Easter is coming! This time of year usually means at least one big meal with friends or family, and while it's fun it can also be overwhelming. What if you stepped outside the box a little bit this year, and did something special but non-traditional? I've collected a few Easter menu ideas and recipes that will impress a crowd but won't take all the work of a classic dinner. This means you will have more time for crafts, Easter egg hunts, and just visiting and being together too. Hopefully one of these fun family meal ideas strikes a chord with you!
Main Meal and Dessert Combo Ideas
Maybe you're not hosting the main event for Easter, but you're still entertaining some family members in between. Or maybe your Easter is small this year, and you don't want to cook a giant meal with all the fancy Easter side dishes for just your family. Whatever the reason that you are feeling non-traditional this season, I've got some easy to prepare Easter menu ideas that include main dish and dessert combos that still feel special and fun. You don't need a roast or a ham to make your dinner memorable this Easter, and I can show you why!
Tacos and Ice Cream Combo:
Easy Tacos 5 Ways
Tacos are such a fun way to serve a crowd! There are so many variations, and they can be served family-style for a really easy Easter menu idea. Another bonus is that kids usually love them, so they are perfect for everyone in your group. I'm sharing 5 different taco ideas, from grilled steak to fish to traditional ground beef, and more! Serve them all with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, salsa, and cheese, or whatever else your family likes. Make one or more of these recipes for a casual yet special dinner time with family.
Strawberry Cheesecake No Churn Ice Cream
For an easy holiday dessert to follow your tacos, try this Strawberry Cheesecake No Churn Ice Cream! You can actually make this in any flavor you want, but who doesn't love strawberries and cream cheese? The base of this simple yet delicious treat is whipped cream and condensed milk, and you can take it from there. All you do is mix it in the morning and put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then it's ready to serve, so there's no messing around with your oven at dinner time when you're trying to visit and get the rest of your meal on the table!
Chicken Pot Pie and No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake Trifle Combo:
Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
I love this easy comfort food dish. You could pair it with a salad, but it's actually a complete meal all on its own! Sometimes you want something cozy to feed your Easter crowd, and this would be perfect. Pot pies can be tedious to make, but this one is a lot quicker because I use frozen veggies and a pre-made pie crust. You could also use fresh carrots, peas, green beans and onions, and a homemade pie crust like this one - it's totally up to you. Make a couple of these depending on the size of your group, and watch everyone tuck in!
No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake Trifle for Easter Dessert
Here's another easy no-bake dessert that is perfect for an Easter crowd! This No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake Trifle is fresh and delicious and only requires a few ingredients. You can whip it up quickly, and it has a light, lemony flavour that's perfect for spring time. It is the perfect follow-up to your chicken pot pie!
Chicken with Roasted Vegetables and Saskatoon Lemon Cheesecake Combo:
Parmesan & Panko Crusted Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
I love this main-dish meal so much! It's an easy twist on traditional roast chicken. Juicy, tender, breaded chicken breasts and bite-sized roasted vegetables done up together in the oven means a super yummy yet easy Easter meal. This recipe gets most of its flavor from the chicken and veggies themselves, and calls for only simple herbs and salt & pepper for seasonings, so you know it's quick and easy. Throw a little garlic in too if you like! You can roast any vegetables you want: asparagus is a favorite here, and so are sweet potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. Whatever veggies you decide on, this is a definite crowd-pleaser. And feel free to check out the other two recipes included in this post, and see if anything there gives you Easter menu ideas too!
Easy Saskatoon Lemon Cheesecake Jars
Do you have some Saskatoon berries left over in the freezer from last summer? Then I have the perfect Easter dessert idea for you! These individual no-bake cheesecake jars are so simple and delicious, and who doesn't like dessert in a jar? The addition of lemon to these little Saskatoon cheesecake jars was my mom's idea. She always likes to add a bit of tartness to desserts made with Saskatoons, and she suggested adding lemon to these. I'm so glad I listened - the flavor combo is absolutely heavenly!
