Easter is upon us! This is a special time of year for many, requiring equally special meals to mark the occasion. Whether your family does Easter brunch, lunch or dinner, here are my picks for dishes to make your Easter memorable while stress free.
Prefer to browse at your leisure? Here’s my Easter super collection. It’s even sorted by course!
Lamb, Lamb, Lamb!
Here in Australia, Easter Sunday is all about roast lamb. I’m a bit of a lamb fiend, so there’s a few on my website! There’s surely one that’s exactly what you’re looking for….
Classic – roast lamb leg with rosemary garlic gravy. STUNNER.
My signature – 12 hour roast lamb shoulder (3 hour lamb is an excellent faster version). Why? Juicier and more flavour than lamb leg, and reheats 99% perfectly so you can make ahead whereas lamb leg is best served freshly cooked.
Easiest – Slow cooker roast lamb leg
Fan favourite – Greek slow roasted lamb leg with fall apart meat (also the rosemary garlic version)
Boneless options – Greek butterflied lamb leg, slow cooked lamb shawarma shoulder, Moroccan lamb backstrap
All my roast lamb recipes here
Roast lamb recipes
Baked Glazed Ham
Did you know that in the States (and Canada??), Easter is all about the great baked ham? Australia’s ham season is Christmas!
I have two glazed ham recipes to choose from – my signature Maple Glazed Ham and classic brown sugar glazed ham. Also useful – How to make glazed ham the day before and my glazed ham guide, a step-by-step how-to for those new to prepared glazed hams (including peeling the skin off, choosing the ham etc).
Roast chicken
Roast Chicken remains as a firm favourite in Australia for Easter Sunday. There’s no better way to cook chicken than to keep it whole – keeps all the juices in!
Choose from my signature garlic butter roast chicken, an easy Lemon Garlic SLOW COOKER Roast Chicken and the infamous Juiciest ever (no brine) roast chicken in my cookbook. If you’ve got the time, soak your chicken overnight in a flavoured brine which will lock in juices and flavour the flesh.
For something a little different, try this Coconut Lemongrass Whole Roast Chicken (the coconut broth is incredible!) or Jamie Oliver’s famous Chicken in Milk (sounds weird, reads weird, tastes incredible).
And if the thought of man-handling a whole chicken is all too much for you this year, there are plenty of recipes for baked chicken pieces – I mean, that’s basically a roast chicken that’s been cut up, right??! 😊
Try baked herb roast chicken (thighs and drumsticks) or crispy baked chicken legs. For Asian flavours, look no further than everybody’s favourite sticky Honey Soy Baked Chicken. It’s a winner every time!
Fish and seafood
Can we look beyond the fan-favourite Christmas baked salmon – for Easter??? I’m not sure we can!!
An outrageously great combination of flavours – honey butter glazed salmon with a creamy dill spread topped with a dried fruit nut rubble – this was an impromptu invention that’s become a favourite with readers, family and friends. Easy enough for anyone to make, make-ahead / prepare ahead, great served hot, warm or at room temperature, easy to scale up or down (make fillets).
More fish / seafood options
Despite my total bias towards the Christmas baked salmon (for Easter) as a centrepiece option, I have some other great options for Easter-worth seafood / fish mains!
Whole Baked Fish with Garlic & Dill Butter Sauce – Any chef will tell you that the easiest and BEST way to prepare fish is to cook it whole because you get the juiciest result. This is a classic preparation with a to-die-for butter sauce that’s super easy to make.
Fish Pie – Tender flakes of fish in a creamy sauce with vegetables, eggs studded throughout and mashed potato topping. All sorts of goodness!
Garlic prawns (shrimp) – I feel like Easter is a worthy time for a giant pile of juicy garlic prawns! An Aussie favourite, the trick to this dish is to add the garlic towards the end of the cooking time else it burns, and add a splash of white wine. Makes all the difference! (Also – the creamy version here.)
