25+ Easter Dinner Ideas for a Delicious Meal

Discover the possibilities with this beautiful collection of Easter main dishes. I've got you covered with a variety of delicious showstopping recipes.

by Sabrina Snyder

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Baked ham, lamb shanks, and pork tenderloin.

Easter is a wonderful opportunity to gather with family and friends to celebrate the renewing, bright feel of spring. From rustic Rack of Lamb to flavorfully glazed hams, like my Brown Sugar Peach version, this collection has showstopping classic Easter recipes that will wow as the centerpiece of your dinner. Lamb is long associated with spring, and I’ve included classics that feel indulgent. Ham is a reliable staple to any holiday dinner, and makes the best leftovers, especially for weekday lunches after a busy weekend. Not feeling so traditional, or simply want to try something different? Pork provides a flexible and satisfying alternative with recipes you’ll likely enjoy beyond the holiday. And while chicken or other poultry might not be on your radar for Easter, it can still standout and impress your guests. Whether you’re planning a large gathering or a more intimate dinner, any of these main dish recipes are sure to make your holiday feast a meal to remember!

The Main Event for Your Easter

From lamb to chicken, and everything in between, level up your Easter dinner this year with one of these meaty main dish recipes.

Lucious Lamb

Lamb is synonymous with Easter dinner, and these delicious recipes will have you coming back for seconds, maybe thirds!

a bowl of chops with carrots and potatoes
Braised Lamb Shanks Recipe
Braised Lamb Shanks are fall-off-the-bone tender and surprisingly easy with garlic, beef broth, red wine, and thyme to flavor the meat.
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Grilled chops on serving plate with mint jelly.
Grilled Lamb Chops
The best Grilled Lamb Chops recipe for tender, perfectly cooked meat with a flavorful marinade. Includes my homemade mint jelly recipe!
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Slice of lamb on plate with potatoes
Stuffed Leg of Lamb Recipe
This delicious and tender Stuffed Leg of Lamb recipe is easier than it looks and will wow all your friends and family this holiday season!
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Slices of roasted lamb on cutting board with knife.
Rack of Lamb Recipe
Easy Roast Rack of Lamb for perfect oven roasted lamb with tender, juicy meat, finished with a delectable sauce that feels like fine dining.
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Lamb Served On White Platter With Carrots And Potatoes With Serving Utensils
Irish Guinness Roast Lamb Recipe
Irish Guinness Roast Lamb is a tender hearty boneless lamb shoulder slow cooked in Guinness stout. Perfect for your St. Patty's day dinner!
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Leg of Lamb on plate with side of potatoes
Slow Cooker Leg of Lamb Recipe
Slow Cooker Leg of Lamb is an easy recipe perfect for Easter dinner! Juicy, tender lamb with seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and lemon.
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Finished leg of lamb fresh from the oven
Roast Leg of Lamb Recipe
An easy, flavorful Roast Leg of Lamb is perfect for Easter Dinner this year. Tender whole Leg of Lamb roasted with fresh rosemary.
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Perfect Pork

Pork is a crowd pleasing option, with so much versatility that you might want to make these dishes on another day besides Easter.

Pork Chops cut on serving plate 4x3
Dijon Cream Pork Chops Recipe
Dijon Cream Pork Chops is a quick, easy, juicy, boneless dinner recipe. Skillet-cooked with a creamy Dijon mustard sauce you want to soak up!
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Spinach Bacon Stuffed Pork Tenderloin closeup showing interior 1x1
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Spinach Bacon Stuffed Pork Tenderloin is an easy yet show-stopping pork dish perfect for special occasions and ready in under 40 minutes!
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plated pork covered in mushroom gravy served with mashed potatoes
Braised Pork Roast with Mushroom Gravy Recipe
Braised Pork Roast with Mushroom Gravy is creamy, tender, cozy, and rich with an elegant feel that's still easy enough for a weeknight.
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Pork chops with sauce on a platter
Fig and Pig Pork Chops Recipe
Fig and Pig Pork Chops are an easy and delicious elevated weeknight dinner. The best part is it only uses one pan!
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Whole Boneless Pork Loin Roast with Herb Butter Topping
Boneless Pork Loin Roast
Boneless Pork Loin Roast is an easy dinner of flavorful herb crusted pork loin seasoned with garlic, rosemary, thyme and butter. Made in about an hour!
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Slow Cooker Pork Chops on plate with green beans and dinner rolls
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Pork Chops Recipe
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Pork Chops are delicious and juicy inside with crispy outsides. Set it in the morning and enjoy for dinner!
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on white plate with Broccoli and Potatoes
Grilled Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Grilled Pork Tenderloin is incredibly tender, juicy, and delicious. This tasty dish features a fantastic marinade that enhances its flavor.
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Maple Brined Pork Loin plated slice over mashed potatoes with gravy, ratio 1x1
Maple Brined Pork Loin Recipe
Maple Brined Pork Loin is an easy, flavorful roast that turns wonderfully tender and finishes with a bright, glossy touch!
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Crown Pork Roast whole roast finished on plate with garnishes around bottom and glasses of red wine in background, 1x1
Crown Pork Roast
Delicious Crown Pork Roast recipe for a tender juicy rack of pork loin roasted with a cranberry apple stuffing. An impressive holiday dinner!
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Pork Loin sliced on plate with parsley garnish and green beans
Herb Crusted Pork Loin Recipe
Herb Crusted Pork Loin is tender and juicy. It makes a beautiful and delicious holiday dinner or Sunday night meal.
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Comforting Chicken and Poultry

