35 Delicious Side Dishes For Easter

Spring is springing and foodies everywhere are gearing up for all the gastronomic delights that come with it — grilling, picnics, barbecues, and fresh produce galore. But, before the season enters full swing, Easter rolls around, and some years, the holiday can look a little closer to a gray winter day than a pastel fantasia. Spring is a transitional season, and the weather can be unpredictable. (So can holiday dinner guests.)

That's why Tasting Table has rounded up 36 knockout side dish recipes to make your Easter dinner as easy, delicious, and stress-free as possible. Whether you're keeping the celebration small or inviting the whole neighborhood, we've got side dishes to fill every stomach — with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, to boot. If you're attending an Easter gathering as a guest, look no further: These recipes are sure to impress. Moroccan-spiced carrots, anyone? How about homemade biscuits or a baked potato stuffed with another baked potato? 

As you start planning your feast, these sides are here to lend a helping hand. Let us be the first to wish you a "hoppy" holiday. (Sorry about the pun.)

Many holiday dinners start with biscuits, which is why we're kicking off this roundup with one of the simplest recipes for them in our arsenal. Recipe developer Jessica Morone created these biscuits using all-purpose flour, so there's no need for a trip to the grocery store to pick up self-rising flour. You can work with what you likely already have in your pantry at home.

What makes these biscuits special is one unexpected ingredient: cornstarch. It's an unusual ingredient for this kind of recipe, Morone admits, but it's the key to getting a soft, fluffy texture. These Southern-style buttermilk biscuits only take 15 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes in the oven — no overnight rising and no finicky yeast needed.

Recipe: Fluffy Southern Biscuits

These parsley potatoes by recipe developer Kate Shungu are about as hands-off a side dish as they come. This elegant classic features a minimal ingredient lineup, which can be easily adapted to suit vegan guests — just sub in non-dairy butter. Plus, on a busy holiday with a full house, these spuds can be a time saver: Simply boil them and walk away, whip up a simple homemade garlic butter, and combine. Shungu recommends pairing these parsley potatoes with any type of protein, like roasted chicken, seared fish, or even an Easter ham.

Recipe: The Best Parsley Potatoes

Green beans are an Easter staple. But, year after year, they can start to get a little tired. Breathe new life into that tried-and-true classic with a crispy bacon wrap. The smokiness of the meat comes together with a sprinkle of brown sugar that caramelizes in the oven, finishing the dish with a sweet-savory punch. You could even customize the flavor of this recipe by opting for different varieties of bacon, like applewood, hickory-smoked, or pepper-crusted. To make it, wrap a strip of bacon around a bundle of eight to 10 green beans — an easy portioning hack for serving an anticipated number of dinner guests.

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Easter isn't just for glazed carrots. For an unexpected side dish this year, give this Moroccan-spiced variation a try. This vegan-friendly side dish by Andrew Carmellini of Leuca in Brooklyn, New York, was designed for easy prep. Leave the skins on those carrots — no peeling necessary. Baking the veggies inside of their skin naturally caramelizes the flesh like a slow-roasted sweet potato.

But the real star of the show here is the berbere spice, a combination of smoked paprika, ginger, cardamom, garlic, chile, and nutmeg. And chopped dill brings it all together with an element of freshness. These Moroccan-spiced carrots are a super bright and veggie-forward side dish, creating a welcome contrast to other baked goods, biscuits, pies, or heartier meats on your Easter dinner table.

Recipe: Moroccan-Spiced Carrots

You've heard of French potato salad, mustard potato salad, and maybe even curried potato salad. But what about potato salad with no potatoes at all? You heard us right — introducing: cauliflower "potato" salad. 

This elevated side comes from Jennine Bryant of The Marshside Pantry, who describes it as a texturally comparable, nutrient-dense, and low-carb take on the beloved classic. Plus, cauliflower makes an ideal vehicle for carrying that potato salad flavor — packed with hard-boiled eggs, lemon juice, red onion, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and fresh dill and chives. It's a light and simple recipe that's wonderful for the upcoming picnic season this Easter.

Recipe: Cauliflower Potato Salad

This is one of those recipes that, after you make it once, finds its way into your Easter dinner lineup every year from that point on. "Is so-and-so going to bring their famous baked mac and cheese casserole?" they'll ask. "I've been craving it all year!" they'll say — and we understand the hype.