Parmesan Crusted Salmon with a Lemon Cream Sauce was the fan favourite until Christmas baked salmon stole the top spot. Is it time to make a come back?? 😂 That crunchy crumb with the rich salmon flesh is a stellar combination, plus the sauce clings to the crumb so you get more in each bite. Easy, can be made ahead, transports well, is even great served at room temp and that cream sauce is crazy good!
Spanish seafood stew – An iconic cookbook exclusive dish, made with a medley of seafood in a flavour loaded tomato sauce, many people have tried this now and everyone has been blown away by the flavour! I really hope you try it one day. ❤️
A big pile of freshly cooked prawns or other cold seafood with a selection of Seafood Sauces.
Beetroot Cured Salmon or Salmon Gravlax for something real fancy at a fraction of the cost of buying (and it’s crazy easy!).
A cosy Seafood Gratin Pasta Bake in a creamy white sauce. Cost effective seafood option using a seafood marinara pre-mix!
More seafood and fish recipes for Easter here.
Cosy Sides
Reader Favourites
Baked Mac and Cheese (be still my beating heart!)
Roasted Vegetables – It takes a little more thought than throwing vegetables in a pan and shoving it in the oven!
Julia Child’s Potato Dauphinois (better than scalloped potatoes because the sauce doesn’t go gluggy)
Duck fat potatoes – the crunchiest roast potatoes in the world – or truly crunchy non-duck-fat roast potatoes
Garlic Bread (be extra generous with butter!)
The unexpectedly extremely popular Mushroom Rice
Breads – the famous No Knead Crusty Artisan Bread and the No Knead Dinner Rolls
Handy / effortless – Make-ahead Mashed Potato Casserole, Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake, Baked Mushroom Rice
Wow Factor – Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Mini Potato Gratin Stacks, Roasted Sweet Potato Stacks, Crispy Parmesan Crusted Potatoes, Spiral Sweet Potato Bake
Room Temp Sides – Mrs Brodie’s Famous Potato Salad, Macaroni Pasta Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, The most amazing avocado pasta salad
Click here to browse my entire Sides recipe collection.
Salads
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Firm Favourites – Roast Pumpkin Salad with Feta, Brussels Sprout Salad (this converted haters!) Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, Iceberg Lettuce Dill Salad (iceberg lettuce never tasted so good), Coleslaw.
Wow Factor – Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette, San Fran Salad with Yoghurt Ranch Dressing (skip the chicken), Pig Out Salsa (named as such for obvious reasons).
Effortless – 12 minute Sun Dried Tomato Couscous Salad, Throw Together Rocket Beetroot Walnut Salad, any of these dressings with your salad of choice: Fresh Lemon Dressing (in the Couscous Salad), Honey Lemon Dressing, Honey Mustard, Italian Dressing, French Vinaigrette, Poppyseed, Maple Syrup Dressing.
All my salads here!
The Grande Finale
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Pictured above is my new “go to” Chocolate Cake which my friend Jo from Jo Cooks calls a “lazy a** cake” because it’s so crazy easy! It’s beautifully moist with a soft crumb, it truly tastes of chocolate (it’s surprising how many chocolate cakes don’t actually taste of chocolate) and there’s every possibility you have everything you need to make it right now.
Here is the Chocolate Cake recipe! PS I got the cute little furry chooks and speckled eggs to decorate the cake from Woolies.🐣🐣🐣
More recently, I’ve done a variation of this Easter cake using my Vanilla Cake, that has a charming pastel blue icing and coconut nest for the eggs!
Here are some more suggestions for dessert – or browse my entire Dessert / Sweet Treats collection.
Things I have a soft spot for – Red Velvet Cake (it’s sooooo velvety!) Pavlova (so very Aussie!), Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Apple Crumble (always and forever), Apple Cake (the fragrance of the spices kills me every time), Salted Caramel Tart (the caramel filling is epic).
