Easter Dinner Menu Ideas on a Budget

Easter dinner can get expensive fast. Between the ham, sides, desserts, and feeding a whole table of people, the grocery bill adds up quickly. So instead of planning a fancy Easter dinner this year, I put together some budget friendly Easter menu ideas that still feel special, still feed everyone well, and won’t leave you regretting your grocery receipt.

Budget Friendly Easter Dinner Menu Ideas

When planning Easter dinner, I try not to overcomplicate things. You really only need a main dish, a couple of easy sides, some bread or rolls, and a simple dessert. That’s more than enough food to feed everyone well without spending the entire day cooking or a fortune at the grocery store. Keeping the menu simple is the easiest way to make Easter dinner both manageable and budget friendly.

Pick a Main Dish

The main dish is usually the biggest part of Easter dinner, and also the most expensive. Ham is the classic choice, but roast chicken, turkey breast, or pork are all great budget friendly options that still feel like a special holiday meal.

Crockpot Brown Sugar Cola Glazed Ham

This Crockpot Brown Sugar Cola Glazed Ham recipe requires only 5 minutes of prep time, then you can just set it and forget it for a few hours.

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Roast Chicken Recipe

Follow my easy step by step Roast Chicken Recipe made with a simple blend of spices! The end result is tender and juicy chicken, paired with perfectly crisp and flavorful skin.

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Instant Pot Turkey Breast

This easy Instant Pot Turkey Breast is made in a fraction of the time, juiciest turkey breast ever, plus make your own gravy right in the IP.

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Pork Tenderloin With Mustard Sauce

This Pork Tenderloin With Mustard Sauce is the ultimate dinner using a lean and healthy meat. Unbelievably tender and delicious pork tenderloin served with a creamy mustard sauce that's incredibly indulgent!

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Meatloaf with Gravy

This Meatloaf with Gravy is comfort food at its finest—tender, juicy meatloaf paired with a rich, savory gravy that takes it to the next level. Whether it’s a family dinner or a cozy weekend meal, this recipe is a surefire crowd-pleaser.

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Baked Crack Chicken Casserole

Baked Crack Chicken Casserole is a cheesy, comforting dish that combines tender chicken with a rich, creamy sauce and crispy bacon. It's topped with a blend of melted cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, making every bite irresistibly gooey.

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Easy Side Dishes

Once you pick your main dish, you really only need a couple of sides to complete the meal. Potatoes, a vegetable, and maybe a casserole or salad is usually more than enough for Easter dinner. Keeping the sides simple is another easy way to keep your grocery bill under control.

Mashed Potatoes

Delve into comfort with my mom's Homemade Mashed Potatoes, a cherished recipe passed down for generations. Simple yet decadent, these creamy, rich, and flavorful potatoes are an ideal side for any occasion. Easy to prepare but bursting with homely warmth, they're sure to elevate your everyday meals to something truly special.

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Potatoes Au Gratin

These Easy Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin are the perfect side dish to have for Easter. They're super creamy and so utterly delicious that everyone will be coming back for seconds.

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Deviled Eggs

These Deviled Eggs are a classic holiday favorite appetizer that is really easy to make, yet elegant enough to be a showstopper for any gathering! A great addition to Easter dinner or summer potlucks!

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Easy Coleslaw Salad

Unleash a celebration of vibrant colors and delightful textures with this delectable coleslaw. Imagine a crisp, refreshing mix of finely shredded cabbage and carrot, dancing in a creamy, tangy dressing that's as indulgent as it is light. It's a side dish that steals the show, adding a crunch of freshness to your BBQ favorites or standing proudly on its own as a satisfying snack.

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Corn Casserole

A comforting Corn Casserole made with just 5 ingredients! This southern staple is perfect for a weeknight meal or a superior side dish for the holidays.

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Easy Potato Salad

Easy Potato Salad is a perfect side dish for any occasion. It's creamy, savory, tangy, and full of great texture. This will be whipped up in a flash and is sure to please a crowd, no matter the size!