It's the ultimate comfort food with a sophisticated maturity, and yet, it still inspires awe and pleases picky eaters of all ages. This recipe features a combination of three different cheeses (fontina, white cheddar, and mozzarella), a crispy panko breadcrumb topping, and fresh thyme. To easily convert this side into an entrée, recipe developer Michelle McGlinn suggests incorporating a protein of your choice, like chorizo or shredded chicken. ('Nduja could provide a spicy, umami kick.)

Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese Casserole

In case you haven't worked with them before, wax beans are a vegetable in the green bean family, often eaten in the pod like sugar snap peas. These bad boys are visually stunning, boasting vibrant hues from yellow to deep purple. Yet, in contrast to their loud coloring, their flavor is mild and grassy — understated at best, and bland at worst. For this reason, this humble ingredient is often overlooked and simply tossed into a salad. 

But, in this recipe from chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of the eponymous LA-based restaurant Jon & Vinny's, wax beans are the main character. They're sautéed with shallots, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes for a flavorful facelift, and served with wilted baby arugula. This side dish is an easy way to meet your veggie intake quota before dessert hour rolls around.

Recipe: Seared Yellow Wax Beans and Arugula

What does "twice-baked" mean? We're glad you asked. You bake the potatoes once as normal, halve them, and then scoop out their tender, cooked insides. After combining this filling with a bunch of classic baked potato toppings, you scoop the mixture back inside the crispy potato skins.

The whole arrangement gets placed back into the oven to melt together (hence, the "twice-baked") before it's ready to serve and make your wildest spud-related dreams come true. (Talk about a Happy Easter.) Recipe developer Ting Dalton suggests playing with the flavor by trying out different cheeses or adding spinach. Blue cheese or Gruyère could work well here.

Recipe: Ultimate Twice-Baked Potatoes

One of the most enduring yet heavily debated sides on the Easter dinner table has to be Brussels sprouts. According to a study, people may be genetically predisposed to loving or hating the controversial green veggie (via BBC Science Focus). An estimated 50% of people around the world have a variation of a particular gene that makes their palates more sensitive to a unique bitter-tasting chemical compound that is naturally present in the vegetable. But that doesn't mean genetically-unlucky foodies can't enjoy Brussels sprouts — they just have to be prepared extra deliciously. Enter: garlic butter. (You can thank us later.)

Recipe: Garlic Butter Brussels Sprouts

Foodies with gluten sensitivities or intolerances, rise up. You don't have to skip out on cornbread this Easter holiday. Since the recipe calls for almond milk, it's simple to create a vegan version by substituting the eggs with a plant-based egg substitute. Pair it with chili, soups, chowders, baked beans, or chicken breast smothered in barbecue sauce.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Cornbread

Making delicious roasted veggies is all about nailing the sweet spot between half-raw and overcooked. The dance is even trickier when working with more delicate vegetables like asparagus. But this simple version takes just five minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven, during which you can walk away from the kitchen and socialize with holiday guests. Its low-maintenance assembly makes it a great menu addition if you're the one hosting Easter dinner this year.

For an easy one-pan meal, McGlinn recommends tossing some diced potatoes and a protein alongside the asparagus on a single baking sheet and roasting them all together. You could try that suggestion with quartered Yukon golds and sliced bits of your pre-cooked Easter ham.

Recipe: Simple Roasted Asparagus

Sometimes, the month of April looks closer to the dead of winter than cheerful springtime. Easter is associated with pastels and blooming flowers, but when the holiday rolls around, the natural landscape can paint a much different picture. That's where this bright winter salad comes in. Liven things up with citrusy grapefruit and roasted fennel. Briny olives add a dimension of savory umami, and the whole thing only takes about a half hour to throw together.

Recipe: Spinach Salad with Roasted Fennel and Grapefruit

Many foodies might argue that it wouldn't feel like a holiday dinner without a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes in the center of the table. We hear you. We see you. We understand. Julia Child made hers with a whopping 30 cloves of garlic. This version by plant-based recipe developer Miriam Hahn doesn't use quite that much, but it's still sure to keep garlic fans pleased at the Easter dinner table.

