Easter is almost upon us. Eggs will be dyed, chocolate bunnies eaten, and if you are lucky, some precious time will be spent with your family and loved ones. If that involves a big meal you must prepare, this post will hopefully help you out, because today I’m sharing some of my favorite Easter meal ideas!
As always, I will offer ideas covering the three most popular proteins: beef, chicken, and pork. Even though many of you will probably be tired of fish following Lent, I’ll also throw some fish ideas out there as well.
Pork Easter Meal Ideas
Ham is the obvious choice here. Whether from the supermarket or your favorite butcher, you can’t go wrong with a ham. In fact, many supermarkets will be offering deals on hams in the week leading up to Easter.
Fried pork chops are another great option. I have a great southern fried pork chop recipe that is sure to be a hit for your Easter holiday. You can pair this with some amazing southern sides for a fantastic meal.
If you are looking for something a little different, check out my pork steak and rutabaga recipe.
Easter Meal Ideas With Chicken
Chicken is one of the most versatile proteins to cook with, so naturally there are plenty of great ideas for Easter. This wouldn’t be a Southern food blog without mentioning fried chicken. I have a delicious southern fried chicken recipe that you can’t go wrong with.
If you are looking to go a bit healthier, a roasted whole chicken is a good bet. Start with a good brine, throw some butter under the skin, and finish with your favorite seasoning blend generously spread over the whole chicken. Pair with some roasted vegetables and your family will surely be impressed.
Beef Meal Ideas
Rounding out the big three proteins is beef. A Sunday roast for this Sunday holiday is a fine choice. My favorite beef roast recipe has to be my Mississippi Pot Roast. I can’t imagine this meal letting you down.
Another classic you can’t go wrong with is meatloaf. My favorite pairings with meatloaf include loaded mashed potatoes, green beans, and mac and cheese.
BBQ
All of these ideas are great, but they are not what I typically go with. Easter is usually when we have our first BBQ of the year. We tend to give the grill and smoker a break during the winter, and Easter is the perfect time to break them back out.
Burgers and hot dogs on the grill are our first choice. Almost everyone is going to like one of the two. We’ll usually throw some chicken in the smoker, along with some Conecuh sausage.
For sides, we go with BBQ classics: potato salad and baked beans. Check out my recipes for those if you want to take your BBQ to the next level.
And if you don’t have a grill, you can still have BBQ style food! You can make some delicious pulled pork in a slow cooker. For alternate ways to cook hot dogs, check out my post on the best ways to cook hot dogs.
Desserts
Dessert may not be a problem with all the chocolate bunnies and eggs in Easter baskets, but if you need a sweet treat to round out your meal, banana pudding is one of our favorites. It is one of our go to options for big family BBQs. Hummingbird cake is another popular option.
Spending time with family and loved ones is the most important part of any holiday. Good food is an easy way to make that time more memorable. I hope this post gives you some inspiration for your holiday. Happy Easter!
