Published: by Jessica Fisher
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Looking for budget ideas for your Easter dinner menu? We’ve got you covered with easy and delicious Easter dinner menu options that taste great, come together easily, and most importantly, won’t break the bank.
As the Easter holiday approaches, it’s time to start thinking about some fresh new Easter dinner ideas. Be sure to include Easter Bunny Cinnamon Rolls and Slow Cooker Ham in your Easter dinner menu.
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Jump to:
- Budget Tips
- Looking for Non-Traditional Easter Dinner Ideas?
- FAQs
- Recommended Recipes
- Done-for-you Easter Planning
Whether you’re planning a big dinner, bringing a dish to a potluck, or contributing to a family supper at someone else’s house, it always fun to have a new-to-you Easter Dinner recipe, particularly some budget-friendly ones.
There are so many seasonal springingredientsfrom which to draw inspiration for a traditional Easter dinner or something new and out of the box dinner menu ideas. Whether you love a Honey Baked Ham from the shop or your gramma’s deviled eggs, we’ve got you covered for easy Easter recipes you can make at home for less.
Budget Tips
Overspending is never in season, no matter the holiday. Consider these tips to keep grocery spending in check as you plan your Easter dinner menu.
- Shop your pantry. Chances are, you’ve already got a lot of great food on hand in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. Do a look-see to determine what you already have that can serve as ideas for your Easter dinner menu. Perhaps you already have what you need for your glazed ham recipe, save the ham.
- Shop the sales. In the coming weeks, you’ll find lots of great ingredients on sale at the grocery store, especially in the produce and meat aisles. Look for great deals on that Easter ham as well asberries, asparagus, peas, and lamb. You may also find sales in the baking aisle, so keep your eyes peeled, and buildyour menu around what’s on sale. Don’t forget the Easter egg supplies!
- Plan simple, frugal meals. It’s a holiday, yes, but that doesn’t require you to go overboard. One idea for Easter dinner: Never spend more than you have, even for a special occasion. Instead, focus on the basics of your Easter dinner menu: a hearty protein that stretches well for many people, some simple side dishes, and a stellar Easter dessert. Or two.
- Invite others to contribute. Likewise, you don’t have to do all the cooking. If your guests offer to contribute, let them! It may be that they have a special holiday tradition that they’d like to include. The more the merrier — and less for you to buy and cook.
- Have a back-up meal plan. There will always be those times when your Easter dinner menu does not go according to plan. Hedge your bets andhave a backup meal plan in view.
FAQs
What is a traditional Easter dinner menu?
A traditional Easter dinner menu typically includes a ham or roast leg of lamb, with some potato side dish, a spring vegetable like peas or asparagus, dinner rolls, and carrot cake for dessert.
What are some creative ideas for Easter dinner?
You don’t have to go traditional, especially if you’re on a budget. Family favorites are always a hit, so why not take them up a notch for your Easter menu? Love pizza? Add some special toppings, some yummy beverages, and a few fun appetizers. Mexican food more your style? Why not? Do a little research into your favorite cuisine, Mexican or otherwise, and see what folks in that culture serve for Easter dinner. It doesn’t have to be exact; have fun with it. If burgers are what you have available, then live it up. Bakehomemade hamburger bunsor make some special sauces and side salads to elevate the meal just a tad.
What makes a good Easter dinner for a large family?
Cooking for a crowd doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on an easy main dish protein that can feed many, like turkey or ham. Then select two to three sides that can easily be made in advance. End the meal with one to two delicious desserts. Again, anything you can make ahead is to your advantage.
Recommended Recipes
Need some fresh ideas for easter dinner? Here are some of our tried and true budget Easter dinner menu ideas:
Easter Appetizers
Start your Easter dinner menu with some easy apps to stave off hunger while folks wait for the main course.
Easter Veggie Tray
Bring a touch of whimsy to your holiday table with this egg-shaped Easter Veggie Tray.
Learn More
How to Prepare Artichokes
Preparing artichokes can be an intimidating task, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you know a few simple techniques, you’ll be enjoying these green orbs in no time!
Learn More
Dipping Sauces for Artichokes
Artichoke season has arrived! Having some choice of sauces for artichokes, like this lemon butter makes the experience so fun and delicious!
Learn More
Jalapeño Artichoke Dip
Parmesan cheese, artichokes, and diced jalapeños combine in a hot and bubbly Jalapeno Artichoke Dip that is sure to please. Offer toasted baguette for a deliciously easy appetizer.
Learn More
Easy Vegetable Tray
Purchased vegetable trays are convenient, but they can be costly. Here’s all you need to create a super easy veggie tray and save money.
Learn More
Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dip
Enjoy dipping veggies, pizza, or chicken tender into this easy homemade ranch dip. It's delicious and made with all real food ingredients.
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Vegan Charcuterie Board
A Vegan Charcuterie Board featuring olives, pickles, vegetables, crackers, pretzels, and hummus is sure to please everyone at the table, even the meat eaters! It's a super festive way to snack plant-based.
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Spicy Candied Almonds Recipe
Whip up a batch of these spicy candied almonds to serve at your next get-together. They make a great addition to the appetizer table or the salad bowl.