This mash keeps the potato skins on, which not only adds an interesting textural element but also saves a considerable amount of time — crucial when you're prepping a big holiday meal. Hahn recommends buying organic red potatoes to make sure the skin is pesticide-free and nourishing to eat. This recipe already calls for soy milk, so you could take it a step further and swap out the butter and sour cream for non-dairy ingredients to make a vegan side dish.

Recipe: Creamy Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

If you're looking for a budget-friendly menu item to showcase on your Easter dinner table, try this creamy corn pudding. It's a super economical and hearty side dish that is sure to please. The main ingredients are: corn (frozen or fresh), butter, milk, eggs, two types of cheese, green onions, and cornmeal.

What makes this recipe unique is the ricotta cheese, which adds extra creaminess. Toss in shredded cheddar and it becomes a two-cheese knockout. Hit those kernels with a simple sauté, coat them in the creamy sauce, then bake the whole thing in a casserole dish in the oven — that's it. You can please picky eaters and get a vegetable on the table — all without breaking the bank.

Recipe: Creamy Corn Pudding

This almondine presents an elevated take on a traditional classic. Slivered almonds lend slightly sweet nuttiness and crunch, and salty Parmesan takes the dish's flavor profile up another notch. Other than these ingredients and the green beans, this recipe only requires items that you probably already have lying around your kitchen: lemon juice, salt, pepper, and butter. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes from start to finish.

Recipe: Fresh Green Bean Almondine

Potatoes are the rockstar of the dinner table for a reason. On holidays and busy weeknights alike, they're an affordable, filling, and simple ingredient that even novice home cooks can turn into something impressive and delicious. Thanks to the versatility of the spud, it can be the base for a wide variety of side dishes. In this roundup, we've already seen 'em mashed, roasted, and twice-baked. Now, it's time to serve 'em extra crispy.

Hahn recommends using multi-colored fingerling potatoes for an aesthetically pleasing result. Finish off the dish with a garnish of fresh herbs, such as watercress, parsley, thyme, or rosemary.

Recipe: Extra-Crispy Fingerling Potatoes

Name a more visually stunning vegetable to serve than artichokes — we'll wait. For an Easter meal that will leave your in-laws talking, whip out this elaborate-looking side dish that's surprisingly uncomplicated to make. As Hahn notes, eating a stuffed artichoke is an exercise in patience, fine motor skills, and prolonged enjoyment. Each tender leaf must be carefully pulled from the husk, sucked clean, and savored. There's no "horking it down" when it comes to artichokes.

If you're looking for a recipe that will help facilitate a little more dinner conversation, these Parmesan-stuffed artichokes might be the tool for the job.

Recipe: Parmesan-Stuffed Artichokes

"What exactly are 'ramps and herbs?'" you might be asking. Indeed, they're a little less common in the grocery store produce aisle than lettuce or carrots. If you've never worked with them before, ramps are a type of wild onion with a naturally garlicky flavor. They only grow during the early spring months, making them a rare seasonal delicacy (and perfect for Easter).

This Nordic-inspired salad from Katrín Björk features an unexpected combination of ramps, sugar snap peas, and lovage (a strong-tasting herb in the parsley family). Fresh tarragon, dill, and sage flowers add herbal flair, emphasized by a simple dressing made with olive oil and cured egg yolk (or grated Parmesan). It's minimal yet flavorful, and it'll be ready to eat in just five minutes.

Recipe: Simple Spring Salad with Ramps and Herbs

Picture this: You join your family's Easter gathering carrying a basket. There's a decadently draped linen dish towel covering what's inside. No one can see what you've brought, but its sweet aroma fills the kitchen immediately. "My! What did you make?" asks Grandma. She gently lifts the towel and lets out a little gasp. You've brought homemade dinner rolls — and they're still warm.

Admittedly, these rolls do require nearly two hours of prep time to make, so they're not a great choice for last-minute home cooks to throw together in a hurry. But we think you'll find that the preparation is very much worth the extra effort. And the use of whole wheat flour results in a charming golden-brown hue.

It's also easy to convert the recipe into a vegan-friendly one. When making the dough, you can use any type of milk or dairy-free option, and swap out the butter for a plant-based alternative. Additionally, if you stay away from honey as part of a vegan diet, you can substitute it with pure maple syrup here.

