Looking for some fresh Easter Dinner Ideas that aren’t ham? No matter how many you’re feeding, these non-traditional Easter menu ideas (both main course and Easter desserts) will make for a festive Easter celebration without your average glazed ham.
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Don’t get me wrong. I love a traditional ham dinner for special occasions. But I also know that fussing with it and all the traditional side dishes can take up a lot of time, time that you might want to spend enjoying spring weather or watching the kids or grandkids hunt for eggs.
Let’s talk non-traditional Easter dinner ideas, no ham included, so that you can enjoy Easter Sunday a little bit more.
Why It Matters
While a holiday dinner is certainly special, sometimes you want to step outside tradition (I’m looking at you, Honey-Baked Ham) and enjoy the time with your Easter guests and enjoy a simpler meal.
Last year, I made an Easter-egg shaped loaf of Sourdough Bread along with Roast Potatoes and Caesar Salad while Bryan grilled a Pork Tenderloin. It was an amazingly delicious dinner, but made in the very easiest way.
In comparison with the years when I spent all day in the kitchen making a ham and scalloped potatoes or the year I tried to grill a marinated lamb shank, last year’s was the best way to celebrate.
Non-Traditional Easter Dinner Ideas (No Ham) are now my jam.
As Easter approaches this year, you may be considering a simplified celebration. Whether it’s finances, health concerns, or the inability to travel, there are plenty of reasons why one might keep the celebration small and step outside the traditional dinner party menu.
This has a lot going for it! Lower costs, fewer hassles, less stress can all contribute to a special day and a delicious meal shared with your closest loved ones.
Keeping up with Easter traditions, like this fun, token-driven Easter Egg Hunt and an Empty Tomb Cake, are both in keeping with simpler Easter celebrations, especially since you can prep those ahead of time.
Tips for a Non-Traditional Easter Dinner
While you might not prep the full holiday ham and potatoes dinner, you can still have a fantastic feast. In fact this gives you a lot more freedom of meal planning since you won’t be going with what’s always been done, but with what you want to do.
What are family-favorite meals? Is there some special dish that you make only once in awhile? Can you highlight one or two Easter traditions in a new and different way? Follow these tips for celebrating Easter brunch, lunch, or dinner easily and on a budget.
Shop the Kitchen.
Inventory the pantry, freezer, and fridge. You don’t have to spend a fortune if you’ve already got something at home. What do you already have that can be transformed into a festive meal?
Believe it or not, one of the most elegant and special meals my husband and I have ever had was at a small, six-seat restaurant in Paris. We didn’t know it was vegetarian, but the experience was amazing because the food was creatively prepared and served with care. You can always do a lot with a little.
Got a cake mix? Bake it but make a fresh Lemon Buttercream Frosting. Fresh carrots? The Ultimate Carrot Cake Recipe. Chicken breasts? Easy Chicken and Gravy.
Consider family faves for your Easter main dishes.
Family favorites are always a hit, so why not take them up a notch for your Easter menu?
Pizza? Sure! Add some special toppings, some yummy beverages, and a few fun appetizers.
Mexican food? Why not? I’m sure they do in Mexico. Do a little research into your favorite cuisine, Mexican or otherwise, and see what they serve for Easter dinner. It doesn’t have to be exact; have fun with it.
Burgers? If burgers are what you have available, then live it up. Bake homemade hamburger buns or make some special sauces and side salads to elevate the meal just a tad. Make some extra special hamburger toppings to make it fancy.
Add some extra touches.
Even if your table is limited to immediate family, think about what will make things special. Serving the meal in courses, even if the fare is super simple, elevates it to a celebratory level. Think: appetizer, main dish, salad, and dessert.
How about setting the table in a special way. Your immediate family is worthy of your best china! Likewise, give a little thought to food presentation, just because.
Easter Dinner Menu Ideas
These are some of my best Easter dinner ideas. It’s kinda hard to pick just one for your holiday meal!
Easter Dinner Ideas (no ham)
Start with your main dish and then choose sides and desserts that complement them. Here are some easy meals to try:
Easter Sides
The best Easter side dishes are the ones that you can make ahead of time and reheat just before serving or serve cold.
Easter Treats
The following are both traditional and non-traditional desserts that make for a special Easter meal:
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This post was originally published on March 28, 2020. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Yvonne Bendtschneider
What is the dish pattern you put your hot cross bun on?
Jessica Fisher
Nancy Calhoun’s Francesca, from 1994.
Janet
We are having a ham we bought a few months ago when the local grocery store had a very good sale price. We have the fixings for cranberry sauce and potatoes AuGratin, but we are missing a few of the usual favorites. We may or may not have asparagus with lemon sauce (not sure we can get the asparagus). My kids especially love the crescent rolls from a can, which I do not have. They may have to settle for something homemade. My husband always wants me to include black olives and baby gerkins on the relish tray. Those are likely to be missing as well. I do not have the ingredients for apple or pumpkin pie, but I have what I need to make a turtle cheesecake instead. I think the troops will be okay with the substitutions. I have been pleasantly surprised at the reactions of my husband and kids to some of the unusual meals we have had lately. Much better than I typically get during a pantry challenge. I think everyone understands these are not normal days.
Jessica Fisher
That sounds delicious, Janet. Maybe you can find asparagus in the freezer section?