Learn More
Easy, Affordable Relish Tray
A relish tray is a great dish to add to the appetizer or dinner table. It is super simple and totally affordable to make with select veggies, olives, and pickles.
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Garlic Brie Toasts Recipe
Make these Garlic Brie Toasts in just minutes with French baguettes brushed with a garlic-infused olive oil and topped with a slice of Brie cheese and broiled.
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Really Homemade Seven Layer Dip
This easy seven layer dip recipe is homemade – meaning less processed and more deliciousness! It’s the perfect appetizer for taco night as well as holiday get-togethers.
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Easter Main Dish Recipes
These easy main dish proteins shouldn’t cost a fortune to make and leftovers are delicious! Any one will be a show-stopping hit in your Easter dinner menu.
Slow Cooker Ham
Make a Slow Cooker Ham for your next holiday feast. It’s easy. It’s delicious. It’s a good cheap eat that will make you the hit of the party.
Check out this recipe
Easy Roast Turkey Breast Recipe
If you don’t want the hassle of cooking a whole turkey, opt for a smaller portion by roasting a turkey breast half instead.
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Chuck Roast Crock Pot Recipe
You can truly set it and forget it when you cook a pot roast in the slow cooker. A quick assembly in the morning allows you to enjoy a great dinner at night.
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Spicy Grilled Tri-tip
This spicy rub recipe for tri-tip and other cuts of beef is super easy to prepare. Rub the meat and throw it on the grill for a super supper.
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Easy Fish and Shrimp Packets
Take hobo dinners to a new level. Wrap chunks of fish and whole shrimp in foil with vegetables, herbs, and butter for a simple and succulent supper.
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Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Season budget-friendly pork tenderloin with Dijon mustard and spices for a quick and easy air fryer supper.
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Slow cooker pork loin with sherried mushroom gravy
An inexpensive cut of meat, pork loin transforms into a feast when braised in the slow cooker and topped with a sherried mushroom gravy.
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Baked Chicken and Vegetables
Baked Chicken and Vegetables is a quick fix dinner with big results. The crispy skin, tender meat, and succulent vegetables are amazingly delicious!
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Chicken and Wild Rice Bake
Dinner comes together quickly and easily with this one-dish dinner of chicken, vegetables, and rice. Your family will gobble down this Chicken and Wild Rice Bake.
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Easy Roast Chicken
Preparing a Roast Chicken at home doesn’t have to complicated or require fancy tools. Enjoy this traditional comfort food every week with this simple method.
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Baked Chicken
Baked chicken is one of the simplest, but one of the most comforting of meals. It’s also pretty economical when you buy bone-in chicken pieces.
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Sausage and Potatoes with Sour Cream Sauce
Make a quick fix dinner of sausages and potatoes topped with an herbed sour cream sauce. The recipe is super versatile, allowing you to mix up the herbs.
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Ham and Gruyere Quiche with Leeks
This quiche, rich with ham, Gruyere Cheese, and Leeks will make any breakfast, lunch, or dinner shine.
Learn More
Easter Sides
Round out your Easter dinner menu with some easy side dishes!
Easy RoastPotatoes
Want an easy potato side dish? This is it. Easy Roast Potatoes are a great accompaniment to cooked meats and vegetable dishes. Perfect for a holiday dinner.
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Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole
Need a comfy side dish? Make the Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole my kids go nuts for. It's very make-ahead and as easy to freeze.
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Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Thinly sliced potatoes nestle in a bath of cream, half and half, and butter, resulting in the Best Scalloped Potatoes that are also naturally gluten-free.
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Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
Also known as Church Potatoes, this Cheesy Potatoes Casserole is ultimate comfort food. It’s easy to prep, freezer-friendly, and absolutely addicting.
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Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes for the freezer is a great recipe to save time, money, and kitchen clean-up. Stir up a few batches for comfort food in the bank!
Learn More
Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Cheese
Stir up this quick and easy, old fashioned macaroni salad recipe in minutes. Studded with celery, red onion, and cheddar cheese, wrapped in a creamy mayo dressing, this pasta's packed with flavor and perfect for picnicking.
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Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe
Oven Roasted Asparagus comes together quickly and easily. Baked in foil packets, the tender shoots are infused with olive oil and lemon.
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Broccoli Cranberry Salad
This slightly sweet Broccoli Salad is full of texture, thanks to pecans, cranberries, and red onions. It makes a delicious side salad.
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Lemon Broccoli and Peas
Seasoning vegetables doesn’t have to be rocket science, but can be the difference between okay side dishes and fabulous feasts. With a combo of salt, lemon, olive oil, and just the right amount of heat, this Lemon Broccoli and Peas is out of this world.
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Air Fryer Asparagus
Air Fryer Asparagus comes together in just minutes and tastes amazing with a sprinkle of Everything Seasoning.
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Brussels Sprouts Salad
With a simple honey mustard dressing, this raw Brussels sprouts salad is loaded with pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and apples, the perfect combination of fall flavors. Best yet, it comes together in just ten minutes!
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Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots
A quicksautéof sprouts with bacon and shallots makes for a quick and flavorful side dish. Learn how to make Brussels sprouts good.