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Bread & Rolls

Bread or dinner rolls are always nice to have on the table and help stretch the meal when you’re feeding a crowd.

Fluffy Dinner Rolls

Fluffy Dinner Rolls – These light, fluffy, buttery dinner rolls are impossible to resist! Made from scratch with just a handful of simple ingredients, these rolls are the perfection addition to any meals, best of all they are ready in just 1 hour.

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Buttermilk Parmesan Biscuits

Hold onto your taste buds, because these Buttermilk Parmesan Biscuits are about to take you on a flavor rollercoaster! Imagine biting into a fluffy, golden biscuit that’s packed with freshly grated Parmesan and laced with buttery goodness. These biscuits are so flaky and delicious, they'll make you question why you ever settled for store-bought.

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No Knead Olive Bread

Turn your kitchen into a Mediterranean bistro with my No-Knead Olive Bread. This easy-to-make, aromatic loaf boasts a perfectly golden crust and a tender, flavorful crumb infused with succulent Kalamata olives.

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Focaccia Bread

Homemade Focaccia Bread made with just a few simple ingredients. This bread hosts a chewy and soft center with an exquisitely crisp exterior. 

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Garlic Bread

This Garlic Bread is the best and so easy to make. A crispy baguette slathered in a tasty homemade garlic butter, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, a must in my opinion, then toasted to perfection, makes this for a truly incredible Garlic Bread experience!

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Simple Easter Desserts

You don’t need a huge dessert spread either. One cake, bars, or a simple dessert is more than enough to finish Easter dinner.

Carrot Cake

This homemade Carrot Cake recipe is begging to be on your baking to-do list! It's made with airy, light, fluffy cake topped with everyone's favorite silky cream cheese icing and sprinkled with crunchy walnuts.

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Basque Cheesecake

This incredibly delicious Basque Cheesecake is going to blow your mind! With a perfectly caramelized burnt top, no crust, and a super rich creamy center, this is no ordinary cheesecake. It’s a spectacular culinary treat that is super easy to make and will totally wow your friends and family at first bite!

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The Best Lemon Bars

I'm not afraid to say that these are The Best Lemon Bars you'll ever make. With a sweet, smooth, and bright filling all stacked on top of a buttery crust, these little bars pack a lot of WOW.

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Chocolate Cake

This Chocolate Cake is about to become your newest homemade favorite! It is incredibly simple, perfectly moist, and absolutely decadent! If you weren't a chocolate lover before – this cake is certainly going to change your mind!

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Apple Pie Bread Pudding

When the flavors of apple pie come together with classic bread pudding what you get is this unbelievably good Apple Pie Bread Pudding! Full of cinnamon spiced fresh apples and plump raisins, it’s custardy in the middle and finished with a creamy butter and brown sugar sauce. Just top it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and it’s the perfect quick and easy dessert that holiday season!

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Example Easter Dinner Menus

If you’re not sure what to make, here are a few simple Easter dinner menu ideas you can mix and match. Each menu includes a main dish, a couple of sides, bread, and dessert so you don’t have to overthink the planning.

Menu Idea #1 – Classic Easter Dinner

• Baked Ham
• Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Carrots
• Dinner Rolls
• Carrot Cake

Menu Idea #2 – Budget Friendly Chicken Dinner

• Roast Chicken
• Potatoes au Gratin
• Green Beans
• No Knead Bread
• Lemon Bars

Menu Idea #3 – Pork Dinner Menu

• Pork Tenderloin
• Mac and Cheese
• Roasted Broccoli or Green Beans
• Dinner Rolls
• Cheesecake

Menu Idea #4 – Comfort Food Easter Dinner

• Meatloaf
• Mashed Potatoes
• Corn or Peas
• Bread or Rolls
• Chocolate Cake

Menu Idea #5 – Casserole Style Easter Dinner

• Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Roasted Root Vegetables
• Salad
• Bread
• Brownies or Lemon Bars

You can mix and match any of these dishes to create your own Easter dinner menu depending on what your family likes and what fits your budget. The goal is to keep the menu simple so you can spend more time with family and less time in the kitchen.