Our Favorite Easter Side Dish Recipes - MyRecipes (2024)

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

After a morning of hunting forcolored eggs, fill your Easter brunch, lunch, or dinner table with a variety ofside dishes that deliciously complementyour gloriousglazed ham or rack of lamb. It's time to take full advantage of the budding spring vegetables to brightly adorn your table, from vibrant green peas to stunning pink and purple radishes. This collection of our favoriteEasterside dishes consists oftraditional fare, along with a mix of fresh and new recipesthat are perfectfor anEaster feast.

Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche

Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche Recipe

Spread cheese to the edge of the warm, bacony grits "crust" to prevent any custard from seeping out while the quiche bakes.

Hot Chicken Deviled Eggs image

Hot Chicken Deviled Eggs Recipe

These Southern-inspired deviled eggs say summer fun like nothing else. A picnic-perfect use for leftover fried chicken, these tasty bites are spicy, but not burn-your-mouth spicy. Feel free to increase or decrease the cayenne pepper depending on how much of a kick you like. A sweetness from the chopped pickles, tang from the vinegar and hot sauce, and salty-savory deliciousness from the fried chicken make for a perfectly balanced chicken + eggs-perience.

Steak and Deviled Eggs image

Steak and Deviled Eggs Recipe

Deviled eggs are made even more savory with the addition of our garlicky, rich Perfect Roasted Beef Tenderloin. Old school crispy shoestring potatoes add texture and flavor like no other ingredient can. These deviled eggs are the perfect way to use the leftover "end" of the beef tenderloin and pair well with any Super Bowl food.

Coconut-Ginger Sweet Potato Brulee

Coconut-Ginger Sweet Potato Brûlée Recipe

cl-Green Goddess Deviled Eggs

Green Goddess Deviled Eggs Recipe

Rum and Honey-Roasted Cayenne-Cumin Carrots

Rum and Honey-Roasted Cayenne-Cumin Carrots Recipe

Spring Pea Shoot Salad with Beets and Dulse Vinaigrette

Spring Pea Shoot Salad with Beets and Dulse Vinaigrette Recipe

Photographer Greg Dupree, Food Styling Catherine Steele, Prop Styling Kay Clar

Toasted Couscous and Tomato Salad Recipe

Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs

Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs Recipe

Our one-pot primavera brings together seasonal favorites: fresh herbs, crunchy sugar snap peas, and sweet peas. Combining ricotta cheese with the salty water left over from boiling the pasta makes a super-easy, creamy sauce.

Minty Pea Soup with Parmesan Croutons

Minty Pea Soup with Parmesan Croutons Recipe

This bright and fresh spring soup has all of the elements of amazing flavor, topped of course with the crispy crunch of some cheesycroutons.

Ham Cured Pineapple with Prosciutto and Pomegranate image

Ham Cured Pineapple with Prosciutto and Pomegranate Recipe

Most peopleadorn theirholiday ham with pineapple. This year, flip the script and "hamify"a whole pineapple. The result isa "wow" worthy holiday centerpiece that resembles a modern version of the classic ham, pineapple, and maraschino cherry combination. The glaze, pomegranate, prosciutto, and charred pineapple hit every flavor note in the book. Carve the pineapple like, well... a ham.

Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes

Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Cheesy, smoky, and savory—all of our favorite flavors come to play in Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes.

Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Gently stirring twice while baking promotes even cooking and creaminess to this hearty scalloped potato recipe. Pull out of the oven, stir once more, then sprinkle with cheese, and continue baking without stirring for a casserole that's golden brown on top. For a scalloped potato recipe that doesn't require a ton of hands-on time or a plethora of ingredients, this delicious dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Sweet Potato and Gouda Gratin

Sweet Potato and Gouda Gratin Recipe

Our favorite new side dish (or vegetarian main, if made with vegetable broth) is a colorful version of scalloped potatoes. For richest flavor and color, look for deep-orange-fleshed sweet potatoes with skin that's burnt orange to dark red. A food processor's shredding disc and 2-mm. slicing blade make quick work of the cheese, sweet potatoes, and shallot.

Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes

Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes Recipe

This Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes recipe is a quick and easy side dish for a warm spring or summer night.

Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine Recipe

This breakfast option is fluffy, salty, cheesy, and will make you think you are in France. Using a gluten-free pie shell will also yield outstanding results. Serve this for breakfast or for brunch with a mixed greens salad.

