Easter dinner ideas: 60 mains, sides and desserts, plus 3 menus for 8 with real costs

The short answer: the best Easter dinner ideas pair one spring main (glazed ham, roast chicken, lamb or a cheesy egg strata) with potatoes, something green, deviled eggs and a berry or carrot cake dessert. Priced with the latest U.S. average grocery prices, our three complete menus feed 8 people for $35.14 to $46.50, or $4.39 to $5.81 a person.

• Ham math: the USDA says to plan 1/4 to 1/3 pound of boneless ham per serving, so a 3-pound boneless ham feeds 8 for about $15.78 at October 2026's average of $5.26 a pound
• Biggest money-savers: whole chickens ($2.03 a pound on average) instead of lamb, potatoes at 99 cents a pound, one dozen eggs for deviled eggs, and a potluck for desserts
• Free kit: get the free Holiday Budget Starter Kit (we email it to you) to set your Easter total first, then shop from the Meal Planner & Grocery List for $3.99

Prices checked November 12, 2026, against the Bureau of Labor Statistics' October 2026 U.S. city average prices, the latest release. Easter 2027 is Sunday, March 28, so check your store's prices again in March. Below: 60 Easter dinner ideas by course, three menus with full cost tables, a make-ahead plan and the food safety rules for ham and Easter eggs.

Easter dinner ideas at a glance

A simple formula keeps the menu from growing out of control: 1 main + 2 starches + 1 or 2 vegetables + 1 egg dish + 1 dessert. That's six dishes, which is plenty for most families. Add a seventh only if someone else is bringing it.

Easter dinner main dishes

1. Glazed spiral ham. The classic for a reason: a spiral-cut ham sold fully cooked only needs reheating (check the label). Our guide on how to cook a ham covers glazes and timing.
2. Boneless ham with a brown sugar and mustard glaze. Easier to slice than bone-in and the cheapest way to serve ham to a crowd (see the price table below).
3. Roast leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary. The traditional spring roast. Cook it to 145°F with a 3-minute rest.
4. Lamb chops. Faster than a whole leg and good for a small table of four.
5. Lemon-herb roast chicken. Two birds feed eight, and the oven does the work. Start with our roast chicken method.
6. Apricot-glazed pork tenderloin. Cooks faster than a big roast and looks festive sliced on a platter. See our pork tenderloin recipe.
7. Pork loin roast. A bigger, budget-friendly cut that slices like ham without the cure.
8. Turkey breast. Gives you holiday turkey flavor without a whole bird.
9. Baked salmon with dill and lemon. A lighter main for a smaller crowd. Our baked salmon guide has the timing.
10. Ham steaks. The small-household answer when a whole ham is too much. Try our ham steaks.
11. Cheesy egg strata. A make-ahead meatless main you assemble the night before. Our strata recipe is the base for Menu 3.
12. Spring vegetable quiche. Another meatless centerpiece that also works for an Easter brunch. Start with our quiche.

Easter main dish prices per pound

These are national averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for October 2026. Your store will be higher or lower, but the ranking usually holds.

How much ham to buy: the USDA's Hams and Food Safety guide says 1/4 to 1/3 pound per serving for boneless ham and 1/3 to 1/2 pound per serving for bone-in ham. For 8 people, that's 2 to 2 2/3 pounds boneless (we round up to 3) or 2 2/3 to 4 pounds bone-in. Want leftovers on purpose? Buy the top of the range and plan leftover ham recipes like ham and bean soup for the week after.

Easter side dishes

Pick two starches, one or two vegetables and one fresh dish.

Potatoes and starches

13. Scalloped potatoes. Creamy, make-ahead and the most traditional ham partner. Use our scalloped potatoes recipe.
14. Mashed potatoes. The cheapest crowd-pleaser on the table. See our mashed potatoes.
15. Roasted potatoes with herbs. One sheet pan, no peeling. Try our roasted potatoes.
16. Funeral potatoes (cheesy hash brown casserole). A potluck favorite that holds well. Here's our funeral potatoes version.
17. Baked macaroni and cheese. The side kids actually eat. Our baked mac and cheese bakes ahead.
18. Sweet potato casserole. Sweet next to salty ham. See our sweet potato casserole.
19. Corn casserole. Five ingredients and a little sweetness. Use our corn casserole.
20. Dinner rolls. Homemade or bakery, they soak up ham glaze. Our dinner rolls recipe freezes well.
21. Hot cross buns. The traditional Easter bread, sweet and spiced.