While chicken isn’t a typical main dish for Easter, it can wow and delight the dinner table and shouldn’t be discounted.

Poultry taken out of oven, ready to eat
Perfect Simple Roast Chicken Recipe
This is the PERFECT Simple Roast Chicken Recipe. Your family will love it and you'll never buy store bought rotisserie chicken again!
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Top view of cooked meal on a table ready to eat
Baked Rosemary Chicken Recipe
Baked Rosemary Chicken is delicious and crispy. The best part is that it is ready in less than 45 minutes. It will be a family favorite!
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Cornish hens on dinner plate with potatoes.
Roasted Cornish Hens Recipe
Roasted Cornish Hens are an effortless dinner of tender, juicy meat with the crispiest skin. A meal that feels special without being fussy.
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Sliced turkey on a plate with mashed potatoes
Roasted Turkey Breast Recipe
Roasted Turkey Breast made with butter, herbs, salt, and pepper has tender juicy meat, CRISPY skin, and roasts in only 90 minutes!
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Spatchcock Chicken roasted chicken on cutting board with herbs and lemon wedges
Spatchcock Chicken
Easy Spatchcock Chicken recipe and step by step guide for how to cook an entire chicken with perfect juicy chicken meat and crispy skin.
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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes and Spinach
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes made in one pan and in less than 45 minutes so you can enjoy it during the week as the weather cools down.
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Served meal on white dish
Red Wine Braised Chicken with Mushrooms Recipe
Red Wine Braised Chicken with Mushrooms is a simple take on a classic French dish. Easy meal that is delicious and everyone will love!
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chicken in a crockpot
Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken Recipe
Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken is tender, flavorful, and perfectly crispy. An easy dinner protein for the weeknight everyone will enjoy!
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Rich and Hearty Ham

Ham is such an easy go to, but these mains are far from a cop out. Enjoy a smart move with minimal effort with these recipes.

Ham on dinner plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.
Apple Cider Glazed Ham Recipe
Apple Cider Glazed Ham is a holiday showstopper, slow-baked until tender and juicy, finished with a glaze that balances cozy, and tangy.
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Close up of ham with sprouts and potatoes
Campfire Sugar Ham with Dijon Roasted Potatoes Recipe
Campfire Sugar Ham with Dijon Roasted Potatoes is a festive, comforting main dish that blends sweet warmth with hearty, golden sides.
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Baked spiral ham cooked on serving platter with garnishes
Brown Sugar Peach Baked Ham (w/ Bourbon option) Recipe
Brown Sugar Peach Baked Ham with a Bourbon option is sweet and tender making the most flavorful main dish for your holiday or family dinner.
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finished ham in baking dish
Brown Sugar Ham Steak Recipe
Brown Sugar Ham Steak is a rich, sweet, oven-baked recipe so easy you don't have to wait for the holidays! Perfect for breakfast or dinner!
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Close up of glazed ham in a pan
Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze Recipe
Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze with orange juice, honey, and spices is the perfect sweet and savory flavor combo. A classic holiday recipe!
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Whole ham on wooden serving platter
HoneyBaked Ham (Copycat) Recipe
HoneyBaked Ham (Copycat) is the perfect crispy, sweet, smoky, and delicious center piece without the price tag! Perfect for the holidays!
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Brown Sugar Bourbon Ham
Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe
Bourbon Glazed Ham is an easy, flavorful ham recipe with a simple glaze of bourbon, brown sugar, and orange juice. Ready in just a few hours.
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Bringing everyone together around the table is what makes Easter feel special, and this collection is designed to make planning your holiday meal simple and enjoyable. With more than 25 recipes to choose from, you can make any one of these main dishes that fit your traditions, schedule, and tastes of your guests. Whether keeping it classic, or trying something new, these recipes give you the flexibility to build a menu that feels festive without adding unnecessary stress. And be sure to check out my Easter Side Dishes and Desserts for Easter collections for more help planning a meal that brings everyone back to the table for seconds.

Collage of baked ham, lamb shanks, and pork tenderloin recipes and ingredient list

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

See more posts by Sabrina

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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