Wondering what to serve with your glazed ham? These delicious Easter side dishes are a mix of traditional and modern recipes that will make your springtime spread burst with flavor.

77 Easter Side Dishes to Bring to Dinner

Au Gratin Potatoes
When we think about foods traditionally served on Easter, au gratin and scalloped potatoes spring to mind. It’s a natural choice for complementing meaty main dishes, and it’s an equal match for spring vegetables if you’re serving a vegetarian Easter dinner menu.
Herb-Buttered Baby Carrots
These buttery carrots look gorgeous and go well with almost any of our best Easter recipes. We use several dried herbs here—parsley, basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary and thyme—to bring the perfect herbaceous notes to the tender, oven-roasted carrots.
Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes
Asparagus tastes delicious and cooks quickly. Plus, the addition of grape tomatoes and pine nuts make this recipe look gorgeous! If you end up with leftovers, they taste great the next morning in a quiche or frittata.
Deviled Eggs
Along with hot cross buns, it almost doesn’t even feel like Easter without deviled eggs! Our recipe makes ’em how you know ’em, but we’ve also included tons of different flavor variations if you want to try something new or offer an array.
Green Bean Casserole
No, it’s not just a Thanksgiving side dish! Green beans are in season in the spring, so they’ll be fresh and flavorful on your Easter table.
Cheese Grits
Grits are a real winner alongside rich, roasted meats. They’re creamy, soft and flavorful, thanks to the addition of cheddar cheese. Feel free to change up the cheese to suit your meal plan. These grits would taste great with Monterey Jack cheese, cream cheese or even a container of Southern-style pimiento cheese.
Resurrection Rolls
Resurrection rolls symbolize Jesus and the empty tomb after he was raised from the dead. Enlist the help of tiny hands to roll marshmallows into the crescent dough, so the kids can be shocked when they bite into a baked roll to find that the marshmallow is no longer there!
Creamed Peas
In-season peas are perfect for a spring holiday. The cream sauce elevates this veggie that’s a lovely match for your Easter ham.
Corn Pudding
Soft, custardy and just a little bit sweet, corn pudding brings something unique to the table. Make sure you add spoons to the place setting because corn pudding’s creamy texture is why it’s sometimes called “spoonbread.”
Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns are an Easter staple! These sweet buns, studded with raisins and currants and perfumed with cinnamon and allspice, have a symbolic cross icing in the middle to represent Jesus’ crucifixion.
Layered Salad for a Crowd
If you haven’t reserved your trifle dish for an Easter trifle dessert, let this be your sign to use it for this stunning salad. With layers of romaine, carrots, cucumbers, peas, cheese and bacon, everyone will want to dive into this Easter side.
Parsnip Puree
Substitute creamy mashed potatoes with carrot’s paler cousin. After the winter frost, spring brings about sweeter parsnips with an earthiness that’s a knockout with roasted meats.
Easy Popovers
These crispy, eggy, tall rolls are completely hollow on the inside. They’re wonderful vehicles for soaking up gravy or topping with other accouterments on the plate.
3-Bean Salad
This light side is easy, no-cook and loaded with tangy flavors thanks to the onions and vinegar. A little feta would be a nice touch.
Creamed Onions
Think of creamed onions as a flavor-loaded gravy replacement. Smother this all over your roast lamb, ham, chicken, potatoes, rolls or any sides, really, and it will elevate the flavors tenfold.
Seasoned Green Beans
In-season spring green beans are so flavorful that they speak for themselves on the dinner table. Dress them up with a little butter, salt, chili powder, garlic and onion to give them some pizzazz.
Mashed Red Potatoes
If you’re looking for a traditional Easter side, these mashed potatoes deliver! The addition of garlic really takes traditional mashed potatoes to the next level.
Dill & Chive Peas
Peas are a spring classic, but they’re not always harvested in time for Easter dinner. This recipe uses frozen peas, but feel free to use fresh peas instead if they’re available in your area.