Recipe: Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Give it up for potatoes (again). It's starting to look like the humble spud is the hero of the Easter dinner table, and we aren't mad about it one bit. These decadent, rich scalloped potatoes are made with both Parmesan and cheddar cheeses, and they're vegetarian-friendly (if you cook them in vegetable stock). If you prefer the flavor of beef or chicken stock instead, either one can work nicely as well.

This dish takes just 15 minutes to assemble, and then it's baked for nearly two hours. It's an ideal side dish if you want to get out of the kitchen and mingle with guests (while your house fills with amazing smells).

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes

In the food world, "burnt" can sometimes be a good thing. The word might conjure up warlike flashbacks to failed sauces or sad-looking cookie sheets that are impossible to scrape clean. But don't get it twisted. "Burnt" can also describe the perfect s'mores marshmallow — or these showstopping carrots with brie.

For this recipe from Chef Tim Love of Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, fresh carrots are cut up, given a deep char, and tossed with a simple yet delicious glaze comprised of Brie, honey, lemon juice, and red pepper falkes. The result is a full kaleidoscope of the gastronomic flavor spectrum: sweet, smoky, spicy, tart, and cheesy. (Your family's Easter dinner table never looked so intriguing.)

Recipe: Burnt Carrots with Brie

"Fix it and forget it" is the name of the game here. Recipe developer Hayley MacLean swears by the slow cooker as the ultimate mac-and-cheese-making method. You can dump all the ingredients into a single pot, which minimizes dishes and reduces prep time.

Plus, once everything is harmoniously intermingling in the slow cooker, you can walk away and let the appliance do all the work for you. That means no frequent checking, no constant stirring, and no hovering over a steaming stovetop. A spice blend (mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and an optional dash of cayenne) amps up the mac's mild flavor and does all the heavy lifting.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac And Cheese

This isn't your average cornbread baked in a casserole dish. This old-fashioned hot water version is shaped into patties that are fried to a golden-brown crisp on the outside, while staying soft and moist on the inside. As an added bonus, this cornbread only requires pantry staples (cornmeal, sugar, salt, and cooking oil) — making it a low-cost recipe for entry-level bakers. Hahn recommends slathering the patties in butter and honey.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Hot Water Cornbread

"Fondant" as in the cake icing? Rest assured: We aren't getting sugar anywhere near these French-style potatoes, which get their name from the phrase "pommes fondant" (aka "melting potato"). "Fancy potatoes" might seem like an oxymoron, but this gourmet recipe makes the seeming improbability a delicious reality. Raw russet potatoes are carved into stout barrel shapes, then roasted in a skillet with chicken stock and fresh herbs. The result is a tender, flavorful side dish that's sure to leave a lasting impression. For the best turnout, prepare these fondant potatoes right before you plan to serve them.

Recipe: Easy Fondant Potatoes

Simple dishes can sometimes be the most difficult to get right. Luckily, home cooks have tried-and-true recipes like this one. This cast iron pan-fried asparagus lets its flavors speak for themselves. The naturally earthy and slightly bittersweet taste of the vegetable shines when complemented by lemon and garlic. This side dish's uncomplicated flavor profile makes it a chameleon, pairing perfectly with pretty much any entrée and any side on your Easter dinner table.

Recipe: Cast Iron Pan-Fried Asparagus

Whether Easter falls on a rainy day or a cloudless afternoon for you, this grilled corn on the cob is sure to bring a taste of sun to the table. Sweet corn is hit with a smoky char, then coated in savory garlic butter. This recipe is a great excuse to fire up the grill if you've been eager to start cooking outside this season — or if you could use a few minutes to step away from the party inside.

Recipe: Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob and Garlic Butter

These smashed spuds feature exteriors baked to a golden-brown crisp and creamy insides. To make them, you have to physically flatten down the parboiled tubers with the bottom of a glass cup — a genuinely satisfying task. From there, the potatoes get baked in the oven. Afterward, you're free to dunk 'em in your favorite dipping sauce. Garlic aioli, ranch, blue cheese dressing, a quick béchamel, or any other creamy sauce would function well here.

Recipe: Crispy-Edged Smashed Potatoes

After assembling an elaborate Easter dinner, you might find yourself with some leftover ingredients — a cup of milk, a few different types of cheeses grated to the nub, miscellaneous crackers or breadcrumbs, and a tablespoon or two of butter. This comforting mac and cheese is a great way to put those odds and ends to good use. This recipe keeps it simple: macaroni, cheese, milk, flour, butter, and crackers for a crunchy topping. Recipe developer Christina Musgrave recommends opting for an extra buttery cracker such as Ritz because the butter will keep those crackers from drying out too much in the oven. Skip the saltines here.

