50 Easter Side Dishes So Good, They Might Outshine Your Ham
These spring veggies and seasonal starches could be the star of your Sunday dinner plate!
While a gloriously glazed ham or a beautiful leg of lamb might be the centerpiece of your Easter dinner table, everyone knows that the key to planning the perfect Easter menu is all in the sides. After all, a big, baked ham wouldn’t be a star without its supporting cast of spring salads and satisfying starches! If you’re wondering which dishes will complement your main course best, Ree Drummond has given you the green light to go all out. As she says, "You can never have too many sides!”
Of course, you’ll want to select sides that pair well with ham or whatever entrée you’re serving for your Easter dinner, but curating a variety will ensure that there’s something in your spread for everyone. To make your job easy, we’ve pulled together a collection of Easter side dishes that has it all covered: seasonal vegetables, cheesy casseroles, hearty potato dishes, and pillowy rolls for your bread basket.
If you're looking for traditional Easter foods, you’ll love scalloped potatoes and green bean casserole. Want to try something different? Add pea pesto pasta, carrot ribbon salad, or green goddess deviled eggs to the menu—they’re bright and seasonal, just elevated! Of course, Easter is also the perfect time of year to highlight all the glorious garden-fresh veggies like asparagus recipes, radish recipes, and green bean dishes. And whatever you do, don’t forget to include crowd-pleasing classics, like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese.
Prepare a few of these Easter side dishes, and you’ll add a pop of color and a burst of flavor to your holiday feast. Just be sure to save some room for those scrumptious Easter desserts!
Spring Pea Pesto Pasta Salad
Tossing soft pasta shells with sweet peas, juicy prosciutto, lemony breadcrumbs, and an herby pesto might just be the ultimate Easter side dish. It’s colorful, seasonal, crowd-pleasing, and make-ahead-friendly!
Get Ree’s Spring Pea Pesto Pasta Salad recipe.
Slow-Cooker Creamy Mashed Potatoes
You can never go wrong with a heaping scoop of buttery, creamy mashed potatoes! This Easter side dish is the perfect complement to a glazed ham or a tender leg of lamb.
Get Ree’s Slow-Cooker Creamy Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Roasted Asparagus
Easter dinner calls for vibrant spring veggies, and this roasted asparagus recipe is arguably the easiest way to prepare this seasonal side. Simply coat the spears in olive oil, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, and slide them into the oven for 10 minutes.
Get Ree’s Roasted Asparagus recipe.
Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon
It wouldn’t be Easter dinner without deviled eggs on the menu! Topping each silky center with caramelized pieces of candied bacon is such an upscale way to elevate this classic Easter side dish.
Get Ree’s Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon recipe.
Corn Soufflé
Corn soufflé is a Southern staple that’s always a crowd-pleaser, especially on Easter! Moist, rich, and warm, this side dish tastes delicious with ham. Chopped jalapeños give it a kick, but you can always ditch the spice for the sensitive taste buds!
Get the Corn Soufflé recipe.
Pineapple Casserole
This sunny casserole is an Easter classic in Southern households. Since juicy pineapples and tangy cheddar are topped with a blanket of cracker crumbs, it’s the perfect mix of sweet and savory. The recipe has minimal steps, so you can churn it out in under an hour!
Candied Carrots
Give your table a beautiful splash of color with a big bowl of candied carrots. Coated in a simple glaze, this Easter side dish turns caramelized and irresistibly sweet when cooked. What’s more, it’ll be ready in 20 minutes tops!
Get Ree’s Candied Carrots recipe.
Smashed Potato Salad
Potato salad is a popular Easter side dish that pairs perfectly with ham, lamb, and even fried chicken. This version takes things up a notch with crispy smashed potatoes, smoky bacon, fresh herbs, and a creamy dressing.
Get Ree’s Smashed Potato Salad recipe.
Gnocchi Primavera
Having trouble deciding which starches and veggies you want to put on your Easter dinner plate? With this dish, you don’t have to narrow down the options! There’s pillowy gnocchi, fresh broccoli, tender asparagus, and—of course—loads of parmesan!
Get the Gnocchi Primavera recipe.
Asparagus Casserole
Even picky eaters will enjoy this Easter side dish! As it turns out, smothering asparagus in cheese and breadcrumbs makes getting your veggies in a breeze! The burst of lemon and sprinkling of almonds finish it off in an extra flavorful way.
Get the Asparagus Casserole recipe.
Pasta with Peas
A delicious pasta dish featuring spring veggies and lots of comforting flavors is a wonderful way to round off your Easter menu. With juicy peas (you can use frozen!), salty pancetta, silky mascarpone, and fresh lemon, this recipe is both satisfying and refreshing!
Get the Pasta with Peas recipe.
Green Goddess Deviled Eggs
Dyeing your deviled eggs green is a very festive way to prepare this classic Easter side dish! Parsley and tarragon give this recipe its bright green hue that’s almost too pretty to eat!
Get Ree’s Green Goddess Deviled Eggs recipe.
Mushroom Risotto
Scooping a spoonful of rich risotto onto your plate will make your Easter dinner feel fancy without the effort—this side comes together in less than an hour! It’s buttery, cheesy, and loaded with caramelized mushrooms.
Get Ree’s Mushroom Risotto recipe.
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Broccoli rice casserole will appeal to all taste buds, even those who don’t love traditional Easter sides! This dish has fluffy rice, melted cheese, and a creamy texture that no one in the room will be able to pass up.
Get Ree’s Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe.
Carrot Gratin
Ree has never met a gratin she didn't like. What's not to love about carrots swimming in creamy, cheesy goodness topped with irresistible golden breadcrumbs?
Get Ree's Carrot Gratin recipe.
Asparagus Salad
If you want to dress up your spring asparagus this year, make this salad. Bacon makes everything better! It's refreshing, tender, salty, and crunchy all at the same time.
Get the Asparagus Salad recipe.
Cheddar Biscuits
Ree says you can eat these for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And honestly, isn't Easter Sunday a perfect day to do just that? The added cheddar cheese makes them extra melty and rich.
Get Ree's Cheddar Biscuits recipe.
Melting Potatoes
As if dipping potatoes wasn't good enough, these slices are then braised in a garlicky broth. The result? They’re golden and caramelized on the outside, and silky smooth and tender on the inside.
Get the Melting Potatoes recipe.
Green Beans Almondine
This veggie dish may sound and taste fancy, but it couldn't be easier to make. It takes less than a half hour to pull it all together. The burst of lemon zest you add a the end is key!
Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.
Carrot Ribbon Salad
Carrot ribbons are such a playful way to eat your veggies. Plus with the lemon-tahini dressing, it makes them extra bright and flavorful. Oh, and there are salted pistachios for added crunch!
Get Ree's Carrot Ribbon Salad recipe.
Broccoli Salad
Greek Lemon Potatoes
Strawberry Pavlova
Pull-Apart Garlic-Herb Biscuits