Tropical Chicken Skewers and Easy Very Berry Pie Combo:
Tropical Chicken Skewers with Easy Coconut Minute Rice
Since this post is all about special yet non-traditional Easter menu ideas, let's go right outside the box with these Tropical Chicken Skewers with Easy Coconut Minute Rice! These skewers are a fun and easy way to serve chicken and veggies, and since they can be prepped ahead of time, they are perfect for a crowd. To make this meal extra fast, I use pre-made teriyaki sauce and Basmati Minute Rice. The rice only takes 10 minutes to cook and it's delicious! I use red bell peppers and pineapple chunks to alternate with the chicken on the skewers, and I think your family will enjoy this meal as much as we do!
Easy Very Berry Pie
A fresh mixed berry pie is the perfect spring or Easter dessert. Over the years, I've learned many tricks to making a delicious pie and today I'm sharing all of them with you. Your guests will be wowed by your flaky pastry and delicious berry filling, and you don't need to tell them how easy it was!
Easter Brunch Ideas
Brunch and Easter just seem to go together, don't they? There's nothing nicer than celebrating the long weekend with a lazy morning and a delicious meal to follow. I've collected some of my very favorite Easter brunch menu ideas that would be perfect either for just your own family, or for hosting a group as well. All of these recipes are easy, festive, and memorable.
The Best Cinnamon Buns Ever
Carrot cake may be the quintessential Easter dessert, but who doesn't love a cinnamon bun? These rich, gooey cinnamon buns are the best I've ever made! They are very similar to the ones you might find at the mall, they're moist and delicious, and sweetened with dark brown sugar. Enjoy this "clone of a Cinnabon" recipe! Serve them with some fresh fruit and cheese and you've got a full Easter feast for your brunch guests.
Make Easy Waffles Eggs Benedict
I have an Easy Waffles Eggs Benedict recipe (Hint: I totally cheat!) for an elegant brunch idea for your Easter celebration! Waffles are an easy (and filling) twist on this classic recipe, and you can find my favourite waffle recipe right here. I make the waffles first and put them in the oven on the "warm" setting while I prepare the rest of the eggs Benedict. Served with bacon and fresh fruit on a nicely set table with a gorgeous floral centerpiece, it doesn't get much fancier than this!
Strawberry & Lavender Scones
These strawberry & lavender scones are decadent, delicious, and perfect for a fancy Easter brunch. Full of fresh strawberries and finished with a lavender glaze, your guests will be absolutely wowed! Serve them with extra strawberries on the side or fruit of your choice, and add bacon or sausage to make it a full and filling meal. You can even make them the night before to make this Easter extra easy.
The Best Waffle Recipe Ever
Waffles really are the best brunch meal, in my opinion. They are easy and delicious, and you can go sweet or savory with them depending on your tastes! I have tried many waffle recipes and I think this one is the best you will find. These waffles are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and they have a slightly sweet and deliciously buttery taste. Your guests will love them!
DIY Waffle Bar
One of the best Easter dinner ideas around is a buffet style setup, which makes feeding a crowd really easy. This idea absolutely applies to brunch too! I use my favourite waffle recipe as a base for this waffle bar buffet. For our toppings, I prepared some that are sweet and some that are savory. For sweet toppings, I put out some sliced strawberries, sweetened blackberries, Nutella, butter, and sprinkles in little bowls. On the savory side, I make some bacon, scrambled eggs, and my cheater's Hollandaise sauce. I finish the spread off with some syrup and whipped cream. Set this up on your sideboard and let your guests choose their own toppings for a fun and easy Easter gathering!
There you have it! I hope I have convinced you that you don't need a roast turkey and mashed potatoes to make your Easter special for your people. Any of these simple Easter dinner menus will make for a perfect celebration!
Happy Easter everyone! Tag me @thediymommy with your non-traditional Easter menu ideas, I would love to see which recipes you choose.
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