21 Festive Easter Menus

Updated February 22, 2008
Helen Norman; Styling: Carrie Purcell

Gather your friends and family to celebrate the Easter season with these festive springtime menus.

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Festive Spring Lunch

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Festive Spring Lunch Menu

Whether for a ladies' luncheon or a Sunday family gathering, juicy roasted chicken paired with a veggie-pasta toss and fresh fruit salad make a simple and stunning meal. For the grand finale, serve chocolate layer cake with chocolate frosting and toasted pecans.

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Spring Brunch Menu

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Spring Brunch Menu Menu

Set the table for Easter brunch, featuring seasonal ingredients and a new twist on the quintessential holiday ham.

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An Afternoon Easter Party

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

An Afternoon Easter Party Menu

Hosting a full-on holiday feast can turn you into a basket case. Instead, opt for this easy-yet-elegant gathering where adults can graze and relax as kids enjoy the fun.

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Welcome Spring

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Welcome Spring Menu

Guests will swoon at the sight of this lovely seasonal menu. Because it features springtime classics like fava beans, fresh peas, and strawberries, it's worth a trip to the farmer's market for the freshest produce.

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Easter Brunch Menu

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Easter Brunch Menu Menu

Sit down to delicate spring fare with this festive meal. It's simple to prepare, thanks to our make-ahead plan.

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Easter Dinner Menu

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Easter Dinner Menu Menu

Wine Note Lamb stars in most Mediterranean cuisines. Thus, it's traditionally paired with a score of different wines. My favorite is syrah, which is rich and mouth-filling with an earthy, meaty character that perfectly underscores the luscious meatiness of lamb. –Karen MacNeil

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Easter Brunch Buffet Menu

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Easter Brunch Buffet Menu Menu

From appetizer to dessert, this menu features the first hints of spring. Plus, it serves up to 12 people so gather the family to feast on ham, lamb, roasted veggies, homemade bread, and cookies.

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An Easter Afternoon

An Easter Afternoon Menu

Enlist your favorite grill-master to help with this easy, interactive Easter meal. While they fire up the salmon, you can ladle out the brilliantly-colored beet soup.

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Open House Tea-and-Easter Egg Hunt

Credit: Tina Cornett; Styling: Cari South

Open House Tea-and-Easter Egg Hunt Menu

Invite the neighborhood children over to hunt eggs while the adults dine on marinated shrimp, deviled eggs, and chicken salad sandwiches. The kids won't stay away from the food table too long once they discover the double-chocolate brownies and lemon bars.

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Easter Breakfast Buffet

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Easter Breakfast Buffet Menu

Bourbon-baked ham, grits casserole, and buttermilk biscuits are the stars of this Southern-style breakfast. Toast the day with bubbly punch and mimosas.

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Alfresco Luncheon with Grilled Lamb

Alfresco Luncheon with Grilled Lamb Menu

Welcome in the warm spring climate by serving lunch outdoors. Decorate the table with festively colored Easter eggs and tulips to complement the impressive spread of soup, salad, lamb and veggies. Finish off the meal with sweet coconut cream tartlets and sangria.

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A Festive Family Feast

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Melanie J. Clarke

A Festive Family Feast Menu

Enjoy a fun Easter without formality and treat your family to a juicy, fruit-glazed ham with an array of feisty sides like caramelized onion dip and tangy pasta salad.

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Easter with Ease

Easter with Ease Menu

With a little advance planning, you'll reap the rewards of a virtually effortless menu. Buy a high-quality ham that only needs reheating, then an hour before your guests arrive, simply slip it in the oven along with the strata, a savory make-ahead bread pudding.

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Cool and Casual Easter Luncheon

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Cool and Casual Easter Luncheon Menu

The key to this laid-back lunch is planning ahead. Prepare the vinaigrette for the shrimp, purchase a pre-cooked ham, marinate the asparagus, and make dessert the day before. When it's time to eat, bring your plates outside and sit in the sunshine. Your guests will appreciate the relaxed atmosphere.

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Elegant Easter Brunch Menu

Credit: Mark Thomas; Styling: Stephana Bottom

Elegant Easter Brunch Menu Menu

This simple and elegant holiday meal features sweet banana muffins, glazed ham, potato salad, spring peas, and a simple fruit salad for dessert. Serve with spiced tea for a cool and refreshing sipper.

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Easter Family Reunion

Easter Family Reunion Menu

Gather loved ones from near and far for an unforgettable reunion feast featuring seasonal spring fare.

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Easter Supper Menu

Easter Supper Menu Menu

Gather the family to enjoy a fabulous, fuss-free Sunday supper-with plenty of sweet endings to choose from.

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An Elegant Easter Feast

Credit: Ryan Benyi

An Elegant Easter Feast Menu

Gather family and friends to share festive dishes that are sure to please.

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Celebrate Easter In Style

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Lynn Miller

Celebrate Easter In Style Menu

Dress up your home and serve an elegant brunch with ease.

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Easter Brunch at the Beach

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lynn Nesmith

Easter Brunch at the Beach Menu

Spring flowers, colorful dyed eggs and sun-drenched patios are just a few of life's sweetest pleasures on a coastal Easter morning. Whether or not you live near enough to smell the saltwater air, this beachy morning menu is a great way to give your guests the resort-style treatment this Easter.

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Easter Celebration Menu

Credit: Helen Norman; Styling: Carrie Purcell

Easter Celebration Menu Menu

Put on your Easter Sunday-best and celebrate new beginnings with this fresh entertaining menu, sure to be the crowning moment of your family's afternoon.

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