Spinach and Feta Quiche with Quinoa Crust

Spinach and Feta Quiche with Quinoa Crust Recipe

Cheesy quiche partners beautifully with a bright, citrusy salad. Whisk together 2 tablespoons canola oil, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a large bowl. Add 3 cups baby kale, 3/4 cup grapefruit sections, and 1/4 cup sliced red onion; toss to coat.

ck- Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese

Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese Recipe

mr-mac-and-cheese-squash-image

Mac and Cheese with Squash Recipe

Zucchini and Goat Cheese Quiche (Quiche de Courgettes au Chèvre)

Zucchini and Goat Cheese Quiche (Quiche de Courgettes au Chèvre) Recipe

This dish is a bit of a project, but once you have the pastry rolled and pressed into the tart pan, most of the work is done, and you can do that well in advance. Keep the dough in the freezer, ready to bake when you need it. (The crust is a lightened adaptation of Tanis' original crust. We reduced the amount of butter by 5 tablespoons and the cream cheese by 2 ounces, and doubled the amount of yogurt.)

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Carrot and Zucchini Spaghetti Recipe

Surprise your friends and family at your next dinner with this spiralized veggie pasta dish. Here we combine zucchini and carrots "pasta" with spaghetti noodles, top with fresh herbs, and finish with boiled eggs (boiled in the pasta water!).

Pesto Caprese Galette with Balsamic Reduction image

Caprese Galette with Balsamic Reduction Recipe

The fresh summer favorite, Caprese Salad, gets a delicious and elegant makeover in this savory galette. Featuring thick slices of heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese, boosted with a fresh basil pesto and rich balsamic reduction, this stunning tart is loaded with bold, fresh flavors and makes for the perfect addition any summer gathering. And the best part is, despite its lovely presentation, this Caprese Galette is incredibly simple to pull together. If possible, try to use ripe, locally sourced tomatoes for this recipe, as they’ll generally offer fuller flavor than what you pick up at the supermarket. This galette can be served warm from the oven or at room temperature—just garnish with a few fresh basil leaves before you put it out, and get ready to rake in the compliments.

Tortellini Salad with Zucchini and Peas

Tortellini Salad with Zucchini and Peas Recipe

'Tis the season for zucchini. Make the most of it in this light and summery salad where it's just barely wilted.

Zucchini Noodles; Photographer: Linda Pugliese; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke; Food Stylist: Torie C

Zucchini Noodle Salad Recipe

If you don't own a spiralizer, you can use a julienne peeler. Some grocery stores now sell premade zucchini noodles.

Zucchini Gratin; Photographer: Linda Pugliese; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke; Food Stylist: Torie C

Zucchini Rice Gratin Recipe

Inspired by Julia Child's classic recipe for Tian de Courgettes au Riz (zucchini gratin), my version is comforting yet fresh and clean--it's not overloaded with heavy cream or cheese.

Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Tomato Salad

Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Tomato Salad Recipe

The microwave quickly steams the zucchini so that you only need to run the stuffed boats under the broiler for a minute or two at the end.

ck-Zucchini Butter

Zucchini Butter Recipe

Zucchini's mild flavor concentrates into something much richer when you cook it until most of its liquid evaporates.

Photographer Greg Dupree, Food Styling Catherine Steele, Prop Styling Kay Clar

Squash Tart Recipe

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Credit: Photo courtesy of The Food Gays

Grilled Corn Pasta Salad Recipe

This vibrant, flavor-packed summer side dish combines a bounty of favorite seasonal flavors into a single, epic pasta salad. The recipe comes from our friends The Food Gays, and they developed this colorful grilled corn dish as a fresher, brighter alternative to the typical mayo-based pasta salads that often show up a summer parties. Packed with fresh produce and dressed in a light and zippy lemon-mustard vinaigrette, this grilled corn pasta salad is anything but boring. Give it a try at your next summer cookout and enjoy as the compliments pour in.

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Spinach-and-Pea Potato Salad

Chili-Lime Corn Recipe

A little bit of butter is great, but seasoning corn with chili powder and grated lime rind takes corn from a backyard favoriteto something really special.

Easy Tomato Salad with Basil Chimichurri and Ricotta

Easy Tomato Salad with Basil Chimichurri and Ricotta Recipe

For a simple and elegant way to serve your summer farmers' market tomatoes, this speedysalad is perfect. Dressed in a basil chimichurri and speckled with creamy dollops of ricotta cheese, this show-stopping side is perfect for effortless entertaining.

cheesy-semolina

Cheesy Semolina Recipe

Cheesy semolina is like a warm hug from a cherished aunt. It’s terrific on its own but can go anywhere mashed potatoes or polenta would go, and it is unique enough to be a fun addition to a dinner party. Whether you are eating it right out of the pot in your lap in your pajamas, or serving it in your best china to guests, this is a perfect dish to have in your arsenal. The choice of cheese is up to you: Want your semolina extra creamy and smooth? Go for a soft cheese like cream cheese, chevre, or even Boursin. A little more texture? Try a grated melting cheese with some backbone, fontina, gruyere, cheddar. Looking for deeper umami? Hit the parmigiano or pecorino.

Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower

Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce Recipe

Tender cauliflower topped with a velvety smooth Cheese Sauce is a favorite side dish among kids and adults. This version, from Southern culinary legend Nathalie Dupree, is as easy to prepare as it gets. Steam the cauliflower in a steamer basket, then drain and top with cheese sauce and crunchy browned breadcrumbs.

Clementine-and-Collard Salad

Clementine-and-Collard Greens Salad Recipe

This healthy yet hearty salad makes a great winter meal, just when you’re in need of something bright and sunny. Sweet and juicy clementines, a favorite citrus down South, liven up this mix of chicken, collard greens, pecans, and crumbled goat cheese. Massage some of the dressing into the collards to tenderize the greens and make them more flavorful.

Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas

Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas Recipe

You'll love the flavor of this simple gratin.Gruyère is an aged Swiss cheese with a firm texture and sweet, slightly nutty flavor. If you can’t find Gruyère, Comté, Appenzeller, and Emmenthaler are in the same cheese family and good substitutes.This dish is easy to make-ahead. Simply prep the unbaked gratin up to two days ahead and store in the refrigerator. When you're ready to server, bake as directed.

Yellow Gazpacho with Herbed Goat Cheese Toasts

Yellow Gazpacho with Herbed Goat Cheese Toasts Recipe

You don’t have to wait for cold weather to enjoy a satisfying bowl of soup. Gazpacho is a refreshingly chilled, summer soup, usually made with a pureed mixture of fresh tomatoes and other garden vegetables, olive oil, breadcrumbs garlic. You can even stir in cold shrimp or crab to make this a more complete meal. The gazpacho is even better when prepared one day ahead and stored in the refrigerator, which allows the flavors more time to blend.

Kettle Chip-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes with Tasso Tartar Sauce

Kettle Chip-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes with Tasso Tartar Sauce Recipe

Pull out the fryer and make crunchy fried green tomatoes. Tasso is a highly spiced, cured, and smoked pork used to flavor dishes in Cajun cooking. You will often find it used in gumbos. If you can’t find tasso, look for Andouille sausage, another heavily spiced pork sausage used in Cajun dishes.

Best-Ever Succotash

Best-Ever Succotash Recipe

There are three must-have ingredients in a good pan of succotash. You must have fresh tomatoes, and we prefer cherry tomatoes to boost the sweetness of the dish and add a little acidity for balance. Instead of heavy cream, this recipe calls for salted butter to give the colorful vegetables richness without turning them gray. And where many succotash recipes call for soft herbs such as tarragon, chives, and parsley, we prefer basil. Its classic flavor and aroma just says “summer”.While pork is a traditional ingredient in many Southern variations of succotash, it's certainly not essential to this side. For a vegetarian option, follow the recipe but omit the bacon and replace the drippings with 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Still want a hint of spice? Sprinkle the finished dish with a little bit of smoked paprika.

Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Recipe

Cucumbers add a welcome crunch to this refreshing summer salad of cubed watermelon, fresh herbs, and crumbled feta cheese. You can replace the fresh mint with basil if you prefer, or use a combination of both herbs. A personal-sized seedless watermelon is just the right size for this salad, but you can also use pre-cut melon or a portion of a larger watermelon. Be sure to dress the salad right before serving it to prevent the melon and cucumbers from watering down the vinaigrette

Turnip Green Salad

Turnip Green Salad Recipe

If you think turnip greens are only edible if they are simmered in a pot of liquid and seasoned with a ham hock, check out this recipe. This summer salad makes delicious use of abundant produce such as fresh turnip greens, heirloom grape tomatoes, and colorful watermelon radishes. Ideal as a side dish for a summer cookout, the hearty greens and cauliflower lend enough bulk to make this salad a main dish. Feel free to add other summer vegetables to the recipe, such as chopped zucchini, yellow squash, or cucumbers. We've topped this salad with Green Goddess Dressing for even more flavor.

mr- baked macaroni and cheese reshoot

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Two-toned Scalloped Potatoes image

Two-Toned Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Using both sweet potatoes and Yukon gold potatoes gives classic, comforting scalloped potatoes a delicious upgrade. Perfect for family gatherings and holiday dinners at any point in the year, this impressive potato side dish delivers creamy richness, robust savory flavor, and a delightful crunch with a herby panko-pecan topping. You can assemble the dish (minus the topping) ahead of time and refrigerate up to 12 hours before you’re ready to bake.