Parmesan Risotto
Risotto is a creamy side dish that makes an excellent match for ham or roast lamb. Give it a spring feel by stirring in asparagus, peas, spinach or mushrooms.
Grandma’s Spinach Salad
A great side salad should always be included in your roster of Easter side dishes, and this one certainly won’t disappoint. It’s a great way to use up hard-boiled eggs!
Asiago Mashed Cauliflower
Potatoes are one of our favorite Easter side dishes, but we love switching it up by making the mash with cauliflower instead. Cauliflower has fewer carbohydrates than starchy white potatoes, but tastes just as delicious.
Southern Dressing
Stuffing and dressing usually show up around Thanksgiving, but these recipes are fantastic as Easter side dishes as well. Grandma made hers with homemade cornbread, so that’s what we do in this recipe. Cornbread mix works in a pinch if you don’t have time to make homemade.
Cheese-Stuffed Sweet Onions
Roasted sweet onions taste incredible, but they’re even better when they’re stuffed with a mixture of goat and blue cheeses. You can work ahead on this recipe by making the onions in the slow cooker a day in advance, then reheating them in the oven right before Easter dinner.
Chard with Bacon-Citrus Sauce
If your family is anything like ours, there’s probably a picky eater in the group that hates greens. This chard recipe might change that. By the time the greens wilt down, the dish looks like it’s mostly bacon, and the orange butter sauce covers any bitter taste.
Honey-Mustard Brussels Sprouts Salad
When you don’t have time to make several different Easter side dishes, whip up this easy salad. It has so much going on between the color contrast of the vegetables and the multitude of textures and flavors. As a bonus, the honey mustard dressing pairs well with almost any main dish.
Sweet Onion Pie
This sweet onion pie makes a great addition to your Easter brunch, but we also love it for dinner. It has a great balance between sweet and savory, making it stand out from other Easter side dishes. Just make sure to use a deep-dish pie crust, otherwise the contents will overflow as the pie bakes.
Bow Tie & Spinach Salad
Elevate your pasta salad by using farfalle, a pasta shape that’s scalloped on the edges and pinched in the middle to look like fancy bow ties. This recipe is filling and packed full of fresh vegetables, doing the work of multiple Easter side dishes in one.
Crunchy Spinach Casserole
Creamed spinach is one of our go-to Easter sides, and we started making it with cubed bread to add some much-needed texture. This crunchy spinach casserole is adored by adults and kids alike.
Broccoli Casserole
This side dish tastes incredible next to ham or roast chicken. It looks good in a glass dish, but a stoneware casserole dish will elevate the presentation when bringing this to the table.
Creamy Lemon Pasta
Who says pasta can’t be on the Easter dinner table? With the amount of lemon, parsley and tomatoes in this dish, it’s perfect for springtime.
Roasted Fennel and Carrots
We’re veering away from the classic roasted carrot side for something more vibrant and flavorful. Here, carrots and fennel roast with warm spices like coriander and cumin, but also bright, tangy ingredients like onions and lemon. After roasting, everything is finished with a confetti of bright basil.
Wilted Endive Salad
Endives are one of the more bitter salad greens, but that’s what makes it work so well among the ultra creamy, meaty and rich plates on the Easter dinner table. Like cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, you need something bitter and tangy to break up the richness.
Roasted Asparagus
Asparagus is in season during the spring, and when ingredients are in their prime, you need few seasonings for a flavorful dish. Our recipe shows you how to make roasted asparagus in the oven or air fryer, under the broiler or on the grill.
Baked Mac and Cheese
A holiday meal isn’t complete without a side of cheesy mac and cheese. Cut down on the cleanup time by making this mac and cheese ahead of time. Then, all you have to do is pop the baking dish into the oven before dinner.