Recipe: Simple Mac and Cheese (With Crunchy Topping)

Another killer way to serve veggies this holiday — introducing: copper penny carrots, no actual pennies required. The dish features carrots that are soaked in a combination of tomato soup, vegetable oil, white vinegar, and sugar. According to Shungu, this recipe has been around since at least the 1970s, and it's likely graced an Easter dinner table or two since then. Shungu's own mother reaches for this recipe on holidays. 

Accompany those delicious carbs and meats with an equally flavorful vegetable side dish. Plus, copper penny carrots add a pop of warm orange color to your spring feast and take less than 30 minutes to whip up.

Recipe: Copper Penny Carrots

Rolls are a pretty universal crowd-pleaser for a reason — they're comforting and delicious. But they can also become a little too predictable; you know what you're getting when you bite into one... unless it's a stuffed Parker House roll, that is. This variation contains a surprise filling: Chinese sausage, a sweet and salty sausage usually made from pork. The special ingredient adds a savory kick (and a little more substance) to your classic golden rolls. This dinner accompaniment is sure to leave Easter guests talking until the next gathering.

Recipe: Stuffed Parker House Rolls

These roasted potatoes are seasoned with a Greek-inspired spice blend including lemon, oregano, thyme, basil, cinnamon, and garlic. Dip the wedges in garlic aioli, ketchup, mayo, remoulade sauce, au jus, or whatever your palate prefers. This side pairs well with heartier entrées like an Easter ham or meatloaf. It's also fine to reheat and enjoy later on — a major bonus for those indulging in holiday leftovers all week long.

Recipe: Lemony Roasted Potatoes

Gratins are satisfyingly warm and filling, but with cauliflower as the star ingredient, this version is also incredibly nutritious. The veggie is coated in a thick cheese sauce (opt for a slightly funky variety like Gruyère, Swiss, or gouda), which turns brown and bubbly in the oven. Musgrave recommends plating this cauliflower au gratin alongside pot roast or beef short ribs. The cheesy side dish is flavorful yet mild, meaning it'll complement any entrée on your Easter dinner table. What's more, if you and your guests don't finish it all, it will keep for up to four days in the fridge.

Recipe: Cauliflower Au Gratin

If you made the grilled corn on the cob with garlic butter we mentioned earlier, keep that grill hot. Now, we're grilling artichokes... and lemons. Seems like an odd combo? As recipe developer Sher Castellano explains, "the char on the leaves gives an earthy flavor [to the artichokes, and]... the char on the lemon gives it the perfect amount of sweet and acid."

Hitting the halved lemons with a quick grill caramelizes their natural sugars, adding a sweet depth to their characteristic sourness. This flavor profile marries well with the artichokes when the charred citrus is squeezed on top of them, resulting in a vegetable side that's complex to the palate and ready to please Easter guests.

Recipe: Grilled Artichokes

Get into the springtime spirit with these bright, fresh green beans. They're a super simple side, cooked in a savory garlic sauce and brightened with lemon — and they only take 15 minutes to make from start to finish. Quick, relatively low-maintenance recipes like this one free up your time and energy to focus on spending quality time with relatives you might not get to see as often.

Recipe: Lemon Garlic Green Beans

Don't freak out: Funeral potatoes aren't only for funerals. This comforting, filling, and economical dish is as easy to make as it is to enjoy. For starters, it demands an inexpensive shopping list: potatoes (or frozen hash browns), cream of chicken soup, shredded cheese, sour cream, butter, and corn flakes. No fancy cooking technique or close monitoring is required either.

All of the ingredients — except for the corn flakes — are mixed together and placed into a casserole dish. The cereal is crushed into small pieces and then combined with some melted butter to create a crispy layer that's spooned on top of the potatoes. After 40 minutes in the oven, the simple composition metamorphoses into a stick-to-your-ribs dish straight out of your comfort food dreams. In fact, calling funeral potatoes a "side dish" at all honestly feels a little weird. It can keep a belly full all day long and satisfies even the pickiest of eaters at the Easter dinner table.

Recipe: Cheesy Funeral Potatoes