25 Easter Side Dishes That Will Go With Any Main Course
Can’t forget the sides!
Though there’s plenty of attention paid to the Easter main course and Easter desserts, Easter side dishes don’t get nearly as much love. Until now! Whether you’re serving more traditional lamb or ham, or prefer chicken or a vegetable-focused Easter, we’ve got the side dishes to complete your holiday meal.
In this recipe roundup, you’ll find classic Easter side dishes like Spicy Deviled Eggs and Creamy One-Pot Mashed Potatoes, but we also included some interesting options such as Farro Salad With Brown Butter Vinaigrette, and Carrot-Apple Slaw. If you’re planning your Easter menu, check out this collection of recipes before you head to the grocery store!
Related:11 Ways to Upgrade Deviled Eggs That Will Make Them Tastier Than Ever
Caramelized Veggies With Poppy Seed Dressing
In this recipe, vibrant beets, rainbow carrots, parsnips, and fennel get an upgrade courtesy of a punchy poppy seed dressing that's made with lemon juice, garlic, tahini, poppy seeds, and olive oil. Don't forget the parsley topping, which adds freshness and a pop of color. Serve this vibrant side dish with a variety of proteins, including lamb, beef, or chicken.
Grilled Mediterranean Salad
If you’re hosting an Easter brunch or lunch, consider serving this veggie-filled pasta salad. Campanelle pasta is slicked with a balsamic dressing and studded with crispy cubes of halloumi, grilled vegetables, and fragrant fresh oregano. The veggies in question include zucchini, bell peppers, and red onion, but any vegetable mix will do.
Spicy Deviled Eggs
It’s not Easter without a platter of deviled eggs, and this version of the holiday classic is packed with plenty of flavor. After you hard-boil and halve your eggs, you’ll mash the yolks with jarred pimentos, grated sharp Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Then, you’ll spoon the mixture back into the egg whites and dust the top with cayenne pepper.
Roasted Asparagus With Flax Seed-Walnut Crumble
Add a touch of green to your Easter spread with this easy asparagus recipe. The spring veggie is roasted and dressed with a flaxseed walnut crumble that’s packed with omega-3s and other key nutrients. The best part about this side dish is that it comes together in just 20 minutes.
Farro Salad With Brown Butter Vinaigrette
This is no ordinary grain salad thanks to the inclusion of brown butter, which is whisked into the vinaigrette to add richness and depth. This one-pot wonder pairs hearty farro with chopped asparagus and a big handful of peas, and also includes crunchy pistachios, juicy orange segments, and salty feta, which add big texture and flavor. Serve it at your Easter brunch, or alongside roasted chicken or fish.
Spanakopita Creamed Spinach
If you like spanakopita but don’t feel like dealing with the pie part, try this clever creamed spinach recipe. Here, the greens are joined by onions and garlic, and then paired with some heavy cream and feta to create a silky and rich side. Serve this dish alongside broiled lamb chops, roasted chicken, or baked white fish, and you’re good to go!
Little Gems and Radishes With Ricotta Salata and Seeds
Easter egg radishes join forces with other radish varieties in this simple spring salad that makes for an ideal side dish. You’ll also find snappy Little Gem lettuce, shaved ricotta salata—a hard and salty cheese—that adds a different kind of punch, and a medley of crunchy seeds. Serve this 10-minute salad alongside your go-to Easter main.
Creamy One-Pot Mashed Potatoes
Say goodbye to gummy mashed potatoes and use this recipe instead. Here, less-starchy Yukon Golds are cooked with half-and-half, which means that the spuds absorb the liquid while cooking. Lastly, using a potato ricer makes all the difference in transforming the dense potatoes into fluffy grains. Fold in butter, salt, and sour cream, and you’re done!
Carrot-Apple Slaw
Though very healthy, sauerkraut is too pungent for some. In this simple recipe, the fermented food is paired with apples and carrots, plus sweet pops of raisins, which make the simple side dish less intense. Ginger adds just enough heat and spice without being overpowering, while the sauerkraut liquid works to lightly pickle the raw onion. If your Easter feast includes anything barbecued, this side will be a hit.
Charred Broccolini With Tahini Caesar And Crispy Chickpeas
Salad greens, crispy roasted broccolini, and chickpeas make up the protein-packed base of this salad, which also works well as a side. Then, a rich tahini dressing that also includes Parmesan, garlic, and Dijon mustard, ties everything together. Serve it with your protein of choice, be it for lunch or dinner.