Lemon Couscous with Broccoli
Couscous with broccoli is incredible as an Easter side dish because the couscous is a natural pairing with lamb. Of course, it goes well with beef, poultry or fish, too, and the leftovers are perfect for making Buddha bowls.
Roasted Tater Rounds with Green Onions & Tarragon
It’s hard to find crispy potato recipes that can be prepared in advance, but this recipe nails it. You can slice the potatoes a day ahead and store them in water in the refrigerator to keep them from oxidizing. Just before dinner, spin the potatoes dry and soften them in the microwave before crisping them up under the broiler.
Pesto Gnocchi
You could make potato gnocchi from scratch if you have the time, but a package of prepared gnocchi works just as well. You’ll find it in the refrigerated section near the packaged ravioli.
Minty Sugar Snap Peas
Mint and lamb are made for each other, making this one of our go-to Easter side dishes when roasting a leg or rack of lamb. Fresh mint is your best option here, as the dried mint has a coarser texture and a sharper flavor.
Roasted Radishes
Roasting radishes softens their spicy bite and gives them a similar texture to potatoes. Our recipe uses a tablespoon of chopped fresh oregano, but other green herbs work well here, too. Try dill, basil, thyme, rosemary or mint to give the dish a fresh spin.
Crunchy Lemon-Pesto Garden Salad
We often make this vegetable-forward garden salad when we have an open jar of pesto in the fridge. If you haven’t tried it before, pesto makes an incredible salad dressing! The combination of colors, flavors and textures make this an excellent option on the Easter dinner table, too.
Carrot Puree
This is one of those Easter side dishes that’s fast, easy and oh-so-delicious. The orange liqueur enhances the carrot’s flavor while cutting through the butter’s richness, but you don’t have to add alcohol. A tablespoon of orange juice concentrate or a splash of orange extract does the job nicely.
Beet Greens
What’s the key to making leafy greens like beets taste good? It’s all about fat, salt and acid. The fat coats the leaves and carries their herbaceous flavors, the salt cuts through the bitterness and the acid brightens everything up.
Spinach-Parm Casserole
This rich, buttery spinach side dish makes a wonderful addition to Easter dinner, and the leftovers taste fantastic when folded into eggs for breakfast or combined with rice or pasta for lunch. After blanching the spinach, be sure to drain it well, squeezing out any excess water by pressing down on it with the back of a spoon. Otherwise, the casserole can turn out a little watery.
Smashed Potatoes
This recipe is simple to make and even easier to customize. Instead of using red potatoes, try swapping in small Yukon Gold or new potatoes. You can season the potatoes in a number of ways, too; chives and parsley are fantastic, as are lemon and rosemary or garlic powder and fresh dill.
Yellow Squash and Zucchini Casserole
You can use any type of summer squash to make this au gratin-style squash casserole. A combination of zucchini and yellow squash is a good option to give the dish a boost of color.
Collard Greens & Beans
Collard greens require long simmering times to soften and lose their bitter edge, but the time spent is well worth it. If you want to plan ahead, this side dish tastes great if you make the collards the day before and reheat them just before dinner.
Roasted Cabbage & Onions
Once you learn how to cook cabbage, you’ll be amazed that you spent so many years only eating it raw. Roasted cabbage becomes browned and caramelized and creates an ideal blend of crispy edges with soft, buttery interiors. To add a little color to your dinner table, use red cabbage instead of green cabbage for this recipe.
Roasted Herb & Lemon Cauliflower
Cauliflower is an excellent side for Easter because it can be roasted, baked into casseroles or mashed into a smooth puree. In this recipe, we roast the florets until they’re crisp before tossing them with parsley, rosemary, thyme and lemon zest. A pinch of red pepper flakes adds the perfect level of spice to bring the other flavors forward.
Black-Eyed Peas
You’ll want to plan ahead with this recipe—the beans need to be soaked before they’re cooked—but the cooking process is almost completely hands-off. Simply combine the drained, rinsed beans with the remaining ingredients and simmer with a ham hock until they’re nice and tender.
