whatever main course you serve beautifully.
Traditional Fluffy Yeast Rolls
Let me give you the two most important reasons why these rolls would be perfect on your Easter table: 1) They are buttery, soft, and delicious with anything else edible! They smell incredible while cooking and I can never resist having more than one. 2) They are super convenient on a busy holiday. You can prep the batter up to 5 days in advance and have it waiting in the fridge. Just scoop it out into a muffin tin for fresh rolls on the spot!
Dessert
Pistachio and Coconut Pudding Cake
I made this pistachio and coconut pudding cake last year for both St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. It was a total hit on both occasions and now I regularly get orders for it from friends and family members! I like that it has both creamy and cakey layers with the occasional crunch of pistachio. The instructions come in an easy to follow 4 step recipe and the assembly is a piece of cake…pun intended, lol!
Iced Lemon Pound Cake
This recipe is a copycat version of the iced lemon loaf from Starbucks. It has a tangy lemon flavor in the moist cake and a thick lemon frosting on the top. It tastes best in the afternoon with a cup of tea, but my husband has informed me that since it has “cake” in the title it most certainly qualifies for dessert. The stunning yellow color will look great on a dessert table decorated for spring.
Chocolate Fudge Cream Cheese Brownie
You can never go wrong with chocolate on the dessert table when hosting a party! The problem is having enough to go around! These cream cheese brownies are so fudgy that the chocolate lovers will come back for seconds and thirds. If I were you, I’d make a triple batch…because I usually end up eating a few before my guests even arrive! This is a great recipe to make a day ahead of time so you can focus on the more pertinent recipes on Easter Sunday.
Lemon Blueberry Bread
This Lemon Blueberry Bread is so bright it’s like sunshine in bread form! There are bursts of blueberries in every bite. In loaf form it makes a beautiful and tasty gift, but if you cut it into slices, it makes a stunning display of yellow and purple on the table. If you don’t make this one of your Easter recipes, you’ll certainly need to try it for Mother’s Day.
Rice Krispie Treats
If you have kids at your house this Easter, you’ll need at least one batch of these Rice Krispie Treats. To keep the spring color scheme, I poured a bag of Easter M&Ms in with the rice cereal. The chocolate mixed with the crunchy rice cereal is super delicious and a kid favorite. Sometimes I also wrap these in cellophane and put them in Easter baskets.
This is a simple carrot cake recipe adapted from Ina Garten’s cookbook that I turned into cupcakes. The inside is moist and cakey with a hint of cinnamon flavor while the outside has a crunchy top with the creamy cream cheese frosting. This is an easy dessert to prepare ahead of time and frost the day of. I simply topped the cupcakes with shredded carrots for a POP of color.
Do you still need some more ideas? Check out the Easter Recipes Board I have been adding to daily on Pinterest. I’m sure you’ll find something you can use!
These are my three precious blessings: Joshua, Nevaeh, and Caleb. Unfortunately, we won’t have any family with us on Easter this year, but we are planning on having some friends over to celebrate. We wish you and your family a Happy Easter, or as we call it in my house, Resurrection Sunday! The new bulbs and pretty flowers remind us of the new life we have in Jesus Christ. No longer do we have to be bogged down in the mud of sin but we are set free to enjoy a life God has intricately planned for us. Because He took our punishment on the cross, we have the hope of one day being completely renewed in heaven with Him. I pray you may experience this joy as well. Have a blessed holiday!