Vegetables

22. Green bean casserole. Not just for Thanksgiving. Here's how to make green bean casserole.
23. Garlic green beans. A quicker, lighter version. Try garlic green beans.
24. Roasted asparagus with lemon. The vegetable that says spring.
25. Honey-glazed carrots. A nod to the Easter bunny that costs very little.
26. Peas with butter and mint. Frozen peas work fine.
27. Sheet-pan spring vegetables. Carrots, asparagus and red onion together. Our how to roast vegetables guide has the temperatures.

Salads and fresh sides

28. Spring green salad with strawberries. Romaine, sliced berries and a simple vinaigrette.
29. Potato salad. Make it the day before. Use our potato salad.
30. Pasta salad. Cheap, colorful and easy to scale. See our pasta salad.
31. Ambrosia or fruit salad. Ambrosia is a sweet, retro holiday favorite. Try our ambrosia salad or a plain fruit salad.
32. Cucumber salad. Crisp and tangy against rich mains. See our cucumber salad.

Deviled eggs and Easter appetizers

33. Deviled eggs. The one dish almost every Easter table has. Here's how to make deviled eggs, and our guide to hard-boiled eggs gets the yolks right.
34. Deviled egg variations. Bacon and chive, pickle relish, or paprika and dill from the same dozen eggs.
35. Egg salad sandwiches. A smart use for dyed eggs that stayed in the fridge. Try our egg salad.
36. Pickled eggs. A tangy make-ahead. The USDA says home-pickled eggs must stay refrigerated and be eaten within 7 days.
37. Vegetable tray with ranch dip. Carrots, cucumbers and snap peas keep hungry guests out of the kitchen.
38. Cheese and cracker board. Buy one block of cheddar and slice it yourself to save.
39. Ham and cheese sliders. Perfect for Easter afternoon or the next day with leftover ham.
40. Spinach and artichoke dip. Warm, easy and made in one baking dish.

Easter desserts

41. Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. The signature Easter cake. Use our carrot cake recipe.
42. Strawberry shortcake. Spring berries over biscuits. This is the dessert in Menu 1. See our strawberry shortcake.
43. Hummingbird cake. Banana and pineapple, a Southern favorite. Try our hummingbird cake.
44. Coconut cake. White, fluffy and as pretty as a centerpiece.
45. Lemon bars. Bright, cheap and they travel well.
46. Cheesecake with berry topping. Make it two days ahead. Use our cheesecake.
47. Coffee cake. Doubles as Easter breakfast the next morning. See our coffee cake.
48. Rice Krispie treat nests. Shape into nests and top with candy eggs. Start with our Rice Krispie treats.
49. Chess pie. Pantry ingredients, Southern tradition. Here's our chess pie.
50. Banana pudding. Layer it in one dish the night before.
51. Pound cake with berries and whipped cream. One plain cake, dressed up.
52. Decorated sugar cookies. Bunnies, eggs and chicks double as an activity for kids.

Easter drinks

53. Homemade lemonade. Our lemonade recipe makes a pitcher for a few dollars.
54. Strawberry lemonade. Blend in a few berries from dessert.
55. Sweet or unsweetened iced tea. Brew a gallon the night before.
56. Sparkling water bar. Plain sparkling water with sliced lemon, cucumber and berries.
57. Fruit punch. Juice plus sparkling water in a punch bowl.
58. Coffee and tea bar. For dessert, with milk and sugar set out.
59. Mimosas (orange juice and sparkling wine) for adults only.
60. Sparkling wine or a white wine spritzer for adults only.