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Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
This Roasted Sweet Potato Salad is spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and coriander and dotted with dried fruit, roasted onion, and garlic, for a hearty salad packed with flavor.
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Carrot Salad with Cilantro and Pepitas
Shredded carrots get oomph from fresh cilantro, a simple dressing of orange juice and spices with pepitas adding some crunch.
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Spinach Salad with Oranges & Cranberries Recipe
Spinach Salad marinates in balsamic vinegar before being topped with orange slices, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds, resulting in a flavorful and sunshiny fresh salad.
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Easy Caesar Salad Recipe
Caesar Salad can be simple, quick, delicious, and economical if you know how to make the right tweaks. I’ll show you how in this easy Caesar Salad recipe.
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Easter Desserts
No Easter Dinner menu is complete without dessert and there are so many great Easter Desserts to choose from. Here are just a few of our faves!
Easter Oreos
You only need golden Oreos, chocolate candy melts, and blue candy melts to make these Easter Oreos representing the cross of Calvary.
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Jumbo Strawberry Cookies Recipe
Brighten someone's day with a batch of these buttery, oat-filled Strawberry Cookies. With their oaty, cake-like texture, they're a perfect sweet treat.
Learn More
Easy Fruit Salad
Fruit salad doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s an easy combination of strawberries, mangoes, and pineapple.
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Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe
Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie is not complicated to make, but it feels like a million dollars. It’s tart and sweet, buttery and creamy, a perfect pie to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy any day.
Learn More
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
This tender cake is studded with poppy seeds and lemon zest and then layered with lemon curd and homemade buttercream frosting.
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Easter Pretzels
These cute little Easter Pretzel feature a chocolate egg in a pretzel nest. They are so simple to make with just three ingredients!
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Ultimate Carrot Cake
Looking for the Ultimate Carrot Cake? This be it! Soft and tender cake is topped with light and fluffy cream cheese and sprinkled with chopped nuts for a super delicious treat.
Learn More
Jesus Cookies
Celebrate Easter with cookies that represent Jesus’ life and resurrection. These Cinnamon Sugar Cookies are super fun to make to celebrate the Easter holiday.
Easter Bunny Cinnamon Roll Recipe
Bake someone happy with these super cute Easter Bunny Cinnamon Rolls. All you need are canned rolls and biscuits as well as a few sprinkles and candy details.
Learn More
Make an Empty Tomb Cake for Easter
Decorating an empty tomb cake for Easter is a fun tradition for both kids and adults. Celebrate that He is risen in a very tangible way.
Brown Sugar Bars with Pepitas
Bake a batch of Brown Sugar Bars with Pepitas for a tasty dessert. With the texture of a sugar pie, these brown sugar cookie bars are delicious on their own with milk or served with ice cream.
Learn More
Jello 123 Layered Dessert Cups
This copycat of Jello 123 is easy to make with just three ingredients. It comes together easily and tastes delicious. Customize it to suit whatever color and flavor gelatin you prefer.
Learn More
Done-for-you Easter Planning
The Instant Easter Luncheon Kit includes everything you need to host a great lunch or dinner with family and friends.
Included you’ll find a complete Easter dinner menu with allergen and special diet adaptations, all the recipes needed, grocery list, party checklists, preparation timelines, printable buffet cards, family-friendly activities, and even tips for making it all in advance so you can enjoy the day!
Enjoy this Easter holiday with less work and more fun. Grab the printable file here: https://learn.goodcheapeats.com/product/instant-easter-luncheon-meal-plan/
Whether you use our Easter meal plan or devise one of your own, I’d love to hear what you end up making from these budget-friendly Easter recipes!
This post was originally published on April 6, 2019. It has been updated for content and clarity.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Melissa
What are your thoughts on day before preparation of the scalloped potatoes? Could I assemble the night before and PPP it in the oven after church on Sunday?
Reply
Jessica Fisher
I have done that and covered with foil and the top layer turned blackish. I’m not exactly sure why. You could peel and slice and put in cold water in the fridge. Assembly is really quick.
Reply
Courtney
Jessica, I’ve been thinking of you this week and hoping all is well. Take care!
Reply
Jessica Fisher
Thank you! Yes, the radiologist checked it all himself and all is well.
Reply
Courtney
That’s great – I’m glad you got good news!
Beth Werner Lee
I love making Greek Easter bread, which is similar to a challah but has flavoring. My mom used to dump a half bottle of anise into the dough. My Greek class ladies in Boston told me that wasn’t the real thing (they used something called mastich). My family likes it when I use almond flavoring instead (not a half bottle). It’s a sweet egg bread, braided. The recipe makes 6 loaves, so it’s good to give away too.
Reply
Jessica Fisher
Sounds yummy! Isn’t that the one that you place eggs atop?
Reply
Sandi
This sounds like Jessica, but is posted by “Janel Piersma” and I’m wondering who that is. Guest poster? Alter ego? 🙂
Reply
Jessica Fisher
Ha! Almost my alter ego. Janel is my sister and also my assistant. I wrote the post, but she set it up with the pictures and links to save me time.
Reply