Lemon-Garlic Lima Beans
You may know this dish by its southern name of “butter beans,” given to describe the legume’s mild sweetness and nutty flavor. The lemon-herb dressing provides a nice contrast to the savory beans, making this the perfect side to go alongside rich lamb or beef dishes.
Ambrosia Salad
This tropical fruit recipe has Greek roots, but it’s popular in the American South and on holiday tables across the country. It’s sweet enough to serve as an easy Easter dessert but light enough to include on the dinner table.
Sour Cream Fan Rolls
-Carrie Ormsby, West Jordan, Utah
Your holiday spread won’t be complete without rolls! Stacking the dough in strips and baking them in a muffin pan creates a gorgeous fan effect without too much added effort.
Sicilian Steamed Leeks
Leeks are an underused vegetable, but you’ll adore how tender they become after 10 minutes in a steamer basket. Be sure to clean leeks thoroughly before cooking them, as tiny specks of dirt love to nestle between the layers.
Parmesan Snap Pea Pasta
Pasta is always a great idea for large family gatherings because it’s an inexpensive way to feed a crowd. This recipe takes advantage of spring’s crop of snap peas, creating a colorful side dish that pairs exceptionally well with glazed ham or seafood.
Company Green Salad
You can never go wrong by serving a large salad with Easter dinner, and this one is always a hit because of all its crunchy toppings. The sliced almonds, crispy rice noodles and sunflower seeds add a burst of nutty flavor, elevating a bowl of greens to a restaurant-quality salad.
Creamy Mushrooms
This Easter side dish is creamy and comforting, and you can serve it in several different ways. Spoon the mushrooms and cream over pasta or rice at the table, or serve it as a starter soup. It’s also great as a gravy for roast beef and pork. So many options!
Quinoa Salad
Quinoa is a protein-rich grain with a nutty and earthy flavor. It’s similar to brown rice, but it melts into the vegetables in this salad instead of standing out with a chewy texture. It’s great for any plant-based eaters at the dinner table, but it’s equally loved by omnivores.
Italian Bread Salad with Olives
Bread salad (also called panzanella) is a great way to transform leftover bread into a show-stopping side dish. We use ciabatta in this recipe, but you can swap in any bread you have on hand.
Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Butter
Smothering white and sweet potatoes in a cheesy, buttery sauce is a wonderful way to get the picky eaters at the table to try sweet potatoes. It turns out best if the potatoes are sliced into 1/8-inch rounds, so we recommend using a mandoline slicer to create even pieces.
Spring Green Risotto
This flavorful risotto recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly, making it a good choice if you have multiple dietary needs at the table this year. You can use any vegetables you have on hand, from mushrooms and spinach to peas, asparagus, zucchini or summer squash.
Carrots Lyonnaise
You could make this recipe with traditional orange carrots, but the dish will look even better if you pick up a bundle of rainbow carrots at the grocery store or farmers market. We eat with our eyes first, after all, and the combination of deep burgundy, golden yellow, jeweled orange and creamy white is quite stunning.
Never-Fail Scalloped Potatoes
You can never have too many cheesy potato recipes! I like to use russet potatoes for this recipe, as their starchy character helps to thicken the sauce. But other types of potatoes also work, like buttery Yukon Gold potatoes.
Herbed Rice Pilaf
Many of our favorite Easter dinner ideas take a while to prepare, so it’s important to incorporate a few quick-and-easy side dishes into your repertoire. Rice pilaf is filling and fairly hands-off to cook, and the addition of herbs helps it pair well with meaty Easter mains. It also reheats pretty well if you want to make it ahead.
Cheesy Corn Casserole
This is one of our go-to potluck recipes because it’s so easy to make and always tastes fantastic. We get asked for the recipe all the time! It pairs particularly well with a holiday meal centered around chicken or turkey, but it would go well with ham, lamb or roast beef, too.
