Whether you are hosting a big Easter dinner or you are bringing a dish to share, I want to help give you ideas for the big day! Holidays can be overwhelming even without involving food. Add on being the hostess or being asked to bring a specific dish (especially one you’ve never made before) and stress levels skyrocket! I want to give you some simple, tried and true recipes that are nearly foolproof. I want food to be the least of your worries on Easter morning so you can focus on the more important things like worshipping at church, finding good hiding spots for the Easter eggs, and visiting with family and friends! My qualifications for a good recipe are 1) it must be easy to prepare and 2) it must be DELICIOUS! The following 13 recipes should give you plenty of ideas for dazzling your family and friends.
Appetizers
Chunky Restaurant-Style Guacamole
Ok, so I’m from California and guacamole goes with virtually everything. I guarantee that if you leave this out with a bowl of chips, it will be gone in 6 and a half minutes.
Homemade Cilantro-Lime Salsa
This too is a beauty of a recipe because you throw everything into the food processor, blend it, and Viola! Most assuredly someone will ask you which restaurant you brought it from and you can proudly exclaim. “I made it myself!”
Reduced Calorie Spinach Artichoke Dip
No one will guess that this dip has a third less calories. I make it with light sour cream, light cream cheese, and light mayo and no one can tell the difference! Serve it with sourdough bread, pita chips, bagel bites, wheat crackers, or even tortilla chips.
I love this recipe when guests come over because it sits in the Crockpot all day and makes the house smell amazing! I leave the Crockpot on warm and set out some toothpicks and POOF! The meatballs are gone!
The Main Course
Coca-Cola Glazed Holiday Ham
This ham may look like it took 5 hours to make, but really it is quite simple. The diamond pattern is made with simple knife cuts and whole cloves plunged in the center. The Coca-Cola glaze is made stovetop and brushed on every 20 minutes. It is a stunning centerpiece for your Easter table!
Side Dishes
This is an irresistible side dish great for vegetarians and kids! It is also very easy to travel with since it is served in a typical 13×9 casserole dish. It can be made a day before the party and kept in the fridge until it needs to bake for 50 minutes.
Shredded Hashbrown Cheesy Potatoes
I make these on every holiday, birthday, celebration, or just because! Cheesy potatoes are a classic that will NEVER go out of style! These would be particularly good for Easter brunch. I make them a day ahead so the flavors have a chance to meld and to make my meal planning a bit easier. Take them to a friend’s house already made or bake them there at 350 for an hour.
Apple Blue Cheese Salad
Traditionally, apple and pork pair really well together. If you are making a ham for Easter dinner, I would BEG you to make this salad to go with it! I really love salad, all kinds of salad, but I think this one may top my list! Store your lettuce and dressing separately and toss it altogether with the blue cheese when dinner is served. I’m all about less headache and more fun!
Vegetables
Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Do you have 10 minutes? Then you can make these brussel sprouts! The rich, nutty flavor perfectly compliments a ham or roast beef. I don’t recommend making these ahead and traveling with them unless your drive is under 10 minutes. They are served best straight out of the oven. But if the hostess doesn’t mind, you could easily bake these at her house if she’ll let you borrow a knife and cookie sheet!
This is a great salad to serve if you are trying to keep things on the healthier side. The horseradish is mild but adds just the right amount of kick. The other great thing about this slaw is that the longer it sits, the better it gets! Make it in the morning and serve it in the afternoon. It’s perfect to travel with and adds a nice bit of crunch to the Easter table.
Desserts
This is a traditional carrot cake recipe that I took the liberty of changing into cupcakes. I’m so glad I did because they were a cinch to serve! They also helped with portion control, though I may or may not have helped myself to more than one…or two. But if you have your heart set on a cake, just use the same recipe and pull out the 9″ cake pans!
These are a kid favorite! Be careful not to leave too many out at once or they’ll be gone! If you have been invited to a friend’s house and asked to bring dessert, I would recommend these. No baking is required and they’re really budget friendly for a large group. You can add M&Ms of any color and size to dazzle your guests. They are also beautiful wrapped in cellophane and stuffed in an Easter basket.
There are only 4 steps to this refreshing cake! The pistachio pudding in both the cake and frosting gives the cake a tint of green, perfect for a spring dessert. The pistachios also give a nice crunch to the velvety smooth pudding. This is the perfect light dessert after a heavier holiday meal.
Well folks, that’s a wrap! I think I’ve got you prepped and prepared for Easter Sunday! My husband and I and our three little munchkins wish you a Happy Easter, or as we say in our house, Resurrection Sunday! May you be blessed on this joyous holiday!