Show Stoppers – This Never Ending Meringue Tart is guaranteed to draw a round of applause when you present it (and unlike Pavs, you can make ahead), a Trifle is always a stunning looking centrepiece. My friends are obsessed with this Classic Baked Cheesecake with its high wall of biscuit crust, and if mangoes are in season where you are, try this stunning No Bake Mango Cheesecake! Also worthy of mention: Chocolate Cream Pie.
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And let’s not forget….HOT CROSS BUNS!!! Psst – I’ve included the classic kneaded recipe AND a no knead recipe, and yes there is a recipe video. 👍🏼
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Phew! That is a LOT of food. Hope there are some Easter recipes here to inspire you – it’s certainly given me some ideas for my own Easter Feasting menus which I hadn’t starting thinking about until right now, as I’m writing up this post.
Wishing you a Happy Easter filled with family, friends, laughter and lots of delicious food! – Nagi x
Life of Dozer
Multiple choice – Dozer looks:
a) like he’s about to march in the Mardi Gras;
b) thoroughly in the spirit of Easter; or
c) completely humiliated.
PS Don’t worry, that’s a doggy friendly Easter Egg!
Hi Nagi, I have just discovered your website and i love it. I was just wondering if there was any way that these collections of recipes can be saved to my computer as an ebook or pdf file so i can access them altogether? I can’t stop cooking your meals, they are lovely. Thank you.
Hi Tina, you can save the recipes to your personal “My RecipeTin” folder, alternatively you can select “print” and save that file to your local computer. N x
Egggsalent recipes. I’ve had to start a new folder. Great tip for Yorkshire puds. Use twice as many eggs, but be prepared to hold oven top down! Try ‘butterfly lamb chops’ instead of sausages. (rather fattening) GREAT.
😂😂
great recipes
Haaa, Haaa, Dozer gets10/10!!!! Love it.2nd 10/10 goes to Chocolate cake, am sending photo to my sister + Dozers photo to make her laugher- she could do with laughter. THANK YOU KINDLY. Over all what a menu, spilled for choice as usually Nagi, it’s not only States, Canada having ham for Easter EUROPE TOO. They have full Australian XMAS MENU FOR EASTER.VERY FEW PARTS OF COUNTRY WOULD HAVE LAMB ANY GIVEN TIME. CURED PORK, SAUSEGES ARE PREPARED IN NOVEMBER DUE TO CLAIMET. ALSO THE MEAT WOULD BE AIR DRY UP, UP, IN MOUNTAINS THEN SMOKED WITH CERTAIN TYPE OF WOOD. EUROPE CLAIMET GOES HAND IN HAND WITH RELIGION BELIEVES- SPRING TIME EVERYTHING IS AWEKNING, LOTS OF BABY ANIMALS, CHERRY BLOOSOM, PUSSY WILLOW WHICH GOES IN HOUSE WITH DAFFADILS ETC.. ALSO WE HAVE EASTER TREE(MUST FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN) and some country’s have decorations in windows . Am having all that staff from back home. EGGS ARE WORK OF ART, HAND PAINTED OR EVEN MADE WITH LACE( having that too). We have also special baking for Easter. But in past due to weather kids would have last of citrus fruit until Xmas. Ah wish you were bit closer to show you decorations , photos, receipts. Have Happy and SAFE EASTER.!
Europe does ham for Easter too??? Who knew! Thanks for that, I didn’t know! N xx
Dozer! You’re a TREAT…you handsome bunny, you!
Happy Easter!
😂 I TRIED telling him, he doesn’t seem to agree / care….
Loving all your recipes – they work every time loaded with flavour, bang on prep process. #joyallround not forgetting the poses of Dozer . Happy Easter to u and Dozer 🐣
Happy Easter to you and Dozer. Great post – lovely recipes. Have made your Hot Cross Buns again for the second year. Found out last year wasn’t just a fluke – they turned out just as good this year as well!! Thankyou for all your efforts to help us put yummy food on the table.