Harvard Beets
This simple side dish is the perfect way to introduce newcomers to the lovely flavor of roasted beets. The root vegetable’s strong, earthy flavor is mellowed out with vinegar, and the addition of butter gives them a savory finish.
Potato Rolls
Dinner rolls are always a good idea when planning Easter side dishes. These potato rolls call for mashed potatoes, so they’re a perfect fit if you happen to be making those as a side dish anyway.
Pineapple Fluff
If you’re looking for a spin on ambrosia salad that has a sweet-and-salty vibe, look to this tropical pineapple pretzel fluff recipe. It’s great with other Easter side dishes because it’s sweet enough to be dessert but savory enough to eat with dinner.
Carrot and Raisin Salad
Crunchy carrots and sweet raisins are one of the best flavor combos around. Plus, this creamy Easter salad is so easy to prepare, thanks to pre-shredded carrots that save you the hassle of chopping them by hand.
Air-Fryer Beets with Orange Gremolata and Goat Cheese
These roasted beets with fresh herbs and tangy goat cheese are wonderful in the winter, but the flavor (not to mention the beautiful colors) certainly translates into spring too. Enlisting your air fryer ensures they come out nice and tender after 45 minutes.
Pineapple Casserole
This baked pineapple recipe has just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of warming spices from ground cinnamon. It’s a great accompaniment to any meaty entree and using canned pineapple makes it a snap to assemble.
Celery Gratin
A lightened-up version of potato gratin, celery takes the place of the starch here. If you want to prep it ahead of time, just make sure to cook and cool the vegetables before assembling and refrigerating the dish. When it’s time to bake, add a few minutes to the cook time. Pair one of these make-ahead side dishes to go with it!
Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
A keto and gluten-friendly side consisting of fresh green beans wrapped in bacon and covered in a sweet sauce will be a winner for everyone at the table. While it’s not strictly necessary to blanch green beans before wrapping them in bacon, we do recommend it. Blanching vegetables partially cooks them, making them tender while still maintaining some crunch.
Vegan Potato Salad
Herbaceous green goddess dressing is delicious in pasta, grain bowls and just about anything it’s drizzled on, like this vegan potato salad. Make sure to refrigerate it covered for at least one hour so it’s creamy and cool upon serving.
Wild Rice Casserole
This mushroom casserole hits all the culinary high notes with its rich sauce and cheesy Parmesan crust. It’s a home-style side dish that will have everyone scooping up seconds.
Radish Cucumber Salad
A healthy side of cucumbers, radishes and chopped red onion, this refreshing salad is an ideal accompaniment for any entree. To store it, place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Crock-Pot Grits
Did you know your slow cooker can make the most amazing grits without having to stir them on the stovetop? Simply combine the ingredients in a greased 3-quart slow cooker and cook covered on low until the liquid is absorbed and the grits are tender.
Spiced Carrots with Pistachios
Give the classic carrot side dish a little extra crunch with nutty pistachios. The unexpected apple pie spice deserves a chef’s kiss.
Easter Side Dishes FAQ
What side dishes are included in a traditional Easter dinner menu?
A traditional Easter dinner includes sides like mashed, roasted or au gratin potatoes and cooked carrots with a honey glaze. Bright green, in-season vegetables such as peas, green beans and asparagus are also common sides. You’ll likely see fluffy dinner rolls on the table, too.
What side dishes would pair well with an Easter ham?
Ingredients like cheese, potatoes, carrots, all kinds of green vegetables and even fruit pair well with ham. If you’re making an Easter ham this year, create an array of sides that include these ingredients.
What should I serve with Easter lamb?
Pungent and heavy spices and herbs are masterful with lamb. Mint, garlic, rosemary, oregano, coriander, cumin, paprika and chili powder pair especially well. Look for any sides that include these flavors, and when in doubt, go for a bitter green salad, plates of snappy green vegetables or cheesy potatoes with lots of fresh herbs and roasted garlic.