Skillet Spanako”pea”ta
Think you need a side of beef to create a show-stopping holiday spread? Think again. This gorgeous skillet spanako"pea"ta is packed with healthy, bright green peas and crumbled feta cheese, and looks mighty impressive—but comes together in a pinch thanks to help from frozen spinach and store-bought phyllo dough.
Spring Pasta Salad
Celebrate spring with this flavorful and quick pasta salad that's filled with peppery radishes and crisp sugar snap peas—two of the season's finest vegetables. The casarecce pasta used here is perfect for soaking up sauce, which in this case is a honey-mustard vinaigrette spiked with shallot and lemon zest. You'll also find mint and salty ricotta salata, which add a bit of freshness and saltiness, respectively.
Related:18 Creative Easter Egg Ideas That Are Easy and Fun
Green Bean Salad With Crispy Bread Crumbs
A roster of umami-rich ingredients and perfectly toasted breadcrumbs adorn green beans in this simple salad, which also works as a great spring side. To build layers of flavor, you'll toast fresh breadcrumbs with anchovy filets, then stir together a garlicky, lemony dressing that's souped up with a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs
This dish has a toasted Israeli couscous base, along with juicy corn kernels paired with a showering of fresh herbs—basil, chives, and dill—plus some caramelized onions for good measure. Serve this sweet and savory side alongside grilled fish, roasted chicken, or a seared steak for a balanced Easter meal.
Spiced Carrot Salad
If you enjoy Moroccan carrot salad, give this recipe a whirl. It features sweet, citrus-plumped raisins, and is seasoned with a warm garlicky, cumin-spiced oil with a spicy kick. Serve it alongside spiced lamb or chicken for a complete Easter feast.
Lemony Chopped Salad With Pita
While you can serve this salad as an Easter appetizer, if you make a big bowl of it, it works just as well as a colorful side along with your preferred protien. Here, you'll find crispy roasted chickpeas, toasted pita bread croutons, and a jamboree of crunchy ingredients. Spicy radishes are among those crunchy superstars, as are refreshing cucumber slices. A zesty yet sweet lemon-honey dressing ties the whole thing together.
Orzo Tomato Salad
This crowd pleasing dish makes the most of colorful, juicy tomatoes. Roast them low and slow to concentrate their flavor, and go ahead and serve this side with any lean meat or fish.
Grapefruit, Beet, and Radish Salad
This refreshing salad is bound to be the star of your Easter table, and takes just 10 minutes to make. The grapefruit and beets offer earthy, tangy notes, while the radishes give a bit of spice. Serve this colorful salad as a side for grilled fish or chicken and you’re all set.
Melting Potatoes
These potatoes go with anything, and require just 10 minutes of hands-on work. The key is using Yukon Gold spuds and cooking them in chicken stock and garlic cloves until all of the stock is absorbed.
Rosemary-Roasted Golden Beets and Carrots
You can’t go wrong with a roasted veggie side, and this dish stars some of the season’s best produce. Here, you’ll toss the beets and carrots with red wine vinegar, olive oil, rosemary, and salt and pepper, and roast until tender. Easy enough, right?
Green Beans With Bacon Vinaigrette
Zhuzh up a plate of green beans with an easy-to-make bacon vinaigrette that’s salty, spicy, and a little punchy. Whether you’re serving ham, lamb, or chicken this Easter, this side dish gets the job done.
Miso Roasted Radishes
Since Easter egg radishes are the star of this dish, it should be a shoe-in for your holiday spread. The root veggies are on display in two ways in this simple sheet-pan recipe: They're roasted alongside shallots, then their edible tops are crisped up to perfection.
Beet-Radicchio Salad
This vibrant salad includes peppery leaves of arugula, firm, bitter leaves of radicchio, bold blood orange pieces, and deep red beets. Grated Parmesan cheese and lightly salted pistachios add some savory crunch, while a maple dressing spiked with miso ties the whole thing together. Your guests will thank you for this versatile side.
Garlic-and-Herb Potato Salad
Unlike traditional potato salads, this garlicky version calls for tangy vinegar, spicy grainy mustard, and freshly chopped parsley and basil. Break out your best oversized serving bowl and display this gorgeous, herby potato salad at your Easter brunch or lunch.
Related:The Most Popular Easter Traditions, Explained
Herby Rice Salad With Chickpeas and Pistachios
This rice is fluffy, crunchy, and packed with protein. Since it works well as a side to any main and takes just 30 minutes to make, it’s ideal for your Easter spread.
For more Real Simple news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Real Simple.