Serving alcohol: drinks with alcohol are for guests 21 and older. Offer the same drinks without alcohol, serve food alongside, and make sure every driver has a ride or a nonalcoholic choice.

3 Easter dinner menus for 8, with real costs

Every price below is the BLS U.S. city average for October 2026, multiplied by the quantity shown. The totals don't include tax, sales or pantry staples you likely already have (oil, salt, pepper, spices, mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar and baking powder). Those staples are where your own price book matters most.

Menu 1: Classic glazed ham dinner ($43.55, or $5.44 a person)

Boneless glazed ham, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, spring green salad and strawberry shortcake.

Swap tip: buy the cheapest ham per pound in the case that day. BLS's "all ham" average was $4.30 a pound, lower than boneless, but remember bone-in ham needs more weight per person.

Menu 2: Lemon roast chicken dinner ($46.50, or $5.81 a person)

Two lemon-herb roast chickens, roasted potatoes, deviled eggs, a wedge salad, and ice cream with strawberries.

Money-saving tip: save both carcasses for a pot of chicken stock, a free second meal from the same $20.26.

Menu 3: Meatless Easter strata dinner ($35.14, or $4.39 a person)

Cheesy egg strata, roasted potatoes, pasta salad, a strawberry and banana fruit salad, and chocolate chip cookies.

Swap tip: bake the cookies from flour, sugar and butter you already bought for another meal, or ask a guest to bring dessert and drop the total to $29.89.

How to plan Easter dinner on a budget

• Set the total first. Decide what Easter dinner can cost before you pick recipes, then divide by your guest count. Our holiday budget guide shows how to fit it into the season.
• Choose the main by price per serving. Chicken and ham beat lamb and beef for most budgets.
• Shop your pantry, then write one list. Group it by store section so you don't backtrack. Our grocery list template and how to grocery shop on a budget help.
• Know your prices. A grocery price book shows whether the "holiday sale" on ham is really a deal.
• Make it a potluck. Ask guests for sides, desserts or drinks. Our potluck ideas list makes it easy to assign dishes.
• Plan the leftovers. Build two weeknight dinners into your meal plan on a budget so nothing goes to waste.

Make-ahead Easter dinner plan

Easter falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027 (see future Easter dates), and Good Friday 2027 is two days earlier, a good day for your big shopping trip. Our Easter countdown tracks the days.

Easter dinner food safety: ham and Easter eggs

• Reheat ham to the right temperature. The USDA says cooked hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants can be eaten cold or reheated to 140°F, while leftover or store-repackaged cooked ham should be reheated to 165°F. Cook-before-eating and fresh hams need 145°F with a 3-minute rest.
• Keep spiral ham moist. The USDA suggests covering a spiral-sliced ham with foil and heating it at 325°F for about 10 minutes per pound.
• Refrigerate dyed eggs within 2 hours. The USDA's shell egg safety guide says to dye hard-cooked eggs and return them to the refrigerator within 2 hours, use a food-safe coloring if the eggs will be eaten, and use hard-cooked eggs within a week.
• Don't eat hunted eggs. The same guide does not recommend eating hard-cooked eggs after hiding or playing with them. Hide plastic eggs, or keep a separate batch for eating.
• Store ham leftovers safely. The USDA lists spiral-cut hams and leftovers from hams you cooked at 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator or 1 to 2 months in the freezer.

Plan Easter dinner on paper

I'm the oldest of three, and keeping everyone's holiday plans on one page is a habit that started early. A holiday meal goes smoother when the menu, the list and the budget sit together.

• Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99: plan the menu, then shop from a grocery list sorted by aisle, with pantry and freezer inventories so you buy only what's missing. Browse more Printables.
• Family Recipe Binder, $6.99: section dividers and recipe pages with room for the family story, so the scalloped potatoes recipe survives to next Easter.
• Free: the Holiday Budget Starter Kit (we email it to you) sets your total before you shop, and the recipe book starter pages collect relatives' recipes.

Hosting more holidays this year? See our Christmas dinner ideas and the holiday cooking hub.