Our Easy, Classic Easter Dinner Menu Celebrates the Flavors of Spring

The Easter feast generally falls at the start of spring, a time of new beginnings. The garden awakens with the first shoots of asparagus, leeks, and other vegetables, each of which plays an important role in this classic Easter dinner menu. Artichokes can be steamed and chilled in advance and served with tarragon-flecked mayonnaise as a simple starter. A baked ham coated with a sweet, yet tart citrus glaze takes center stage.

Roasted asparagus and scalloped potatoes round out the meal with their creamy textures and earthy flavors. A lemon cake makes an ideal finish—especially when accompanied by bunny-shaped sugar cookies, a nod to one of spring's most popular motifs. A combination of make-ahead and last-minute strategies results in an impressive, crowd-pleasing meal that comes together with little effort.

Our Best Easter Dinner Menu

Appetizer: Steamed Artichokes with Tarragon Mayonnaise

It doesn't get more elegant than this appetizer, which can be steamed and chilled ahead of time. Your guest's will love dipping tender Steamed Artichokes into Tarragon Mayonnaise for a lemony, herb-packed flavored dish.

Entrée: Marmalade-Glazed Ham

Slices of Marmalade-Glazed Ham are piled high atop a platter and garnished with caramelized orange slices, which add a bright contrast to the burnished crust.

Side: Scalloped Potatoes with Leeks

Nutty Gruyere cheese and delicate spring leeks add complexity to this sophisticated Scalloped Potatoes with Leeks casserole. Assemble it the day before and all you'll need to do on Easter is pop the dish into the oven.

Side: Roasted Asparagus

First-of-the-season Roasted Asparagus needs little more than oil, salt, pepper, and a quick turn in the oven to shine.

Dessert: Lemon Cake

Cap off the feast with a light, spongy Lemon Cake decorated with your favorite edible flowers (we used fresh borage blossoms).

Dessert: Sugar Cookie Bunnies

Serve these sweet Sugar Cookie Bunnies on dessert plates for a charming end to the meal or wrap in cellophane and set out as party favors.

Our Easter Dinner Schedule

Follow this straightforward schedule to pull off your Easter dinner menu stress-free.

The Day Before

• The day before guests arrive, assemble the scalloped potatoes, but do not bake them yet. Instead, cover and place them in the refrigerator.
• Bake the lemon cake and cookies.
• Set the table.
• Chill beverages.

Two Hours Before

1. Cook the ham.
2. Steam the artichokes, then put them in the refrigerator.

Hour and a Half Before

• An hour and a half before everyone arrives, put potatoes in the oven and make the glaze for the ham.
• Score the ham and brush with your glaze—add orange slices and then continue to bake.

Half an Hour Before

• Make the tarragon mayonnaise and refrigerate.
• Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest.
• Roast the asparagus.

Moments Before

• Garnish the cake.
• Slice the ham.
• Pour the beverages.