Hi Nagi, I love all your roasts as I can include them in my “Keto” menu with a couple of little changes like in the Coconut Pot Roasted Chicken I’ll have to forego the yummy looking potatoes at this stage and add some spinach or broccolini and your various Lamb Roasts I’ll try replacing the flour with arrowroot and serve with mashed cauliflower and whatever greens. I’m also going to try out “Duck Fat” as I have some in the fridge, but not used any as yet.
While I’m here I’d like to wish you and your family a happy, healthy and safe Easter. X X X X X
Oh yes, ham for Easter. AND for Christmas here too! And I even know quite a few people who throw in a ham along with their turkey for Thanksgiving!! We’re a ham loving bunch over here. Will be trying your delicious looking recipe this weekend.
lol thank you, look forward to it.
Have a great day 🙂
Sonia.
Pavlova (so very New Zealand thank you Nagi)
Actually we really enjoy your recipes so keep it up, Nagi! Aussie and New Zealand fare is, of course, very similar.
We are going to enjoy a Sous vide leg of lamb on Easter Sunday.
A very happy Easter Nagi and Dozer and Mama Recipe Tin and all the rest celebrating at your place. Fabulous post for those who do celebrate and especially those who like roasts : *smile* I don’t belong in either category but love the Lamb Shawarma and JO’s Chicken in Milk. ( Dozer: am glad there is not a mirror around . . . Mommy is just being funny!)
My first comment, all because Dozer looks soo regally awesome in his bunny ears, clutching his egg ! Such a Handsome Dude !! I’ve subscribed to you Nagi, for at least acouple years. ?? Love your site. Thanks for all you do. There’s so much to check out today, better get busy. Happy Easter weekend to you and yours.
Happy Easter Nagi and Dozer and your whole Family. Bring a smile to my face with every post – and inspire me to get the energy to cook more (I do now). Have a fabulous break.
Hi Nagi,
Am I blind or why is it I cannot see the Chocolate cake recipe on this page? The one with baby chicks around it?
It looks amazing and would love to try it.
Thanks 🙂
You’re not blind Sonia! I am literally pulling the recipe together now – publishing it early to get in before the shops close on Good Friday! N xx
I’ll wait before i head to the shops 😄
The video is taking me forever 😩 So I’ve written up the recipe first, here it is. Video and full post should be up in an hour or so! N x https://www.recipetineats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Chocolate-Cake-RecipeTin-Eats.pdf
Happy Easter Nagi!
Thanks for the choices you’ve shared, I’ll be doing your lamb in the slow cooker and a small maple ham, though I’ve not been able to decide which sides will be on the table. Parm taters will be one for sure!
Dozer has that “look” on his face…so I’m going to guess, he’s tolerating but not cooperating! 🙂
Again, Happy Easter to you and yours!
First Dozer (beautiful boy) – and now to look at the recipes. 🙂 Happy Easter Nagi and Dozer. xx
So many to choose from!
Thank you for your fantastic ideas.
Happy Easter to you!
Thank you for the great recipes. Happy Easter to you and yours. Big Hugs for Dozer.
oh my GOD Nagi, you spoil us. Can I just come round and eat at your place? I live in the UK though so might take a while to get there 😛
Wow. It took all looks so yummy wish I was coming to your house for Easter dinner. Actually, for any dinner. Dozer looks like (d) Thoroughly disinterested and above it all. LOL. Happy Easter to you and Dozer.
Have a Happy Easter Nagi and Dozer..of course your Mom and family! I love your big Easter Bunny! Does he hop? Lol.
Loving your plentiful yummy selection of foods too..something for everyone. I go with ham for Easter and Christmas. I’m always looking for different ham glazes to try with no mustard in it. Although maybe dry mustard wouldn’t have that taste..just don’t like it..even now. I’m fussy! Lol.