Easter is all about tradition, but tradition doesn't have to equate to strenuous or the same-old dishes. Instead, incorporate tradition through the meals you make and the people you're with. These recipes — some quick, some make-ahead — cover a range of courses from brunch to lunch to the main event. Spend more time celebrating with the ones you love and less time fussing.
Sticky Rosemary Balsamic Easter Ham
Baked ham is classic Easter fare, and perfect for serving a crowd; it's just as delicious hot as it is at room temperature, is easy to plunk on a buffet table, and is as well suited to brunch as it is to a fancy dinner. Get the recipe: Sticky Rosemary Balsamic Easter Ham
Poached Egg On Maple Roasted Squash With Hollandaise
Take your brunch game up a notch wth a smear of maple-roasted butternut squash, a poached egg and a healthy dollop of hollandaise sauce. Yep, you've won this round. Get the recipe: Poached Egg on Maple Roasted Squash with Hollandaise
Sesame Challah Monkey Bread
Balls of (not overly sweet) challah are rolled in butter, cinnamon sugar, and a very lightly toasted sesame mix before getting packed into a Bundt pan so it develops a deeply sweet caramelized shell as it bakes. Once the teamwork is done, everyone can sit around the table and pull it apart with their fingers. A solid prize. Get the recipe: Sesame Challah Monkey Bread
Dry-Brined Turkey
Dry-brining is much less complicated than wet-brining since you don’t need a vessel in which to submerge a turkey and keep it cold. It’s turkey magic. This roast also looks spectacular, making it the centrepiece of your table. Get the recipe: Dry-Brined Turkey
Hot Cross Buns
Making your own hot cross buns is no sweat. Round up the littles and conquer this baking project together. Get the recipe: Hot Cross Buns
Slow Salmon With Citrus And Herb Salad
Slowly roasting an already fatty fish in even more luxurious fat (here, olive oil) makes it nearly impossible to overcook; plus, you can flavour that oil with whatever you fancy: spices, herbs, citrus, chiles, which will flavour the salmon, which is why you’re here. Get the recipe: Slow Salmon With Citrus And Herb Salad
Creamy Harissa Lamb Meatballs
If you love lamb, then you know how long a leg of lamb takes a long time to roast, and that a rack of lamb just feels a little too fancy for family dinner. But with these lamb meatballs, a delicious dinner is in reach any day of the week. If lamb isn’t your thing, substitute ground turkey, chicken, or pork. Get the recipe: Creamy Harissa Lamb Meatballs
Lemony Lavender Buttermilk Cake
This is a no-fuss, big-taste cake. Make it for a snack, dessert or serve it for brunch. Get the recipe: Lemony Lavender Buttermilk Cake
Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
Not much makes a mom happier than seeing her kid eating vegetables. This recipe is delicious, making the eggplant, zucchini and peppers go down nice and easy. Get the recipe: Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
Deviled Eggs
It's Easter, let there be eggs! But deviled eggs have so much potential beyond the usual mayo and sprinkle of paprika; try dressing them up with any number of ingredients – or use your imagination. Get the recipe: Deviled Eggs
Creamy Cauliflower and Onion Gratin with Sesame Bread Crumbs
Potatoes are out (only temporarily) and cauliflower is in. This gratin smothers thick slabs of the tender veg in a creamy sauce and lots of cheese. The bread crumb studding is optional, but a highly delicious addition. Get the recipe: Creamy Cauliflower and Onion Gratin with Sesame Bread Crumbs
Baked French Toast Casserole with Streusel
Here's a make-ahead dish with all the tasty flavours of French toast. If you want to take this to the next level, grab some whipped cream and maple syrup. Get the recipe: Baked French Toast Casserole with Streusel
Warm Greek Chicken Salad
Greek salad is a lot of things. Crisp romaine, briny feta, bursting tomatoes and salty bites of olive with crunchy onion in a lemony dressing, for starters. Forget how you’re used to Greek salad and try moving it to the sheet pan with this easy chicken adaption that the whole family will love. Imagine these goods swaddled up in a fluffy pita? We almost can't even handle it. Get the recipe: Warm Greek Chicken Salad
Eggplant Parmesan
The true way to make eggplant Parmesan, according to those with grandmother's from the Old Country, is to use Pecorino Romano cheese—Parmesan’s sheepier, saltier cousin. Mozzarella is traditionally forbidden, but, because mozzarella cheese is so stretchy and excellent, this recipe includes it in two forms. Get the recipe: Eggplant Parmesan
Salted Caramel Buns
There is something so incredibly decadent about the union of sweet and salty. In this recipe, it is best to use a coarse sea salt. The visual effect is nearly as wonderful as the tasting experience. Get the recipe: Salted Caramel Buns
Strawberry Shortcake
A sheet pan dessert? Yes, follow along. Shortcakes live up to their name, but this simple one-pan strawberry shortcake recipe really takes the cake for being squat. It’s not a difficult recipe but takes a bit of time to prepare. The results — bright, in-season strawbs, thick, rich whipped cream and Thai basil — make it well worth it, though. Get the recipe: Strawberry Shortcake
Frozen Lime Cheesecake Pie
Limes lend themselves very well as a tasty green, spring-themed dessert. Besides, who can resist a piece of this silky pie? Get the recipe: Frozen Lime Cheesecake Pie
Originally published in 2023. Updated March 2024.
